Use Restrictions

The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions.

Custodial History

Some of the materials in this collection were directly donated by the author to Stephanie Grimm, who then in turn donated them to the Special Collections Research Center.

Preferred Citation

Mid-Atlantic minicomics and zines collection, C0316, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

Acquisition Information

Donated and purchased by Stephanie Grimm, Art and Art History Librarian at George Mason University Libraries from 2018-present. Jake Lahah's zines were donated by the artist.

Processing Information

Processed by Amanda Menjivar in May 2024. Finding aid completed by Amanda Menjivar in May 2024.

Accruals processed and added to finding aid by Amanda Menjivar in June and November 2024.

Accruals

Future accurals to this collection are expected.

Historical Information

Zines are small, handmade publications, usually self-published with limited runs. The subjects covered by zines run the gamut of humanity's interests, as anyone can be a "zinester." Zines often include art, poetry, and the personal interests and experiences of the zinester, or author. Zines are "DIY" by nature, and are usually only available in limited quanities.

Zines - short for "fanzines" - became popular with underground science fiction fan circles in the 1930s and 1940s, and grew expoentially in underground and counterculture circles in the 1960s and 1970s. The invention of the copy machine in the 1970s expanded growth even more. Zines and zinesters have continued to thrive into the 21st century.

Minicomics, similar to zines, are small, handmade, self-published comics. Minicomics differ from zines in that their primary content features comics, cartoons, or graphic narrative. Minicomics are not always small, and can range in physical and narrative size.

Scope and Content

This collection contains zines and minicomics created by individuals and small presses from the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, which includes the states of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, as well as Washington, District of Columbia.

Materials were created between 2012-2024. Topics vary - see inventory for more details.

Arrangement

Arranged by acquisition date.

Related Material

The Special Collections Research Center also holds the International art publishing collection and the Tijuana Bibles collection. It also holds an extensive Artists' Book collection.

The D.C. Public Library and the University of Maryland hold zines collections. A list of Virginia institutions with zines collections can be found here.

The Library of Congress, the University of Michigan, and San Diego State University hold minicomics collections.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Anime (Television programs)
• Gender expression
• Gender identity
• LGBTQ+
• Mental health
• Personal narratives
• Zines