Tarzan (Fictitious character)

Taxonomy

Code

Scope note(s)

Source note(s)

Display note(s)

Hierarchical terms

Tarzan (Fictitious character)

Equivalent terms

Tarzan (Fictitious character)

Associated terms

Tarzan (Fictitious character)

2 Archival Descriptions results for Tarzan (Fictitious character)

2 results directly related Exclude narrower terms

Benjamin Kolinsky Collection of Tarzan Memorabilia and Artifacts

  • TxAM-CRS C000540
  • Collection
  • 1966-2017, undated

This collection consists of a large and varied amount of memorabilia, artifacts, and ephemera depicting or concerning the famous character Tarzan, first introduced by Edgar Rice Burroughs in the 1912 serialTarzan of the Apes. All items in the collection depict Tarzan, unless otherwise noted.

Materials include objects such as candy and gum, pocket knives, statues, action figures, mugs, metal signs, and other pieces of ephemera. Tarzan, an intensely popular character, was the first fictional character to be heavily merchandised. Because of this, and because Tarzan appeared in so many different forms of media, including films, television, comic books, and works of animation, it is no surprise that his image and name can be found on a dizzying variety of materials.

Tarzan is often regarded as one of the best-known literary characters in history. He was first introduced by creator Edgar Rice Burroughs in the serialized story "Tarzan of the Apes" (in the pulp All-Story in 1912, book form in 1914), and went on to star in 23 additional novels from Burroughs and published by A.C. McClurg between 1912-1966. Tarzan is a feral white child named John Clayton, marooned somewhere on the African coast with his parents, British aristocrats Lord and Lady Greystoke. The two die soon after their arrival in Africa, leaving young Clayton to be found and raised by a tribe of great apes (who give him the ape-name 'Tarzan').

Tarzan's upbringing brings him heightened strength, agility, speed, climbing ability, and stamina, all of which he uses to defend his loved ones and his beloved jungle from various threats. These include wild animals, rival tribes of apes, lost races that dwell in hidden cities, German troops, strange monsters, and other hazards. In addition to Burroughs' novels, Tarzan has also been featured in numerous unauthorized literary works, multiple films (most notably the franchise starring Johnny Weissmuller between 1932-1948), radio shows, comic books and comic strips, and television programs (particularly the 1966-1968 NBC series starring Ron Ely).

Kolinsky, Benjamin

Tarzan Comic Strip Collection

  • TxAM-CRS C000160
  • Collection
  • 1929-1965

This collection contains a number of strips from the long-running Tarzan comic strip, based on the famous books by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Most of the strips were simply clipped from newspapers, including the Detroit News,  and then put in folders. Others have been encapsulated onto stiff boards.