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Department of Special Collections and University Archives
McFarlin Library. University of Tulsa.  2933 E. 6th St.  Tulsa, OK.  74104-3123 (OKT - OkTU)

E. Nelson Bridwell collection

Collection 1989-001

Dates:  1943-1987.

Extent:  (13 boxes, 1 oversize box).

Level of Description:  Item level.

Name of creator(s):  E. Nelson Bridwell.

Date of creation:  Undetermined.

Scope and Content:  Consists of comic books dating from 1943-1987 (some of which Bridwell had some hand in creating), ephemeral materials relating to his career, and personal memorabilia. The comic books are arranged alphabetically by title, then chronologically by date and number. Following the comic books are newspaper and magazine cuttings, issues of Comic Buyer’s Guide, and career-related ephemera. A framed caricature of Bridwell by John Johns is on exhibit within the department. Personal memorabilia includes newspaper and magazine cuttings of articles about comic books and comic book characters; several issues of Comic Buyer’s Guide in which advertisements for the sale of the Bridwell estate appear; correspondence mostly relating to but not written by Bridwell; photographs of Bridwell and family; Bridwell's high school diploma, birth announcement, social security card, DC business card, address book, and 2 blank personalized DC Comics notepads); oversize material (pen and ink layouts for various comics, color separation overlays for 4 comic book covers, and sketches for proposed comic book characters).

Administrative/Biographical History:  E. Nelson Bridwell was born in Sapulpa, Oklahoma but grew up in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He was both a writer and an editor for a variety of comic book series published by DC Comics and was the creator of several comic books.

Access and Copyright:

Language and Scripts:  English.

Finding aid/Inventory:  Finding aid is available online.

Provenance/Source of Acquisition:  Gift of Marjorie Smalley, Bridwell's aunt and executor of his estate, 1989.

Date(s) of description:   Milissa Burkart, Jul 1990, rev. Oct 1996.

Access Points:

Subject Headings 

 
Personal names
 

Corporate names

Places
 
 

Inventory
  Action Comics
1 1968. 363-368.
1970. 385, 387.
1971. 404.
1972. 408, 411, 413.
1973. 422-423.
1974. 439, 442.
1975. 443, 447-449, 452, 455, 461.
1976. 463-465, 468.
1977. 469, 471, 478.
1978. 481-482, 485.
1979. 491, 493, 497, 499, 501, 502.
1980. 503, 505-506, 507-509, 511, 513-514.
1981. 525-527.
1982. 529-530, 534-536, 538.
1983. 541-542, 545-546.
1984. 555.
  Adventure Comics
1964. 326.
1966. 350-351.
1967. 355-356, 359, 363.
1969. 379.
1983. 498.
  Adventures Into the Unknown
1943. 48.
1950. 9.
1951. 23.
1955. 69.
1963. 145.
1965. 158.
1966. 165.
  Amazing Heroes
1984. 114.
  The Amazing World of DC Comics
1975. 8.
1976. 13.
1977. 14.
1978. 17.
  Batman
1966. 179-180.
1967. 196.
1968. 202, 205, 208.
1971. 232, 237.
1975. 266-267.
  Batman and the Outsiders
1984. 12.
1985. 27.
  The Batman Family
1976. 7.
  Batman’s Detective Comics
1976. 463.
1981. 506.
  Batman From the 30’s to the 70’s. 1971. Introduction by Bridwell.
  The Best of Amazing Heroes
1982. 1.
  Binky and His Buddies
1984. 45, 53.
  Captain Atom
1987. 5. Eulogy for Bridwell by Denny O'Neil on last page.
2 Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew
1982. 1-10. (2 copies of #2)
1983. 11-13.
1984. 14-20.
1986. 1-3. “The Oz-Wonderland War” special series.
  Challengers of the Unknown
1973. 80.
  Christmas With the Super Heroes
1988.
  Cracked (Cracked Magazine)
1980. Fall.
1981. Winter.
  Dangerous Times (Evolution Comics)
Vol. 1, 1-5 (2 copies of #1)
  The Daring New Adventures of Supergirl
1983. 7-9.
  DC Annual All-Star Squadron
1984. 3.
  DC Annual Comics Presents: Superman
1982. 1.
1983. 2.
1984. 3.
1985. 4.
  DC Comics Presents: Superman
1978. 1-4.
1979. 5-16.
1980. 17-28.
1981. 29-40.
1982. 41-52.
1983. 53-64.
1984. 65-76. (2 copies of #71)
1985. 77-88.
1986. 89-97.
(See also Oversize 13:1)
  DC Sampler
1984. 2-3.
  DC Who’s Who
1986. April.
  DC 100-Page Super Spectacular
1971. 4.
  Fashions From Fans (See Oversize 13:2)
  Fifty Who Made DC Great
1985.
  Flash
1976. 254.
1980. 288.
  Four Star Spectacular
1976. 1-5.
1977. 6.
3 Ghosts and Other Tales of Terror. 1981. 17.
  The Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told. 1988.
  The Greatest Joker Stories Ever Told. 1988. “The Joker's Happy Victim” by E. Nelson Bridwell, p.159-164.
  The Greatest Superman Stories Ever Told. 1987.
  The House of Mystery
1982. 24.
  The Inferior 5
1966. 62-65.
1967. 1-5.
1968. 6-11.
1972. 12.
  Jonah Hex
1977. 2-4, 7.
1978. 8-11.
1982. 56.
  Justice League of America
1976. 130, 136, 137.
  Kamandi the Last Boy On Earth
1976. 40.
  “Katy Keene.” (See Oversize13:3)
  “Kinney's Lay-Away Plan.” (See Oversize 13:4)
  Krypton Chronicles
1981. 1-3. (2 copies #2)
  The Legion of Super-Heroes
1973. 3.
1980. 259-270.
1981. 271-282.
1982. 283-294.
1983. 295-306.
1984. 307-312, 315, 317.
1985. 319, 324.
1986. 340, 342.
1988. 42.
  Mad (Mad Magazine)
1953. 4, 6-7.
1954. 9-10, 12, 14-15, 17-18.
1955. 21-23.
1957. 34.
1958. 38-40.
1959. 44.
1960. 53.
1962. 69.
1963. 81.
1965. 97.
4 1966. 107
1967. 110.
1969. 125, 127.
1973. 160.
1974. 165-166, 170.
1975. 172, 178.
1976. 180.
1978. 202.
1979. 206-208.
1981. 220-221, 225, 227.
  A Mad Carnival (Mad Magazine)
1981. Warner Books, #59.
  Mad Special. (Mad Magazine)
1971. Spring.
1972. 7-9.
  Mad Super Special. (Mad Magazine)
1973. 11.
1974. 13.
1975. 17-18.
1976. 19.
1978. 27.
1980. 33.
1981. 34.
  “A Mad-Type Look Behind the Scenes At Kinney's.” (See Oversize 13:5)
  More Trash From Mad. (Mad Magazine)
1965. 8th edition.
  Mystery In Space
1961. 69.
1962. 77.
1963. 87-88.
1964. 90-94.
1980. 111-114. (2 copies of #113 and #114)
1981. 115, 117.
  The New Adventures of Superboy
1980. 1-12.
1981. 13-24.
1982. 25-34, 36.
1983. 37-41, 47. (2 copies of #38)
5 1983. 43-48.
1984. 49, 50-52, 54.
  New Frontiers (Evolution Comics)
v. 1, 1-2 (2 copies of #1)
  The New Teen Titans
1983. 16.
  Plop
1985. 60, 63.
  Raymond and the Angel. (See Oversize 13:6)
  Raymond’s Pint-Size-Pin-Up. (See Oversize 13:7)
  Secret Origins
1973. 4.
1974. 6.
1978. 10.
1986. 1-3, 5-8.
1987. 11-15, 20.
  Secret Six
1969. 1-7. (See also Oversize 138)
  Secrets of the Legions of Super-Heroes
1981. 1-3.
  Shazam!
1973. 1-8.
1974. 9-15.
1975. 16-21.
1976. 22-26.
1977. 27-35.
(See also Oversize 13:9)
  Shazam! From the 40’s to the 70’s. 1977. Introduction by Bridwell.
  Showcase Presents
1966. 64.
1967. 68-69, 71.
1968. 77.
(See also Oversize 13:10)
  Starslayer (Black Flame Comics)
1984. 22, 23
  “Sugar.” (See Oversize 13:11)
  Superboy
1956. 53.
1957. 58.
1961. 87.
1962. 100.
1964. 111-114.
1965. 124.
1966. 126, 130, 133-134.
1967. 135-140, 142-143.
1968. 145, 149-151.
1969. 153, 160-161.
1970. 166-167.
1971. 171-172, 175.
1972. 182, 184, 192.
1973. 194.
(See also Oversize 13:12)
6 Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes
1974. 204.
1976. 220.
1978. 241-246.
1979. 247-258.
  Supergirl
1972. 1.
1973. 2-3.
1983. American Honda Presents
1984. 16, 19-20.
  Super Friends
1976. 1-2.
1977. 3-8.
1978. 10-15.
1979. 16-27.
1980. 28-39.
1981. 40-47.
(See also Oversize 13:13)
  Superman
1960. 135.
1961. 146, 149.
1962. 152, 156.
1963. 163.
1964. 173.
1965. 174-175, 177, 189.
1967. 194, 198.
1969. 213, 215, 219-221.
1970. 222, 224-225, 231.
1971. 234-235, 237-238, 241.
1972. 247, 249, 251, 254, 258-259.
1973. 260-261, 264, 267-270.
1974. 271, 273-375, 277-282.
1975. 283, 285-294. (2 copies of 289)
7 1976. 295-300, 302, 305.
1977. 308, 311-313, 315, 318.
1978. 319, 322-330.
1979. 331-342.
1980. 343-354, Radio Shack Issue.
1981. 355-357, 359-366.
1982. (Radio Shack).
1982. 367-374, 376-378. (2 copies of #377)
1983. 379-384, 386-388.
1984. 391, 393-402.
1985. 403-412, 414.
1986. 415-423. (2 copies of #420)
1987. 424, 426-435.
(See also Oversize 13:14)
8 The Superman Family
1974. 164-167.
1975. 168-173.
1976. 174-180.
1977. 181-186.
1978. 187-192.
1979. 193-198.
1980. 199-204.
1981. 205-213. (2 copies of #208)
1982. 214-222.
  Superman From the 30’s to the 70’s. 1971. Introduction by Bridwell; inscription reads: “Merry Christmas /1979/Scott from Uncle Walt/ Aunt Phyllis/ Paul/ Lance/ & Summer.”
  Superman’s Girlfriend Lois Lane
1967. 72.
1968. 82.
1972. 128-129.
1973. 133-134.
1974. 137.
  Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen
1954. 2.
1955. 9.
1956. 10-11, 14-17.
1957. 18-20, 23-24.
1958. 27, 30, 32-33.
1959. 35, 37-41.
9 1960. 42-49.
1961. 50-53, 55-57. (2 copies of #57)
1962. 58-65. (2 copies of #s 60 & 61)
1963. 54, 66-73.
1964. (80 Page Giants) 2.
1964. 74-81.
1965. (80 Page Giants) 13.
1965. 82, 83, 85-89.
1966. 90-98.
1967. (80 Page Giants) 104.
1967. 99-103, 105-107.
1968. (80 Page Giants) 113.
1968. 108-112, 114-116.
1969. 117-125.
1970. 126-134. (2 copies of #129)
1971. 135-141, 143-144. (2 copies of #s 141 & 143)
1972. 145-154.
1973. 155-160, 173. (2 copies of #163)
1974. 162-163.
10 Super-Team Family
1975. 1
  Weird Western Tales
1973. 20.
  Wonder Woman
1987. 7. Eulogy for E. Nelson Bridwell by Dick Giordano inside back cover.
  The World of Krypton
1979. 1-3.
  World’s Finest Comics
1963. 138.
1964. 142, 145.
1969. 182.
1971. 200, 202-203, 205-206.
1972. 209, 211, 213.
1973. 217-220.
1974. 222-226.
1975. 227-229, 231-234.
1976. 235-236, 239-241.
1977. 243-244.
1978. 248, 251-254, 256.
1979. 255, 257-259.
1980. 260-265.
1981. 266-274.
1982. 275-282, 284-286.
1983. 288-298.
11 1984. 299-304, 306-310.
1985. 311-322.
1986. 323.
  Magazine and newspaper cuttings of articles about “Batman” (the movie), Mad Magazine, “Superman” (the movie), and comic books in general.
  Comic Buyer’s Guide.
Oct 9, 1987
Oct 16, 1987
Feb 12, 1988
Mar 11, 1988
Mar 18, 1988
Aug 26, 1988
Mar 3, 1989.
Miscellaneous
  Advertisement/flyer for “Dial 'H' for Hero.”
  Newsletter #7 of the Fawcett Collectors of America Comic Book Cover for Justice League of America, June, 155.
  Comic book cover for Showcase Presents, June, 68.
  Photocopy of ink drawing by Bridwell of Superman and Mad magazine character.
  DC Comics “We've Moved” card with DC office phone list 3 Superman postcards from the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of American History.
Correspondence
12 Bridwell, R.E. 1931. Handwritten letter signed R.E. Bridwell  to E. N. Bridwell.
  DC Comics, Inc. 1986. Typed signed form letter to freelance writers with attachment of DC Comics guidelines, standards and practices for editors.
  Orlando, Joe. 1987. 2 typed letters signed Orlando to Marjorie Smalley.
  Pagan, Kevin. 1988. Handwritten letter signed  Pagan to E.N. Bridwell.
  Sharief, Noralin M. 1986. Handwritten letter signed Sharief to E.N. Bridwell.
  Smalley, Marjorie. 1987. Typed letter fragment. Carbon copy typed letter Smalley to Orlando.
  Thomas, Roy. Typed letter signed and typescript plot for “The Secret Origin Dr. Occult.”
Eulogies
  Dan Malan. Classics Journal (Feb 1987), p.8.
  Marjorie Smalley. “Thoughts of Nelson Bridwell.”
  Mercy Van Vlack. “He Was Such A Nice Fellow, E. Nelson Bridwell...and He's A Hero.”
  Ken Gale. In Interlac #65 (Feb 1987).
  Joe Orlando, Vice-President-Creative Director, DC Comics, Inc. Press release, Jan 27, 1987.
  Rich Morrissey. In Kono Juice #40 (no date).
  Richard Bensam. “E.N.B.”, Feb 16, 1987.
  Al Turniansky. “Nelson, One Last Time.”
  Harry Broertjes. “The True Believer” (no date).
  Judy Rosenbaum. “In Memoriam, E. Nelson Bridwell” (no date). (See also Captain Atom 2:1; Wonder Woman 10:2)
Photographs
  Bridwell featured as a child and as an adult.
  Parents and relatives.
  Photo-still of Bridwell as an extra in a scene from “Superman II” (See Oversize 13:15).
  Bridwell's grave marker.
  Interior and exterior views of Bridwell's New York apartment.
  Get-well poster drawn by Joe Orlando and signed by Bridwell's DC Comics colleagues.
  Autographed photo of Nancy and Ronald Reagan; country home inscribed on back as “Our house on the farm/(Beard family).”
Memorabilia
  Central High School (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma diploma; social security card; DC Comics, Inc. business card; 2 blank personalized DC Comics, Inc. notepads.
  Set of keys in a key case; address book; certificates of provenance for various items housed in the collection.
Oversize
13 DC Presents: Superman. 1982. 46. Photostats of pen and ink layouts.
  Fashions From Fans. 403, p1-3. Pen and ink sketches.
  “Katy Keene.” Black and white sketches for character developed by Bill Woggan; newsletters, commentaries about Katy Keene; dress designs for Katy Keene paper doll.
  “Kinney's Lay-Away Plan” Pen and ink sketch by Bridwell.
  “A Mad-Type Look Behind the Scenes At Kinney.” Pen and ink sketch by Bridwell.
  Raymond and the Angel. no date. 97, p1, no date.
  Raymond’s Pint-Size-Pin-Up. no date. 96, no date.
  The Secret Six. 1968. 2. “Plunder the Pentagon.” Pen and ink layout p1-4, 7-8, 10-21, 23-24. Apr-May issue, pen and ink layout for mockup of comic book cover and proof plus essay titled “Behind 'The Secret Six' Scenes,” p1-15, 17, 19-24.
  Shazam! no date. 256. p1. Color separation overlays for 2 comic book covers.
  Showcase. no date. 63. Pen and ink layout, p9; 71, pen and ink layout, p10, 14.
  “Sugar.” Photostats of pen and ink sketches of a character named Sugar, her roommate, Lila, and Sugar's office family.
  Superboy. 1982. 32. (“Dial 'H' for Hero” series.) Pen and ink layout, p1-4.
  The Super Friends. Color separation overlays for 2 comic book covers, (May #11, July #12.)
  Superman. Book and phonodisc set (phonodisc missing), copyright 1978.
  Still photo of Bridwell as an extra in a scene from “Superman II.”
  2 sketch pads containing life drawing studies.
  Framed caricature of Bridwell by John Johns. (See Special Collections hanging art collection.)
Copyright © 2008 McFarlin Library - The University of Tulsa. All rights reserved.
Revised: 08/20/09.

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