Bill Blackbeard | |
|---|---|
 Bill Blackbeard in 1971 | |
| Born | William Elsworth Blackbeard April 28, 1926 Lawrence, Indiana, U.S. |
| Died | March 10, 2011 (aged 84) Watsonville, California, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Fullerton College |
| Occupation(s) | Writer, editor |
| Known for | San Francisco Academy of Comic Art |
| Notable work | The Smithsonian Collection of Newspaper Comics |
| Spouse | Barbara (m. 1966–2011) |
| Awards | Eisner Award, 2004 |
William Elsworth Blackbeard (April 28, 1926 – March 10, 2011), better known as Bill Blackbeard, was a writer-editor and the founder-director of the San Francisco Academy of Comic Art, a comprehensive collection of comic strips and cartoon art from American newspapers. This major collection, consisting of 2.5 million clippings, tearsheets and comic sections, spanning the years 1894 to 1996, has provided source material for numerous books and articles by Blackbeard and other researchers.[1]