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Statement by Yesterday’s Papers New Administrator Rick Marschall
Faithful followers of Yesterday’s Papers will have learned by now – but scholars, fans, and researchers might only now discover – that the founder of this incredible resource, John Adcock, has passed away on June 1, 2024.
John's work in several fields of popular culture was widely known, died after a long battle with cancer. He left this life just after entering his 74th year, and died at his home in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
John Kenneth Adcock was born in 1950 in Nelson, BC, Canada; and grew up in Trail, BC. He was a cartoonist, illustrator, storyteller, and blogger. As a professional and amateur scholar he shared his love and fruits of research in the areas of comics and cartoons; dime novels and “penny dreadfuls” and various genres of folk music.
In recent decades John devoted himself to this web magazine In its electronic pages he published thousands of articles (many by himself but also by scholars from around the world) and illustrations. It commenced in 2008 with an article about Walt Kelly's Ten Ever-Lovin' Blue-Eyed Years with Pogo. At the time of John's death there had been 5,562,010 page views of the Yesterday’s Papers site.
Yesterday’s Papers is widely respected as the internet's premier site for scholarly essays; news and analysis; reviews and commentary on the history and heritage of the comic-strip art form. It is a reflection of John's personality and priorities that, when he was asked before he died what was among his proudest achievements with Yesterday’s Papers, he wrote, “I was happy about two posts, one about George W. Johnson, known [in that era] as ‘the Whistlin' Coon,' the first black man to record for Edison; and another post about a forgotten sports cartoonist named Dan Leno on the San Francisco Bulletin. Both died with unmarked graves, and both now have markers.”
Significant for scholars, John maintained a meticulous cross-reference index to Yesterday’s Papers contents; and provided links to hundreds of related sites and reference sources, all of which you may see on this home page.
John was a talented cartoonist; among his modest list of published work was illustrations for the children's book Ronald and the Dragon (written by Lawrie Peters; Tree Frog Press, Edmonton, 1975). He contributed to the fanzines Chronicle, Weirdom, and Visions. In Yesterday’s Papers and other venues he extensively wrote on subjects beyond comics history: country, bluegrass, and roots music; animated cartoons; silent films, and Penny Dreadfuls. He had written about the work of Harold Furniss and Ferdinand Fissi for the British magazine Ripperologist.
John worked for years on a major book-length, illustrated history of Penny Dreadfuls, the boys' magazines of the 19th century. He also had recently completed a major treatment of the corporate and creative work of the Chicago Tribune and New York News and their syndicate's classic strips for the revival of NEMO Magazine, a magazine of comics history that initially ran for 32 issues that was and will be published by Fantagraphics.
As NEMO's Editor in Chief, I recruited John to serve as Associate Editor of the new incarnation alongside Jon Barli and John Kelly. John Adcock's book on Penny Dreadfuls and dime novels never was published; and it is my intention to help it see print. At the least, this work will be serialized in NEMO.
John also arranged for me to succeed him as the Administrator of Yesterday’s Papers. I humbly assert and reassure uncountable fans and scholars around the world that to the extent I am able, I will maintain John's standards and integrity. Yesterday’s Papers likely will be a web adjunct of NEMO but firmly retain John Adcock's identification, spirit, and appearance as you see it here. It will continue to publish articles and images from the “yesterdays” of comics, cartoons, and animation.
John Adcock was survived by his daughter Lana (Rick) and son Bryan (Donna); his grandchildren Zachary, Cody, Taylor, Dustin, and Samantha; his great-grandchildren Brantley, Ayla, and Oaklen; his brother Richard (Sheila); niece Roxanne; and his friend Andrea Schmidt. Readers of his many FB posts will know of John's affection for his family dog Gracie. A Celebration of Life service was conducted in Edmonton.
On a more personal note, I represent uncountable people around the world who were touched by John. Family and neighbors knew him, I reckon, as a gentle man – and a gentleman, with a soft voice, devoted to his interests and passions. The legatees of his amazing scholarship no less sensed his gentle spirit and fierce integrity.
I wrote more than a hundred articles through the years for Yesterday’s Papers, and provided many images. John's contributors (and faithful readers) included some of the most prominent comics scholars and popular-culture critics from around the world. Their names (maybe yours among them) are listed in the left sidebar on this home page. After John's death one of his followers, Miron Murcury, wrote that John had been particularly flattered and encouraged that I wanted to write for Yesterday’s Papers. However I surely was not alone in, rather, being grateful to appear in these pages: the web magazine is an essential archive of information and insights, thanks to John's tutelage.
Therefore I am proud that I will be the next captain of the good ship Yesterday’s Papers. I fervently urge contributors from past years – and any scholars interested in contributing to this essential scholarly archive – to submit articles, news, essays, and vintage artwork to me. Contact me through the site or at RickMarschall@gmail.com
During John's last months we managed weekly phone chats. After he had vouchsafed his medical prognosis and imminent death we were liberated, so to speak, to discuss more than comics – life; people we have encountered; faith; the “adventures” of collecting and researching; the magic of our beloved art form; and his legacy.
Like many of his friends, I assumed he had a massive collection, a mountain of documentation and paper archives that populated the columns of Yesterday’s Papers. No. Astonishingly, and admirably, most of his thousands of illustrations and even more facts and data, were gleaned through research and the modern miracle of the internet and screen-captures. This was a lesson for other scholars, and (trust me) likely a boon to his budgets. He amassed an astounding visual archive by hard work, initiative, and imagination. He set a standard.
I have wondered whether John was proudest of his drawings, his cartooning talent. I think so. He was a very good artist. Creative, engaging, and accomplished. He was published a bit – not enough! – and he occasionally shared his drawings, whether “finished” or sketchbook-art, on the web and in letters; unfailingly charming. In turn, I share some here (all copyright, Estate of John Adcock).
For the moment, Yesterday’s Papers can still be accessed at https://john-adcock.blogspot.com. I will try to make it even easier to find through search engines.
There can be no greater acknowledgment of John's scholarship and devotion, and tribute to him, than for me to keep Yesterday’s Papers alive as he would have continued it; and for fans, scholars, and researchers to continue their reliance on it. If I may pledge: it will be Tomorrow's Papers too. Godspeed, John.
- Sketchbook drawing
