The Comix Files: Lynda Barry

Lynda and I actually corresponded quite a bit in the 1970s, but a lot of it vanished throughout my many moves in that era. However, a few bits have survived. These are from 1975-1979. Lynda had sent me a photo of herself, taken in 1975, and cut out her face for reasons mysterious.

As I recall the postcard was hand-delivered.

Del Rio West

Yesterday I was conversing with one of my professional colleagues and discovered she was from Ann Arbor, Michigan. I asked her if she knew of the Del Rio and her face lit up. Apparently the Del Rio is long gone, but fondly remembered by many. This morning she sent me a link to a fun article by John Tebeau, who provides a cartoonists-eye view of the Del Rio. Here's the LINK.

So how do I know about the Del Rio even though I have never been to Ann Arbor? The son of the owner was one of my roomies during my student years at The Evergreen State College and in those days a group of us set up a drinking area called Del Rio West. I snapped the photo below in January, 1975:

The Comix Files: Anonymous 2

This anonymous letter from 1988 included a torn out shred from the Feb. 17, 1988 (exactly 26 years ago today!) issue of the East County News, our local weekly newspaper. I believe this article was kicking off the East County Comix strip I drew for that paper for nearly two years. 

The reproduced panel "Repeat after me, 'Question authority!'" panel was originally used, I believe, in the Cooper Point Journal, student newspaper for The Evergreen State College. Libertarian Socialist might sound like an oxymoron, but that comes the closest to describing my political philosophy.

As a result of watching too many demonstrations at Evergreen, I grew to hate megaphones. After awhile I concluded that anyone using them was a hustler. Hence, this cartoon panel, which I still love.

But the irony is missed by many. The following anonymous writer was apparently arrested as a result of protesting the WPPSS nuclear plant here in Grays Harbor County. And it never went online. Whoever you are, thank you! for helping to stop that insane project.

Here was her cartoon response:

Morty Comix # 2690

Morty Comix # 2690 was left in a spot that is somewhat significant in the history of comic art. The College Activities Building (CAB) on the campus of The Evergreen State College was home to the campus newspaper, The Cooper Point Journal, during the era when staff included cartoonists Matt Groening, Lynda Barry, Charles Burns, Jim Chupa, Flicky Ford, T.J. Simpson, and yours truly, among others.

The exact location of the 1970s CPJ office has since been part of a giant remake. The present area is filled with offices for student organizations. Even the outside looks different, including some kind of extension with wood panel siding.

I left Morty Comix # 2690 behind a decorative wall panel, which back in the 1970s would've been on the left hand of the entrance to the CPJ offices.

Postcard - Seattle, Washington

"University of Washington. This aerial view shows Lake Washington and the Evergreen Point Floating bridge in the background."

1970s.

That Gothic structure near the center of the image and above the Red Square is Suzzallo Library, which is not only the graduate library but was also home to the Graduate School of Library and Information Science. To give you an idea of how captivating it was to be a student in this institution, the nearly 200 pages of my monster comic Assorted Thoughts on Insanity was almost entirely composed while enduring lectures in this delightful program.

After attending undergrad at the wild and experimental Evergreen State College in the 1970s, going to the UW was like stepping back into high school. But I did enjoy being on a large academic campus in a major city.

City Limits Gazette at The Evergreen State College

Not very many academic libraries have a near complete set of City Limits Gazette 1991-1993,  and those that do probably don't have copies out on open stacks-- except for The Evergreen State College Library. 

Notice how the staff used logos by Max Traffic and Bruce Bolinger to decorate the holding box.

I'm happy to note that on the shelves CLG is neighbors with Vital Speeches of the Day and American Literary History. Hoit-de-la-Toit company!

As an added bit of trivia, CLG is shelved at about the same point where the TESC Library ghost was spotted walking into an invisible door in 1988.

Found Object in Elma Leads to a Bizarre Case

"I'm a creepy stalker! morelater.com/creep"

"His name is Rick or Eric. His phone number is 360-970-3081. He's been stalking a blind woman since September. He got her number by following her around and listening to her. She called the cops, but they wouldn't do anything. Know any more about him? Call 425-522-3748."

So I'm minding my own business like a Norm, walking down the gritty sidewalks of Elma, Washington, when I spy this little (1.5 x 2.5 inch) card on the ground.

For those of you who enjoy a little detective work like I do, be prepared to enter a bizarre case here when you dig a bit. Naturally it involves my alma mater, The Evergroove State College!

There are two sides to everything, and I am making no conclusion here, merely reporting.

As a Morty Comix distributor I am curious how many of these little cards were printed and how they were scattered. And why did I find one on the sidewalks of Elma?

I'll add this to the next box I'll be sending to the WSU Comix Collection. It qualifies as a micro-zine-- an independent voice using nontraditional print channels to be heard.

Postcard - Olympia, Washington

"The Evergreen State College, Olympia, Washington. Evergreen's 1000 acre campus is located in a wooded area of rolling hills on the Cooper Point Peninsula, five miles northwest of downtown Olympia. The site includes 3,300 feet of undeveloped waterfront on Eld Inlet of Puget Sound."

Postmarked 7 SEP 1979.

Postcard - Olympia, Washington

 

"Daniel J. Evans Library Building. This modern facility, housing seminar rooms and offices as well as up-to-the-minute library operations, is part of a 1000 acre campus on the Cooper Point Peninsula, five miles northwest of downtown Olympia."

Ah, back in the days when tuition for in-state students was less than $200 a quarter. It all became out of reach after Reagan, kids.

This card was handed to me in the spring of 1975, judging by the address. "Rena" was one of the many names used by Lynda Barry, the author of this missive. "Stella" and "Plex" were a couple other monikers for her. My trivia claim to fame in Cartoonland is that I knew Lynda Barry and Matt Groening before they knew each other.

Postcard - Olympia, Washington

"The Evergreen State College, Olympia, Washington. Evergreen's 1000 acre campus is located in a wooded area of rolling hills on the Cooper Point Peninsula, five miles northwest of downtown Olympia. The site includes 3,300 feet of undeveloped waterfront on Eld Inlet of Puget Sound."

Late 1970s.

Phone photo 2261

Phone photo 2260

Phone photo 2259

An interesting piece aging and rusting behind a building at The Evergreen State College, Olympia, Washington

Morty Comix # 2523

Morty Comix # 2523 was left on a distribution rack for the student newspaper The Cooper Point Journal at The Evegreen State College, Olympia, Washington.

Phone photo 2208

2B or not 2B, that is the question

Phone photo 2207

The Evergreen State College

Olympia, Washington

Morty Comix # 2500

Morty Comix # 2500 was left, fittingly enough for this landmark issue, in an empty bin that serves as a distribution point for the Cooper Point Journal, student paper at The Evergreen State College. It was deposited on campus in front of the office of radio station KAOS-FM.

Although this building has been remodeled, I think the CPJ offices were located for a few years in the early 1980s where KAOS is now.