Collection inventory

Overview of the Collection
Creator:	Bald, Kenneth.
Title:	Ken Bald Papers
Inclusive 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

Biographical History

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.

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Scope and Contents of the Collection

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.

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Arrangement of the Collection

Daily Judd Saxon strips are arranged chronologically. Dr. Kildare is divided into daily and Sunday strips and arranged chronologically. Correspondence is arranged chronologically.

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Restrictions

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.

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Related Material

Special Collections Research Center has collections of over one hundred cartoonists. Please refer to the SCRC Subject Index for a complete listing.

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Subject Headings

Persons

Corporate Bodies

Associated Titles

Subjects

Genres and Forms

Occupations

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Administrative Information

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.

Finding Aid Information

Created by: DW
Date: May 1980
Revision history: 3 Aug 2005 - EAD file created (MRR); 2 Jul 2010 - added bio, scope and detailed inventory (SK)

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Inventory

	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

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