E-mail
PrintCOLUMBIA — Miss Buxley, replete with her red dress, resides in a box with General Halftrack, Sarge and Beetle Bailey.
The dolls are part of a special collection of comic books, sketches and original works of Mort Walker housed on the fourth floor of Ellis Library.
- Former Shack owner Joe Franke sat down with the Missourian to discuss the history of his former business and how it inspired Beetle Bailey cartoonist Mort Walker.
The Special Collections Library is a place where visitors, students and patrons can see and touch a piece of history.
The Mort Walker Collection, part of the library's Comic Art Collection, includes a large inventory of posters, photographs, cartoons — even a set of Beetle Bailey salt and pepper shakers and The Old Army Game made by Milton Bradley Co.
The collection also includes issues of ShowMe magazine, a campus publication that featured Walker’s early works as an MU student.
Karen Witt, special collections librarian, said Walker boosted ShowMe's circulation through his humor and art.
In 1992, Walker donated memorabilia to the collection. Other donors have contributed as well.
A display that includes older versions of Spiderman, Batman and Superman comic books is one of the most popular, Witt said, especially for those taking a tour. “We stress the variety of things we have,” she said.
The Special Collections Library, located in 401 Ellis Library, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Visitors should take the elevator to the third floor, turn left, and the library is at the top of the stairs or a handicap-accessible ramp.
Visitors are encouraged to call ahead and let the librarians know what they are looking for. Visitors can also go to the Special Collections website for an inventory check.
Anyone wishing to access and handle anything from Special Collections must have a photo ID and fill out a form with contact information. Witt said people should “take great care with what they’re using.”
“We definitely want people to come and visit,” she said. “We have something for any interest here.”
Show Me the Errors 
Comments