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Giles collection becomes part of world's largest online cartoon archive

The largest collection of British social and political cartoons goes live online today at www.cartoons.ac.uk thanks to the work of the British Cartoon Archive (BCA) housed at the University of Kent. The project funded by JISC, a joint committee of the UK further and higher education funding bodies, will enable free access to over 120,000 images from 250 leading cartoonists including work by Ralph Steadman, Martin Rowson and Steve Bell. A key part of the archive comprises the Carl Giles Collection (1916-1995) and includes original cartoons, sketches, letters and documents from arguably the most famous cartoonist of his generation and creator of the much-loved 'Giles Family'.

The new online database is freely available and contains cartoons from the eighteenth to the twenty-first centuries providing valuable insight into the changing political and socio-economic landscape of the UK. With JISC's funding, the BCA has developed a new world-wide cartoon resource and dynamic portal which will provide the public and researchers with the ability to access, examine and share not only cartoon images but personal material from Giles such as correspondence, photos and fan letters.

The launch of the new website coincides with a Giles exhibition 'Giles one of the Family' running at the London Cartoon Museum (5 November - 15 February 2009) which includes colour covers, drawings never reproduced in the annuals and a recreation of Giles' studio complete with desk, drawing board and reference material. Visitors will also be able to visit the BCA kiosk at the exhibition and explore online the wealth of material available on the new website. For all those unable to get to London and who may have easier access to Eastern Counties Ipswich's Town Hall Galleries will be hosting 'Giles: Drawn to Suffolk' (8 November - 17 January 2009). Giles made his home in Suffolk from the late 1940's and this exhibition focuses on cartoons with local places as back drops and related objects from his archive (see www.townhallgalleries.org.uk).

Dr Nicholas Hiley, Head of The British Cartoon Archive at the University of Kent, said: 'Whether you are a cartoon fan or an academic interested in using the archive content for teaching and research purposes the new website provides the widest possible access to the most important collection of British newspaper cartooning. The development of the site, catalogue and services over the coming months will extend the use of the resource to a far larger number of academics, specialists and enthusiasts and build a considerable international community around these important works.'

Sarah Porter, Head of Innovation at JISC, said: 'The BCA team has been working tirelessly since January 2007 to digitise this extensive collection. JISC and its partners are dedicated to creating online resources that inspire, motivate and foster new collaborations across higher, further education and research to preserve the history of our nation for future generations. The new online archive provides a unique resource, rich in content and fully accessible for everyone to enjoy and benefit from the work of Britain's most influential cartoonists.

Contact: mediaoffice@kent.ac.uk

Story published at 10:30am 7 November 2008