Richard Wright Collection of Graphic Images of African Americans

Access and use

Location of collection:
College of William and Mary
Special Collections Research Center
Earl Gregg Swem Library
College of William and Mary
400 Landrum Drive
PO 8795
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
Contact for questions and access:
Phone: (757) 221-3090
Fax: (757) 221-5440
Restrictions:

Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.

Terms of access:

Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from the Curator of Manuscripts and Rare Books, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Preferred citation:

Richard Wright Collection of Graphic Images of African Americans, Special Collections Research Center, William & Mary Libraries.

Summary

Extent:
21.68 Linear Feet 52 boxes
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Richard Wright Collection of Graphic Images of African Americans, Special Collections Research Center, William & Mary Libraries.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection, compiled by Richard Wright, focuses on the evolution of the Black American image in print media, cartoons and comics. Wright organized his own historical timeline titled "Good Clean Fun: Blacks in Comics," also referred to as "Clean Fun: Blacks in Comics," in a series of binders with artist biographies and time period summaries. Item titles have been retained from the original labels.

Materials in this collection include: books, comic books, magazines, prints, reference books, slides, photographs, CDs, DVDs, sheet music, newspaper strips, lithographs, and artwork.

Research notes, biographies and timelines compiled or authored by Richard Wright. The original binder names have been retained.

A series of binders compiled by Richard Wright on the history of Black American depictions in comic art.

Part one of four. The full orginial title for the binder that housed these materials was "Clean Fun: Blacks in Comics, African American Artists in the Mainstream: Jules Lion; Geo Herriman; E. Simms Campbell; Matt Baker; Morrie Turner; Brandon Brumsic; Ted Shearer; Black Images for Black People; Ebony; Golden Legacy; Aimed at Afro Market; Negro Romances; Negro Heroes; Hep/Sepia/Jive; In the Black Press; Ollie Harrington; Jackie Ormes; Tom Feelings; Current Artists; Denys Cowans; Ray Billingsley."

Part two of four. The full orginial title for the binder that housed these materials was "Clean Fun: Blacks in Comics, African American Artists in the Mainstream: Jules Lion; Geo Herriman; E. Simms Campbell; Matt Baker; Morrie Turner; Brandon Brumsic; Ted Shearer; Black Images for Black People; Ebony; Golden Legacy; Aimed at Afro Market; Negro Romances; Negro Heroes; Hep/Sepia/Jive; In the Black Press; Ollie Harrington; Jackie Ormes; Tom Feelings; Current Artists; Denys Cowans; Ray Billingsley."

Part three of four. The full orginial title for the binder that housed these materials was "Clean Fun: Blacks in Comics, African American Artists in the Mainstream: Jules Lion; Geo Herriman; E. Simms Campbell; Matt Baker; Morrie Turner; Brandon Brumsic; Ted Shearer; Black Images for Black People; Ebony; Golden Legacy; Aimed at Afro Market; Negro Romances; Negro Heroes; Hep/Sepia/Jive; In the Black Press; Ollie Harrington; Jackie Ormes; Tom Feelings; Current Artists; Denys Cowans; Ray Billingsley."

Part four of four. The full orginial title for the binder that housed these materials was "Clean Fun: Blacks in Comics, African American Artists in the Mainstream: Jules Lion; Geo Herriman; E. Simms Campbell; Matt Baker; Morrie Turner; Brandon Brumsic; Ted Shearer; Black Images for Black People; Ebony; Golden Legacy; Aimed at Afro Market; Negro Romances; Negro Heroes; Hep/Sepia/Jive; In the Black Press; Ollie Harrington; Jackie Ormes; Tom Feelings; Current Artists; Denys Cowans; Ray Billingsley."

Arrangement and titles of folders are retained from Wright.

Arrangement and titles of folders are retained from Wright.

Arrangement and titles of folders are retained from Wright.

Records pertaining to Wright's collecting process, such as purchase documentation and comic research. Retains Wright's original titles and organization.

This series retains original titles and organization.

Scrapbooks and porfolios compiled by Richard Wright. Original order and names retained.

An album with a red cover and a title note taped to the front by Richard Wright that reads "1890's Black Newspaper Cartoons: Howarth, Hamilton, et. al."

A portfolio compiled by Richard Wright of cartoons with Black protagonists from a variety of artists and publishers between the 19th and 20th century.

A spiral bound book with a green cover. The words "Scrap Book" are on the front in black, the "o"s in "book" form the handles of a pair of scissors in the design. The contents of the book are comic clipping of "Henry" and "Lulu" from various newspapers.

A portfolio compiled by Richard Wright of Currier & Ives caricature cartoon prints featuring Black protagonists from the late 1800s.

A portfolio compiled by Richard Wright of Currier & Ives' "Darktown" print series.

A scrapbook with a red cover with gold lettering. A sticker on the spine reads "1872." The contents of the book are illustration clippings from issues of Harper's Weekly.

Newspaper clippings of "The Gumps" by Sidney Smith from The Cleveland News. Signed by the artist with handwritten note.

Newspaper clippings of "The Gumps" by Sidney Smith from The Cleveland News. Signed by the artist.

Newspaper clippings of "The Gumps" by Sidney Smith from The Cleveland News. Signed by the artist.

A grey, tan, and gold covered scrapbook. The words "Scrap Book" are embossed on the cover along with two peony flowers. The contents are newspaper cartoon clippings from unmarked sources.

Arranged alphabetically by title.

Orginal four panel comic layout with edits, pasted text bubbles and handdrawn images.

A two part series, there are two versions of the print titled "A Crack Trotter - A little off" and one print of "A Crack Trotter - Coming Around."

A print on board.

This cel has five characters standing side by side in the asile of a store.

This cel has three characters on a city street corner at night.

A character bust sketch in pencil. The figure is wearing glasses and a button up shirt. There is a scale measurement in the bottom right corner, and notes along the edges.

A multilayer animation cel with three sheets of film introductory text.

Two pen and pencil sketches on paper, the second is titled "Fast Black" and is signed A.L.S.

Original Black Panther comic panel in pen and ink with blue sketch lines, pencil notes, and corrections visible.

Handpainted animation cel signed by the artist and producer.

Two versions of the same cartoon: showing edits in color and design between the first and second editions.

Original comic panel with edits and the artist's signature in pen and ink.

Two original comic panels in pen and ink with edits, visible blue lines, and pencil notes. Signed by the artist.

A colored pencil and graphite character sketch for the film "Coal Black and De Sebban Dwarfs." Signed by the artist and accompanied by the sales paperwork from when it was acquired by Richard Wright.

A handpainted animation cel for the movie "Coonskin." Features a bust of one of the characters with a few background lines, and the identifier "1H56, 5" in the bottom right corner.

A series of animation character sketches on translucent paper.

An original comic panel signed by E. Simms Campbell. Done in pencil and ink with visible edits and commentary.

An original comic panel signed by Chester Gould. Done in pencil and ink with visible edits.

An original comic panel signed by Paul Smith. Done in pencil and ink with visible edits and commentary.

A handpainted animation cel featuring four characters from "Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids." The cel is labeled "FA STK 2027A B-5."

A handpainted animation cel featuring seven characters from "Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids." The cel is labeled "copyright 1981 - William H. Cosby Jr. - Film Assoc."

Sketch in colored pencil and graphite with animation notes and the identifier "Se. 142, STK BG 1909, FA-79" in the bottom right corner.

A sketch of a man holding a basketball in blue pencil and graphite. The label "PB4" is featured multiple times around the image, and the bottom of the page is stamped with "50-2, 3."

A multi-layer hand-painted animation cel with a background, a foreground, and a figure layer.

A multi-layer hand-painted animation cel with a background, a foreground, and a figure layer.

A multi-layer hand-painted animation cel with a background, a foreground, and a figure layer.

A numbered limited edition Heavy Traffic poster. 73/260

Handpainted animation cel of "Carol" from "Heavy Traffic" with certificate of authenticity and sales information.

A cartoon drawn in pencil and signed by Henry Jackson. In red marker along the bottom of the work, someone has written " Examiner Art Staff 1960s - (now deceased)"

A political poster featuring a white and a Black solider shaking hands across from Uncle Sam. Produced by M.A.Stern Chicago.

Original comic panel done in pen and graphite, signed and dated by the artist. Title and trademark information are pasted onto the work, and writing along the bottom edge reads "to Bill Glasgow."

Original animation model sketch of "Inky" from Warner Bros Studios. Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.

Signed by the artist. Original panel on cardboard in ink and graphite. A caption at the bottom reads "The high cost of foods done me more good than my [acolicing?] salon."

An animation cel featuring all three main characters from "Josie and the Pussy Cats" playing instruments on a stage. Their names written underneath their images, "Josie, Melody, and Valerie." Words in the top left read "Prod # 51, (standard size). The bottom right is copyrighted by Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc., and dated 1970.

An animation cel featuring all three main characters from "Josie and the Pussy Cats" with a street scene background.

Sketch in colored pencil, graphite, and watercolor of a Fish in a bowler hat smoking a cigar.

An original comic panel in ink and graphite with visible edits, signed by the artist.

Handpainted animation cel of Uhura in uniform.

Character sketch in colored pencil and graphite with notes.

Character sketch in colored pencil and graphite. Accompanied by certificate of authenticity.

Original drawing in ink, titled in the bottom left and numbered in the bottom right.

Original comic panel in ink, graphite, and gouache paint with visible edits, and notes.

Original comic panel in ink and graphite, signed by the artist. Water damage along the bottom edge.

Two different print versions of the same image, showing varied color and tint choices.

Original comic panel in ink, graphite, blue pencil, and gouache paint with visible edits, and notes. Blue pencil notes at the top left corner read " Page #13, Annual #94, Mn 7. & 7. Force."

Original comic panel in ink with caption edits, accompanited by a handwritten letters by the artist, and the dealer information. The letters are addressed to Rev. E.F. Strickland, dated 1883 September 12 and 1883 October 20, and regard a request for a drawing.

An original comic panel in graphite and ink that appears to have been cut off from a larger comic strip. The artist signature in the bottom left is cut in half. Dated "Fri May 1," 1959. And titled "Capt. Easy".

An untitled drawing of a boy facing away from the viewer. He is dressed in overalls with one strap, holding a bag in his left hand, and a stick in his right. Writing beneath the image reads "SC. 28A".

An untitled drawing of a man holding a boomerang. The number "146" is in the bottom right corner.

An untitled drawing of a female torso clad in an apron and wearing slippers. Writing beneath the drawing read " Prod89 SC54, 269."

An untitled drawing of a female torso wearing an apron and slippers balancing on a tipping kitchen stool. There are notes written all over the image with measurements and accompanying arrows.

An untitled female figure wearing a headscarf and dressed in an apron over a polka-dot dress. Writing along the bottom of the image read "AJ" and "542."

A series of motion sketches of a baby accompanied by a female figure.

A sketch of the centaur "Otika" from Disney's Fantasia.

Bust sketches of two women discussing laundry.

A drawing of Jerry wearing a napkin around his neck as he walks away to the right with a scowl on his face. The number "50" is in the bottom right.

A hand painted animation cel of Tom behind a person on stilts.

A drawing of Tom pouncing around the corner of a wall with paws outstretched. Notes on the drawing read "to reg. see #129", and the number "133" is in the bottom right corner.

An original comic panel for "Outdoor Sports" in ink, graphite, and blue pencil. Signed and dated by the artist.

A painting on paper of a donkey and three birds in a fenced field with a farm house in the background. Signed and titled in the bottom left.

An original comic panel in ink, paint, and graphite for a political cartoon.

Original comic panel in ink, graphite, red pen, and gouache paint with visible edits, and notes. Signed by the artist.

An original comic panel in ink and graphite of a man plucking petals off a flower. The title is written in pencil along the bottom edge.

A multi-layer, hand painted, animation cel. Signed by both artists. Numbered "59/100" in the bottom right corner.

A still life print on board that has been painted over.

An original comic panel in ink, graphite, and white-out on board. It features a man trying to fix a soda vending machine.

An original comic panel in in and graphite titled "Walnuts" from "Sunflower Street." Signed by the arts and dated.

Two different printings of the same cartoon with color variances.

A handpainted animation cel of two character in clown make-up and costumes. The one on the left is labeled as "Buckwheat as a clown," and the one on the right is labeled "Porky as a clown." The cel is titled along the top edge and numbered "0132-8207." Notes cover the entire cel in pencil and pen, the majority appear to be color identifcation numbers.

A drawing in ink and graphite of three men playing cards at a table. The title of the work is in pencil along the bottom edge, along with the artist's signature.

A print of "Little Eva," and "Uncle Tom" sitting in the shade of a tree with a shack in the background. "Eva" has a book on her lap and gestures off in the distance.

A sketch in graphite of a old man wearing suspenders, oversized shoes, a tiny bowler hat, and carrying a crooked cane. The number "143" is written in the bottom right corner, and a the words " PROD 1 52SC 1 6" are stamped next to it.

A painted animation cel bust drawing of a bird in a hat. The hat is a purple tricorne with an oversized safety pin stuck through the front. The bird is white with yellow eyes and an orange beak and appears to be a seagull. The cel is accompaied by an information tag and a scan of a He-Man scene.

A print of seven men dressed in red and yellow shirts and caps with blue pinstriped pants and red shoes with yellow and red stockings. The men have axes and are working with trimmed sticks which are piled up behind them. One man has cut himself in half instead of the stick he is holding.

A sketch of a man in a top hat and coattails hanging on the back of a bucking horse. Signed "FC" in the bottom right corner.

A print of a woman walking beside a man holding a baby. Both are dressed in formal wear, and rendered in shades of tan, brown, and pink. Signed by the artist in the bottom right corner, with the letters difficult to make out.

Two prints, each a bust of a Black child. One in a three-quarters pose, the other looking directly at the viewer.

A woodblock print of a man, woman, and child in formal wear, their features are rendered in blocky forms akin to stylized masks.

A matted painted animation cel of Valerie Brown in her Pussy Cat costume holding two tambourines.

A bust sketch of Valerie Brown in blue pencil and graphite. Notes at the bottom right corner read "7FC SC.31 6e-2 bq.31."

A multi-layer painted animation cel. Features a man with his hands clasped triumphantly above his head standing against a background of a junk pile and wooden wall. Text along the top edge reads "Fa01 BGS4" and text along the bottom edge reads "FA STG 2027A WH5."

Arranged alphabetically by title.

From the series "Negro Drawings," plate 42.

From the series "Negro Drawings," plate 42.

Three prints; the two by Walker are published by Currier & Ives.

Two different print versions.

Oversized poster.

Two versions of the same print.

Print on canvas.

Two rolled posters.

A printout of a man in a bowler hat carrying a cane while wearing a suit.

Pixelated photographs of a comic showing two Black children sitting beside a shotgun.

Two different scenes of a man and woman in fancy dress.

This cover shows a white man with one hand on a revolver standing over a Black man laying on the ground.

Primarily "Mickey Finn" and "Don Winslow of the Navy."

Omaha World Herald

Reproduction.

Biographical / historical:

Richard Wright (1946-2019) grew up in New York and attended college at Bradley University in Peoria, IL on an academic scholarship. He originally planned to study chemistry but graduated with a Bachelor of Political Science instead.

Wright moved to Stamford, Connecticut, where he met and married Minister Deborah V. P. Wright (1953-2012). They had three children together: Aaron Person, Joslynn S. Hamlet, and Porchia M. W. Smith.

Wright spent the bulk of his career working as a court officer in the social services Department of Child Support in Connecticut until his retirement in 2013. He then moved to Williamsburg, Virgina, where he lived until his passing in 2019.

He was an active member of Faith Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church in Stamford, Connecticut. He served as a member of the trustee board, and sang in the Male Chorus and Inspirational Choir. Upon relocating to Williamsburg, VA, he joined Colossian Baptist Church in Newport News, and once again served as a choir member.

Outside of the church, Wright also served as the president of the Stamford Chapter of the NAACP, was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., and worked as a volunteer and mentor for a substance abuse rehabilitation program called Liberation House.

While living in Stamford, Wright began collecting Black comic books in 1986 because "he wanted to have a hobby." His collection eventually grew beyond comics to include books, art works, photographs, and audio visual materials on the same topic. He saw the images that he collected over the years as a way to better tell the story of the depiction of Black Americans in visual media. In 2019, Wright donated his collection to William & Mary so that it might be "a helpful resource to students" in the future.

Acquisition information:
Donated by Richard Wright.
Processing information:

Comic book volumes and other published materials included with this collection have been transfered to Rare Books and cataloged individually.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged into nine series: Research files, Collecting records, Minstrel shows, Scrapbooks and portfolios, Original artwork, Print and poster reproductions, Newspapers, Printed materials, and Audiovisual materials.

Published books and comics can be found in our Rare Books collection.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard