Frank Stack Papers, 1957-
Creator
Stack, Frank. b. 1937.
Title
Frank Stack Papers, 1957-
Extent
1 linear foot. (2 archival document boxes.)
Description
Biographical Sketch
Frank Stack was born October 31, 1937 in Houston, Texas. He was educated at the University of Texas (B.F.A.), University of Wyoming (M.A.) and received additional training at the School of Art Institute of Chicago and Academie Grande Chaumiere of Paris.
Stack was editor of Texas Ranger magazine 1957-1959 while at the University of Texas.
Stack names his biggest creative influences as Gustave Dore, Roy Crane and V.T. Hamlin (for drawing comics); Edgar Allen Poe, Arthur Conan Doyle, Mark Twain, James Thurber and Al Capp (for writing); Laurel and Hardy, Superman, Phantom and Lone Ranger (for movies and radio).
His early work includes Adventures of Jesus, Feel Good Funnies, Amazon Comics, Frank Crankcase Stories, and Dorman’s Doggie. He has contributed to Rip Off Comix, National Lampoon, Snarf, Drawn and Quarterly, Zero Zero, American Splendor, Comics Journal and Blab! In 1995 he published a non-fiction graphic novel, Our Cancer Year, with Harvey Pekar. Stack was editor of Kitchen Sink’s Alley Oop reprints and serves on the editorial board of Inks, Ohio State University’s comics journal.
Stack has been on the faculty of the University of Missouri since 1963/1964: 1963/1964 to1967/1968, Instructor of Art; 1968/1969 to 1947/1974, Assistant Professor of Art; 1974/1975 to 1977/1978, Associate Professor of Art; and 1978/1979 to 2001, Professor of Art. Stack is currently Professor Emeritus.
[Most of the above information was taken from Comic Book Superheroes (Krause Publications, 1993 pp. 200-201)]
Scope and Content Note
The collection contains material published from Stack’s college days, through the early underground comic book period, and to the publication of our Cancer Year in 1995. An extensive collection of letters from Gilbert Shelton, William Helmer, the Rip Off Press and others is included. Continuities by Harvey Pekar for which Stack prepared art work are in the collection.
Includes copies and originals of articles from newspapers, student circulars and periodicals about Frank Stack and (his pen name) Foolbert Sturgeon. Bulk of the materials are correspondence with co-workers, comics associates, students and publishing companies.
Addenda box integrated into existing series to ensure ease of access.
Current finding aid is at the box/folder level.
Current finding aid is at the box/folder level.
Table Of Contents
Finding Aid: Frank Stack Papers (with series descriptions and box/file inventory).
Finding aid: Frank Stack Papers (with file/folder inventory).
MU Digital Library: Frank Stack Papers, 1957-
Series Descriptions
Series One – Newspaper Articles [Articles from newspapers, student circulars and periodicals about Frank Stack and (his pen name) Foolbert Sturgeon]
Series Two – Reproductions and reviews [Includes clippings and re-prints of older works, and critics’ reviews]
Series Three – Correspondence [Bulk of the materials are correspondence with co-workers, comics associates, students and publishing companies]
Series Four – Proofs and Publicity [Contains Mailers, circulars and flyers; and a list of syndicate proofs available (Shelved in the Underground Press Syndicate Proofs Collection)]
Has Format
Mixed media.
Relation
Call Numbers:
MANUSCRIPTS Shelfmark A02 (Box 1); MANUSCRIPTS Shelfmark A03 (Box 2)Consult MU library catalog for other Frank Stack and Foolbert Sturgeon works in the Libraries’ collections.
Identifier
Provenance
The material in the collection was originally donated by Frank Stack, with several subsequent additions. Photocopies of articles about the artist and his work have been made for inclusion in the collection.
Rights
Permission to publish material in the collection must be obtained from Frank Stack. Contact Special Collections for details.
Access Rights
Most of the collection is available to all researchers; however, permission to use Folders 32-34 must be obtained from Frank Stack. Materials do not circulate but are available to users in the Special Collections Reading Room during service hours or by appointment.
Format
1 linear foot.
Date Created
1957 - 2002
