Comics and Graphic Novels

Morrie Turner dips his pen in ink while working on a comic strip at his drafting table
Morrie Turner drawing cartoon at desk, circa 1970's, Morrie Turner Papers, MS 24, African American Museum & Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library.

Prepare for a visit to AAMLO with these special topic resource guides.

This resource guide is intended to help users locate holdings at AAMLO related to comics and graphic novels.

It highlights holdings in the following areas:

● Selected Library Material at AAMLO
● Selected Archival Collections at AAMLO

Other collections may contain relevant materials. Please contact AAMLO (aamlo@oaklandlibrary.org) with any questions or to schedule an appointment to view materials in person.

A printable PDF version of this resource guide is available for download.

Selected Library Materials

Aya by Marguerite Abouet & Clément Oubrerie ; [translation by Helge Dascher]

African-American classics edited by Tom Pomplun and Lance Tooks

(H)afrocentric Book Jacket
(H)afrocentric Comics: Volumes 1-4

Dark laughter : satiric art of Oliver W. Harrington : from the Walter O. Evans collection of African-American art edited with an introduction by M. Thomas Inge

March by John Lewis ; co -written by Andrew Aydin ; art by Nate Powell

Hip hop family tree by Ed Piskor

All the rage : the Boondocks past and present by Aaron McGruder

Birth of a nation : a comic novel by Aaron McGruder and Reginald Hudlin ; illustrations by Kyle Baker

H)afrocentric. Volumes 1-4 by Juliana "Jewels" Smith ; illustrator, Ronald Nelson ; colorist, Mike Hampton ; foreword by Kiese Laymon

Black images in the comics : a visual history by Frederick Strömberg ; with a foreword by Charles Johnson

Jackie Ormes : the first African American woman cartoonist by Nancy Goldstein

Black comics : politics of race and representation edited by Sheena C. Howard and Ronald L. Jackson II

Golden legacy : illustrated history series

Selected Archival Collections

African American Museum & Library at Oakland Oral History Collection. The African American Museum & Library at Oakland Oral History Collection consists of 79 oral history interviews conducted in 2002-2007.

Morrie Turner drawing Wee Pals Nipper character on stage at Prescott School centennial ceremony
Morrie Turner drawing Wee Pals Nipper character on stage at Prescott School centennial ceremony, African American Museum & Library at Oakland Photograph collection, MS 189, African American Museum & Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library.

Morrie Turner discusses becoming a cartoonist, growing up in West Oakland in the 1930s, and the inspiration and popularity of his comic strip Wee Pals, opens a new window.

Ruth Beckford Papers. The Ruth Beckford Papers include dance programs, correspondence, lesson plans, oral histories, manuscripts, newspapers clippings, and photographs documenting Beckford’s career as a noted African-Haitian dancer, actress, and teacher.

Box 10:2 How I Got to the Top or OOOOOOOOHHHH My Aching Back comic book drafts and letter 1981-1982

Bryant Family Papers. The Bryant Family Papers include correspondence, records, realia, publications, photographs, and artwork that document aspects of the family's work life, social life, and political activities.

Box 2:37 Martin Luther King and the Montgomery Story comic book circa 1957

Oakland Post Photograph Collection. The Oakland Post Photograph Collection consists of 11,797 photographs appearing in the Oakland Post newspaper between 1963-2005.

Box 65:6 Braswell, Shelton / Booklet of Shelton Braswell's Tucky Bucky comic strips, 1979-1980

Wee Pals daily comic strip originals 1970
Wee Pals daily comic strip original, September 30, 1970, Morrie Turner Papers, MS 24, African American Museum & Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library.

Morrie Turner Papers. Morrie Turner, the first nationally syndicated African American cartoonist, was born on December 11, 1923 in Oakland, California. In the 1960’s Turner created “Wee Pals” a comic strip about an ethnically diverse group of friends. The “Wee Pals” originally appeared in only 5 newspapers but that eventually grew to over 100. 

The Morrie Turner Papers consist of five boxes, original drawings and comic strips of the Wee Pals as well as copies of those clipped from the newspaper. Also included are coloring books by Turner, family photos, professional correspondence and contracts as well as an oral history interview with Turner and original hand puppets based upon the Wee Pals. 

Additional Information

Search the library using the catalog.

Consult AAMLO's finding aids in the Online Archive of California.

We are working to create new resource guides. Have an idea for a new guide? Contact us at aamlo@oaklandlibrary.org.