Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Turner, Morrie
- Abstract:
- 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. In 1972 ABC produced 17 episodes of the “Wee Pals” as an animated series for their Saturday morning lineup.
- Extent:
- 6 linear feet (4 boxes + 2 oversized)
- Language:
- Languages represented in the collection: English
- Preferred citation:
-
Morrie Turner Papers, MS 24, African American Museum & Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library. Oakland, California.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
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. The collection has been arranged into five series: Comic strips, publications, correspondence, biographical material, photographs and artifacts.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Morrie Turner, the first nationally syndicated African American cartoonist, was born on December 11, 1923 in Oakland, California. Turner attended Oakland public schools including Cole Elementary and McClymonds High School before transferring to Berkeley High in his senior year. After graduation he joined the Air Force, where he had his first opportunity to draw a comic strip called “Rail Head” for Stars and Stripes magazine. After leaving the military he returned to Berkeley and married his sweetheart Letha. The couple have lived and raised their family in Berkeley ever since. Turner’s first civilian comic strip “Dinky Fellas” was modeled after his mentor Charles “Sparky” Schultz. In the 1960’s Turner created “Wee Pals” a comic strip about an ethnically diverse group of friends. The comic strip made Turner the first African American cartoonist to be nationally syndicated. Turner and the “Wee Pals” gave back to the community by working with organizations including: the USO, The Boys Club of Oakland, and the White House Conference on Children. The “Wee Pals” originally appeared in only 5 newspapers but that eventually grew to over 100. In 1972 ABC produced 17 episodes of the “Wee Pals” as an animated series for their Saturday morning lineup. In addition to his love of drawing Turner has been committed to raising awareness of African American history. In 1965 Turner became one of the founding members of the East Bay Negro Historical Society (EBNHS).
- Arrangement:
-
Collection is arranged into series and chronologically within the series. Series I. Comic Strips 1964-1995 Original Strips, 1965-1995 News Clippings, 1964-1993 Art Originals, 1985, 1989, and undated “Wee Pals” published compilation books Series II. Publications, 1969-2007 Series III. Correspondence, 1965-2005 Series IV. Biographical material, 1924-2014 Turner family photographs, 1924-1991 Series V. Artifacts, Undated Miscellaneous, 1968-2011
- Physical location:
- African American Museum and Library at Oakland
- Rules or conventions:
- Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard
Indexed terms
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
No access restrictions. Collection is open to the public.
Materials are for use in-library only, non-circulating.
- Terms of access:
-
Permission to publish must be obtained from the African American Museum & Library at Oakland.
- Preferred citation:
-
Morrie Turner Papers, MS 24, African American Museum & Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library. Oakland, California.
- Location of this collection:
-
659 14th StreetOakland, CA 94612, US
- Contact:
- (510) 637-0198