A boy who grew up in Chillicothe and then worked for the Columbus Dispatch to became a world-famous cartoonist was part of the focus of a presentation recently.
Jenny Robb, Head Curator of Comics and Cartoon Art, explained the “Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum,” a part of Ohio State University, at the Ross County Heritage Center on October 16th.
Ireland’s full-page spreads and single-panel editorials celebrated Ohio and America during his “fabulous career” from 1898 to his death then 1935. Robb recounted his life, as well as the history and efforts of the museum on the main campus of OSU.
She said Ireland was a mentor to cartoonist Milton Caniff, an OSU graduate who was a founding donor of the museum when he gave his papers and art to the school in the 1970s.
Later, Ireland’s family supported an expansion and so it was named after him. The museum is in Sullivant Hall, the renovated original home of the Ohio Historical & Archaeological Society.
Ross described it as “the largest collection of cartoon and comic materials in the world.” They have a reading room, exhibition galleries to highlight the collections, and temporary exhibitions such as the current “Nancy Show” through November 3rd.
They also have an exhibit at the Decorative Arts Center in Lancaster, “Tell Me a Story When the Bad Girl Wins,” on the art of one of earliest woman artists at the New Yorker magazine.
The museum is free and open to the public Tuesday through Sunday, 1-5pm at the 15th Avenue High Street OSU entrance, next to the Mershon Auditorium and Wexner Center.
Ireland’s childhood home is only a block and a half away from the Ross County Heritage Center, and its current owners and residents attended the talk. The museum has new exhibitions and displays – including a sample of the art of Billy Ireland.
The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum has a website, Facebook page, and X / Twitter account. Hear Robb in her own words in the video interview in the article on the Scioto Post, including a video interview.
Kevin Coleman covers local government and culture for the Scioto Post and iHeart Media Southern Ohio. For stories or questions, contact Kevin Coleman or the iHeart Southern Ohio Newsroom.