The Authentic History Center is comprised of images of artifacts, sounds, and written letters and diaries. We believe that these items reflect the history and societal values of the time period in which they were produced. They are presented here for individual study of American History.

TREASURE CHEST was a monthly comic published by the Catholic Guild from 1946 to 1972. Each issue featured several different stories intended to inspire citizenship, morality, and patriotism. In the 1961, volume 17, number 2 issue, the story "This Godless Communism" began. It continued in the even numbered issues through number 20. The entire story is presented here.

I wasn't working in comics at that time...or until 1972...but I can tell you that the fallout left the creators of the time with a kind of "we're all in this together" attitude. This expressed itself in creators, editors, and staffers trying to find work for the older creators. There was a sense of not quite obligation, but more like kinship.

A few of the creators from my generation picked up on that and continued to operate in that vein. Most did not.

During the years when I was running both a comic-book shop and a comics distributorship, I'd visit the Marvel offices from time to time. I'm talking early 1980s here. I was also writing the very occasional fill-in for Marvel.

Danny Crespi, who was Marvel's production manager and one of the nicest guys in the world, would always ask me if I had enough work and offer to talk to Shooter and the other editors for me. I never took Danny up on this because, though I wasn't writing too many comics stories, I *was* busy and earning a decent living. But he made me feel like I still part of the community.

That has been largely lost today. I have seen writers go from three monthly titles to none in a matter of one month...and then be told that they have to generate their own future assignments. I've advised younger creators over and over again that the gravy train always stops and they should be planning for that...putting some of the money away when they are making it and keeping their hand in other pies. Talking with some of my contemporaries, I frequently express how much I miss the days when even a second-stringer like me could make a few phone calls and find some work for an artist or a writer in need.

I wanted to jot down a quick note to say "Thank You" for the wonderful novel you've written. I truly loved every minute. There was so much great stuff in it. It was nice how you had a nod to the current ENTERPRISE series as well as "Section 31." Those small things make the Star Trek world appear seamless. I truly hope you plan on writing more Cogley books.

At last! In my office next to my Emmy, my People's Choice Award, and my Annie for animation work, I can place my FIVE Tonys! Thank you so much for taking the time and interest to review the work that I have been so utterly passionate about, DETECTIVE #27. When the "Liz Smith" of the comics world proclaims your work has merit, the word gets out to many who might otherwise not consider picking up the book. After all, it is a Batman book *without* the costumed Batman in it.

I'm hoping your review...along with some strong numbers...will help Peter Snejbjerg and I get to do the grand sequel story we have in mind. Peter just e-mailed me, thrilled, because he just learned that this will be the first comic book work he's done for DC that is being published in Danish. Best wishes for a happy, healthy new year, and thanks again.

Among the many collections I have suggested to DC is a volume reprinting the best of Superman's (and his family's) meetings with real historical and entertainment industry figures. I envisioned a colorful volume which would reprint these stories and follow each with a breezy factual afterword.

There were no takers. DC has a massive library of material, but the company often seems incapable of thinking outside the box (the Archives, "lost" annuals, collections of recent arcs) when it comes to utilizing it more fully. Sigh.

Producers Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall (Seabiscuit, Schindler's List, Sixth Sense, The Color Purple) have acquired the movie rights to the young adult novel, THE AMAZING TRUE STORY OF A TEENAGE SINGLE MOM (Hyperion, 1998) from author/artist Katharine Arnoldi. The book is Arnoldi's real life story, including being a teen mom, dating, trying to find a job and being abused as a child. Arnoldi's book tells her story in a graphic novel (black and white illustrated panels) format.