A Crisis of Innocence

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Bridgeport Telegram October 17 1954 crop.jpg
Looks at how crime and horror comic books are effecting youth. It focuses on parents' anger towards the medium, as well as increased levels of juvenile delinquency from children who read comic books weekly.

Lethbridge Herald August 28 1948 crop.pdf
Discusses story of 14 year-old Roy Adams who suffocated and performed an "unnatural sex act" on an 8-year-old girl. The altercation allegedly took place following an argument about ownership of a comic book.

Medicine Hat Daily News July 21 1948 crop.jpg
A review of an article published by Wertham. Looks to crime comics as the primary cause of juvenile delinquency in the United States.

Comic Books Help Curb Delinquency.pdf
Discusses how the State Training School for Boys at Warwick N.Y decided to use comic books as a means of curbing delinquency. The comics utilized were written for the specific purpose of curbing youth violence.

Portland Press Herald March 26 1950 crop.jpg
The journalist speaks with children about why they read comic books, and what they think about the proposed ban on crime comics. Many of the children agree that banning the books would only make them more desirable.

Comics Held No Factor crop.jpg
Utilizes surveys in order to determine that comic books were not actually linked to juvenile delinquency. Rather, poor home life is truly the root cause for delinquency.

Cedar Rapids Gazette October 17 1954.pdf
States that the public's reading tastes are changing as a result of newspaper coverage of the ongoing crisis. Some comic book publishers and distributors are choosing to self-censor, but this effort is not enough to protect children.

8 provinces back opposition crop.jpg
Outlines the fact that eight provinces backed a proposal made by Canadian Justice Minister Garson, which made it a criminal offence to produce or distribute crime comics.

Portage La Prairie Leader March 27 1952 crop.jpg
Interview with a teacher, a deaconess, a child welfare expert and a youth regarding comic books. The general consensus is that better reading habits should be taught by teachers and parents.

Portage La Prairie Leader April 24 1952 crop.jpg
Looks to schools and parents as being the ones that must take control of a child's reading habits, so as to instill in them a want to read books over comics.
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