On November 24, 1953, this letter was sent to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary Special Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency by Eugenia Genovar. Genovar wrote to express her support for banning comic books (like the one shown above), which were then being investigated by the subcommittee to determine if a relationship existed between juvenile violence, crime, and media such as television and comic books.

Letter from Eugenia Y. Genovar Regarding Comic Book Censorship, 11/24/1953, Records of the U.S. Senate (ARC 6120051)

Fight Against Crime No. 19, 5/1954, Records of the U.S. Senate

In honor of the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America today, we are featuring this letter received by Senator Robert Hendrickson (R-NJ) in 1954. Ely Maxwell, Publications Adviser for the Girl Scouts, sent Sen. Hendrickson this letter on October 22, 1954 with a copy of the comic book “Daisy Low of the Girl Scouts.” During this time, the Senate Judiciary Committee had created a Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency. One of the main investigations into juvenile delinquency was the comic book industry. Maxwell hoped that by sending this letter to Sen. Hendrickson, the Senate would see that there were “good comic books.” Sen. Hendrickson replied to Maxwell on November 3, notifying her that he forwarded her letter and comic book to the subcommittee staff. Letter from Ely Maxwell on behalf of the Girl Scouts, 10/22/1954, Records of the US Senate
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In honor of the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America today, we are featuring this letter received by Senator Robert Hendrickson (R-NJ) in 1954. Ely Maxwell, Publications Adviser for the Girl Scouts, sent Sen. Hendrickson this letter on October 22, 1954 with a copy of the comic book “Daisy Low of the Girl Scouts.” During this time, the Senate Judiciary Committee had created a Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency. One of the main investigations into juvenile delinquency was the comic book industry. Maxwell hoped that by sending this letter to Sen. Hendrickson, the Senate would see that there were “good comic books.” Sen. Hendrickson replied to Maxwell on November 3, notifying her that he forwarded her letter and comic book to the subcommittee staff.

Letter from Ely Maxwell on behalf of the Girl Scouts, 10/22/1954, Records of the US Senate

todaysdocument: First Issue of “Mad Magazine”, 10/1952 Happy birthday, Harvey Kurtzman and Mad Magazine! In October 1952, the very first issue of a new comic called “Mad” was issued, written almost entirely by Kurtzman. It soon came under Senate investigation (thus entering the records of the National Archives), which led to the comic book being transformed into the magazine still going strong today. One of these early issues of Mad is on display in the Archives’ permanent exhibit, The Public Vaults, in Washington, DC. (via National Archives Foundation on Facebook) More records from the Senate Judiciary Committee Special Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency! First issue of Mad Magazine, 10/1952, Records of the U.S. Senate (ARC 595430)
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todaysdocument:

First Issue of “Mad Magazine”, 10/1952

Happy birthday, Harvey Kurtzman and Mad Magazine! In October 1952, the very first issue of a new comic called “Mad” was issued, written almost entirely by Kurtzman. It soon came under Senate investigation (thus entering the records of the National Archives), which led to the comic book being transformed into the magazine still going strong today. 

One of these early issues of Mad is on display in the Archives’ permanent exhibit, The Public Vaults, in Washington, DC.

(via National Archives Foundation on Facebook)

More records from the Senate Judiciary Committee Special Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency!

First issue of Mad Magazine, 10/1952, Records of the U.S. Senate (ARC 595430)