Finding aid created by: DW
Date: May 1980
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| 3 Aug 2005 | EAD file created (MRR) |
| 2 Jul 2010 | added bio, scope and detailed inventory (SK) |
Overview of the Collection |
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| Creator: | Bald, Kenneth. |
| Title: | Ken Bald Papers |
| Dates: | 1957-1970 |
| Quantity: | 25 linear ft. |
| Abstract: | Primarily contains over 2,900 pieces of original artwork for the Judd Saxon and Dr. Kildare comic strips; as well as small quantities of correspondence, proofs, photographs, sketches, printed and published material. |
| Language: | English |
| Repository: | Special Collections Research Center, Syracuse University Libraries 222 Waverly Avenue Syracuse, NY 13244-2010 https://library.syracuse.edu/special-collections-research-center |
Kenneth "Ken" Bald (1920- ) is an American comic book and comic strip artist.
Ken Bald was born August 1, 1920 in New York City. Bald attended the Pratt Institute and landed a job at Jack Binder’s studio. After serving with the Marines during World War II, Bald went to work for Timely Comics. Bald worked on comic book characters including, Captain America, Bulletman, the Sub-Mariner and Miss America. Some of his work appeared under the pen name, K. Bruce.
In the 1950s, Bald switched from working on comic books to comic strips and Bald began drawing Judd Saxon for King Features Syndicate. In 1962, Bald started the Dr. Kildare strip, based on the popular television series starring Richard Chamberlain. Bald dropped Judd Saxon in 1963. Bald also created another television inspired comic strip, Dark Shadows, based on the gothic soap opera of the same name. That strip appeared from 1971 to 1972. In addition to comic art, Bald also worked as a commercial artist.
Ken Bald retired with the end of the Dr. Kildare strip in the 1980s.
The Ken Bald Papers consists of one main series and four series with additional material about Bald's career as well as limited material about Bald's personal life.
Artwork (1957-1970) comprises the majority of the collection. Included are approximately 2,968 original comic strips for Judd Saxon (748 items) and Dr. Kildare (1,990 dailies, 230 Sundays). There are also two Dr. Kildare sketches: a portrait of Kildare and an operating room. The Judd Saxon strip features an xecutive turned detective Dr. Kildare strip is based on the television series.
Judd Saxon artwork measures 6 1/4" x 21". Dr. Kildare daily strips measure approximately 5 3/4" x 19" with some smaller at 5 ½" x 17 ½". Sunday Dr. Kildare strips measure 16 1/4" x 23 ½". Daily strips do not have a logo with the name of either strip. Bald worked in pen and ink on illustration board. Zipatone screening was also used and some traces of blue pencil and watercolor are also visible. Corrections and notations appear on the strips in pencil. Some daily strips have engraver's date stamps on the back. Bald also pasted on some elements as many portions of the completed panels were drawn separately and pasted on to the completed panel.
Correspondence (1960-1966) consists of one folder of incoming correspondence. Correspondents include: Coulton Waugh, Cincinnati Enquirer employees and fans. Subjects include requests for cartoons and comments on the Dr. Sky Healer character (1964) from the Dr. Kildare strip.
Photos (1962-1964) contains one dozen snapshots of Bald, his wife and their daughter acting. There are also two Bald family photo Christmas cards.
Proofs (1964-1966) contains eighteen proof sheets for Dr. Kildare. Included are both color Sunday proofs and daily proof sheets.
Published and printed material (1962-1965) contains examples of Bald's commercial art, newspaper clippings, and promotional material for Dr. Kildare.
Daily Judd Saxon strips are arranged chronologically. Dr. Kildare is divided into daily and Sunday strips and arranged chronologically. Correspondence is arranged chronologically.
Access Restrictions:
The majority of our archival and manuscript collections are housed offsite and require advanced notice for retrieval. Researchers are encouraged to contact us in advance concerning the collection material they wish to access for their research.
Use Restrictions:
Written permission must be obtained from SCRC and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.
Special Collections Research Center has collections of over one hundred cartoonists. Please refer to the SCRC Subject Index for a complete listing.
Persons
Bald, Kenneth.
Corporate Bodies
King Features Syndicate.
Associated Titles
Dr. Kildare (comic strip)
Judd Saxon (comic strip)
Subjects
American wit and humor, Pictorial.
Caricatures and cartoons -- United States.
Cartoonists -- United States.
Comic books, strips,
etc. -- United States.
Detective and mystery comic books, strips, etc.
Kildare, Doctor (Fictitious character) -- Caricatures and cartoons.
Genres and Forms
Proofs (printed matter)
Cartoons (humorous images)
Comic strips.
Correspondence.
Photographs.
Occupations
Cartoonists.
Commercial artists.
Preferred Citation
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
Ken Bald Papers,
Special Collections Research Center,
Syracuse University Libraries
Acquisition Information
Gift of Ken Bald, 1966, 1969-1971.
Artwork
Correspondence
Photos
Proofs
Published and printed material
| Artwork | |||||||||||
| Judd Saxon (748 items) | |||||||||||
| Click here for a detailed inventory. | |||||||||||
| Daily cartoons | |||||||||||
| Oversize 1 | 1957-Apr 1958 | ||||||||||
| Oversize 2 | May 1958-Jul 1959 | ||||||||||
| Oversize 3 | Aug-Dec 1959 | ||||||||||
| Oversize 4 | Jan-Jul 1960 | ||||||||||
| Oversize 5 | Aug 1960-Apr 1961 | ||||||||||
| Oversize 6 | May-Dec 1961 | ||||||||||
| Oversize 7 | Jan-May 1962 | ||||||||||
| Oversize 8 | Jun-Nov 1962 | ||||||||||
| Dr. Kildare (2,220items) | |||||||||||
| Click here for a detailed inventory. | |||||||||||
| Daily cartoons (1,990 items) | |||||||||||
| Oversize 9 | Jan 1962-Jun 1963 | ||||||||||
| Oversize 10 | Jul 1963-Feb 1964 | ||||||||||
| Oversize 11 | Mar-Jul 1964 | ||||||||||
| Oversize 12 | Aug-Dec 1964 | ||||||||||
| Oversize 13 | Jan-Jun 1965 | ||||||||||
| Oversize 14 | Jul-Dec 1965 | ||||||||||
| Oversize 15 | Jan-Jun 1966 | ||||||||||
| Oversize 16 | Jul-Dec 1966 | ||||||||||
| Oversize 17 | Jan-May 1967 | ||||||||||
| Oversize 18 | Jun-Sep 1967 | ||||||||||
| Oversize 19 | Oct 1967-Feb 1968 | ||||||||||
| Oversize 20 | Mar-Jul 1968 | ||||||||||
| Oversize 21 | Aug-Dec 1968 | ||||||||||
| Oversize 22 | Jan-May 1969 | ||||||||||
| Oversize 23 | Jun-Dec 1969 | ||||||||||
| Oversize 24 | Jan-Jun 1970 | ||||||||||
| Oversize 25 | Jul-Dec 1970 | ||||||||||
| Sunday cartoons (230 items) | |||||||||||
| Oversize 26 | 1964-Jun 1965 | ||||||||||
| Oversize 27 | Jul 1965-1966 | ||||||||||
| Oversize 28 | 1968 | ||||||||||
| Oversize 29 | 1969-1970 | ||||||||||
| Oversize 30 | Sketches undated - Dr. Kildare portrait and operating room scene (2 items) | ||||||||||
| Correspondence | |||||||||||
| Oversize 30 | Incoming correspondence 1960-1966 | ||||||||||
| Photos | |||||||||||
| Oversize 30 | Snapshots and Christmas cards 1962-1964 - 12 black and white photos, 2 photo Christmas cards of Bald and family, caption information on back | ||||||||||
| Proofs | |||||||||||
| Oversize 30 | Dr. Kildare (color Sunday) May 31 1964, Oct 4 1964, Nov 22 1964, Dec 5 1965, Sep 18 1966 (5 items) | ||||||||||
| Oversize 30 | Dr. Kildare (daily) Feb 1964, May-Jun 1964, Oct 1964, Dec 1964, Feb 1965, Apr-May 1965, Jul 1965, Nov 1965, (13 sheets) | ||||||||||
| Published and printed material | |||||||||||
| Oversize 30 | Commercial art undated | ||||||||||
| Air France Jet-Away Bibleland Holiday, Diamond Art Studio, General Hospital of Monroe County, Hertz, Sales Management, Vick Chemical Company | |||||||||||
| Oversize 30 | Dr. Kildare promotional material 1962-1964 | ||||||||||
| Oversize 30 | Newspaper clippings 1963-1965 - one article about Bald, one Dr. Kildare daily comic strip clipping in French, two color Sunday clippings | ||||||||||