Zines and Minicomics Collection, 1985- | Special Collections & University Archives

By Anna Culbertson and Adam Burkhart

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Collection Overview

Title: Zines and Minicomics Collection, 1985-

Predominant Dates:1995-

Extent: 42.25 Linear Feet

Date Acquired: 00/00/2002. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: American poetry--20th century, Anarchism, Comic books, strips, etc., Feminism, Gender, Music, Politics, Popular culture, Riot grrrl movement, Riot grrrl movement--Periodicals, Self-care, Health, Transgender people, Women, Young women

Languages: English, Spanish;Castilian

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Zines and Minicomics Collection combines materials from two former collections known as the West Coast Zines Collection and the Comics Collection. The collection ranges from 1985 to the present and includes zines and minicomics on a variety of topics. Concentrations include identity politics (especially riot grrrl, people of color and LGBTQ topics), sexuality and reproductive rights, punk rock, anarchism, activism, alternative lifestyles, creative writing, and popular culture. Notable feminist titles in the collection that began as zines and went on to become major "glossies" include BUST, Bitch, Venus, and Hip Mama.

The collection is arranged alphabetically by publication title, and then chronologically within each title from earliest to latest. A brief description of each publication's content is provided, and links to web versions are available in some instances. Publications are tagged according to the Zine Thesaurus of Subject Terms developed by the Anchor Archive Zine Library in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Use the following link to see this list: http://anchorarchive.org/sites/default/files/2018-12/Zine%20thesaurus%202013-10.pdf

Also included are supplemental materials, including related correspondence, promotional ephemera, exhibit materials, and a small archive of materials generated by SDSU's Zine & DIY Culture Club, formed and officialy recognized as a student organization in 2016.

Subject/Index Terms

American poetry--20th century
Anarchism
Comic books, strips, etc.
Feminism
Gender
Music
Politics
Popular culture
Riot grrrl movement
Riot grrrl movement--Periodicals
Self-care, Health
Transgender people
Women
Young women

Administrative Information

Repository: Special Collections & University Archives

Accruals: 2002-present

Access Restrictions: This collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions: The copyright interests in these materials have not been transferred to San Diego State University. Copyright resides with the creators of materials contained in the collection or their heirs. The nature of historical archival and manuscript collections is such that copyright status may be difficult or even impossible to determine. Requests for permission to publish must be submitted to the Head of Special Collections, San Diego State University, Library and Information Access. When granted, permission is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical item and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder(s), which must also be obtained in order to publish. Materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials.

Acquisition Source: Multiple donors

Related Materials: For more information please see http://www.robertsstreet.org/thesaurus/out.htm.

Finding Aid Revision History: Revised 5/2014; collection rearranged to combine formerly-titled West Coast Zines Collection (MS-0278) and selected titles from the Comics Collection (MS-0091).

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

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Box A6

Item 1: Art Prostitute: Each issue includes 2 folded posters.; Acquisition Information: Donated by Markel Tumlin, 2015; Author / Publisher: various (Art Prostitute); Category: art; Date / Volume: #1 (April-June 2003), #2 (July-Sept. 2003); Publication Place: Denton, TX
Item 2: Artificial Vanilla: Personal zine with stories from the author's working life as an inner-city librarian.; Author / Publisher: 398 (self-published); Category: personal stories; social class; Date / Volume: #1 (Aug. 2008); Publication Place: Sarasota, FL
Item 3: Artistic License: Collaborative minicomic by Colin Upton and Stephen Geary. Written by Upton and drawn by Geary. This one-off story involves a sculptor, notorious for employing embalmed animals in her work, who eventually adopts more controversial material.; Author / Publisher: Colin Upton (Writer) and Stephen Geary (Artist) (self-published); Category: comics; horror; Date / Volume: One Shot (1989); Publication Place: Vancouver, B.C. Canada
Item 4: #ArtLife: "Musings and Advice from a Queer Art Activist of Color." The author describes her life as a freelance artist and media producer and gives advice on how to make a living as an artist. She also discusses her opinions on the need for art to be political and how art schools supress political art and by extension the experiences of oppressed communities. The advice comes from a queer person of color and is primarily intended for others from marginalized communities wishing to become artists.; Author / Publisher: Nia King (self-published); Category: activist art; advice; art; art school; artists; oppression; people of color; queer; race; Date / Volume: [2000s]; Publication Place: unknown
Item 5: Arts & Giraffes: Personal zine with experimental poetry and diaristic writings.; Author / Publisher: K* (self-published); Category: crafts; drawing; experimental poetry; friends; personal stories; writing; Date / Volume: #1-6, 8 (winter 2003-2004); Publication Place: San Francisco, CA
Item 6: As You Were: Autobiographical comics about punk shows, relationships, roommates, etc.; Author / Publisher: Mitch Clem (ed.), Avi Ehrlich (publisher) (Silver Sprocket); Category: autobiographical comics; personal stories; punk; punk houses; punk shows; roommates; relationships; Date / Volume: #1 (summer 2013), #3 (April 2014), #4 (fall 2015); Publication Place: USA (#1, 4), Canada (#3)
Item 7: Asking for It: Personal zine about a sexual assault and the resulting psychological trauma.; Author / Publisher: (Never-You-Mind Productions); Category: insomnia; rape; sexual assault; surviving abuse; violence against women; Date / Volume: #1 (n.d); Publication Place: unknown
Item 8: Assassin and the Whiner: Author / Publisher: Carrie McNinch (self-published); Category: comics; humor; Date / Volume: #9 (winter 1998-9)-#14 (Feb.-June 2000); Publication Place: Los Angeles, CA
Item 9: Assembly Required: Zine of interviews and reviews of concerts and movies; Author / Publisher: Richard Assembly (Assmbly Required/self-published); Category: bands; interviews; music; music reviews; punk; zine reviews; Date / Volume: 1988; Publication Place: Indio, CA
Item 10: @Large: A TokyoPop "hip hop manga" sampler. www.tokyopop.com/hiphop; Author / Publisher: Ahmed Hoke (TokyoPop); Category: comics; hip hop; music; Date / Volume: (2004?); Publication Place: Los Angeles, CA
Item 11: Attack: Zine reflecting on self-image and how society makes women think a certain way. This zine encourages people to think for themselves.; Author / Publisher: Eve (self-published); Category: body image; eating disorders; feminism; personal stories; poetry; women; Date / Volume: #2 (n.d.); Publication Place: Laguna Niguel, CA
Item 12: Attitude Adjustment: On Being Crazy in a Crazy World...": Minicomic describing a visit to a therapist, the meaning of the word "well-adjusted," and what constitutes "crazy."; Author / Publisher: unknown; Category: animal rights; anxiety; cancer; comics; mental health; politics; pollution; therapy; Date/ Volume: unknown; Publication Place: unknown
Item 13: Axehandle: "A 24-Hour Comic." Third printing (summer 2004); Author / Publisher: Dave Bort (Bug Jar Press); Category: comics; Date / Volume: (2003); Publication Place: unknown