Pop Hollinger
Encyclopedia
Harvey T. "Pop" Hollinger (October 13, 1886 – March 6, 1977) was one of the first comic book
collectors. He set up his retail and mail order shop for new and used comics in Concordia, Kansas
in the late 1930s.
and lived there through his high school years. After high school, he purchased a Harley-Davidson
motorcycle
and camera
, then proceeded to travel the Midwest earning money for gas and food by selling photos he took along the way.
In 1908, Hollinger married and in the same year enrolled at McPherson College
in McPherson, Kansas
. He played football
and baseball
for the McPherson Bulldogs
until he graduated in 1912 with a liberal arts degree.
In 1914, Hollinger and his family moved to Concordia, Kansas
to accept the position of teacher of applied sciences at Concordia Junior-Senior High School
. In 1933 he retired from his teaching job to become self-employed running a service station and operated a secondhand store as a sideline in the basement of a local grocer
. In this store, he launched the first used comic books trading store.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
collectors. He set up his retail and mail order shop for new and used comics in Concordia, Kansas
Concordia, Kansas
Concordia is a city in and the county seat of Cloud County, Kansas, United States. Located on the Republican River in the Smoky Hills region of the Great Plains, Concordia was founded in 1871 and is an economic and cultural center in north-central Kansas...
in the late 1930s.
Early life
Hollinger was born in Chapman, KansasChapman, Kansas
Chapman is a city in Dickinson County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,393.-History:The first settlement was made at Chapman in 1868, and the same year Jackman's mill was built on Chapman creek a little northeast of the present town. James Streeter and S. M...
and lived there through his high school years. After high school, he purchased a Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson , often abbreviated H-D or Harley, is an American motorcycle manufacturer. Founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during the first decade of the 20th century, it was one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression...
motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
and camera
Camera
A camera is a device that records and stores images. These images may be still photographs or moving images such as videos or movies. The term camera comes from the camera obscura , an early mechanism for projecting images...
, then proceeded to travel the Midwest earning money for gas and food by selling photos he took along the way.
In 1908, Hollinger married and in the same year enrolled at McPherson College
McPherson College
McPherson College was chartered in 1887 by the leaders of the Church of the Brethren. The college provides a career-oriented liberal arts education...
in McPherson, Kansas
McPherson, Kansas
McPherson is a city in and the county seat of McPherson County, Kansas, United States, in the central part of the state. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 13,155. The city is named after Union General James Birdseye McPherson, a Civil War general...
. He played football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
and baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
for the McPherson Bulldogs
McPherson Bulldogs
McPherson College athletic teams are known as the Bulldogs. They participate in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference.-Football:...
until he graduated in 1912 with a liberal arts degree.
In 1914, Hollinger and his family moved to Concordia, Kansas
Concordia, Kansas
Concordia is a city in and the county seat of Cloud County, Kansas, United States. Located on the Republican River in the Smoky Hills region of the Great Plains, Concordia was founded in 1871 and is an economic and cultural center in north-central Kansas...
to accept the position of teacher of applied sciences at Concordia Junior-Senior High School
Concordia Junior-Senior High School
Concordia Junior-Senior High School is located in Concordia, Kansas and is a part of Unified School District #333. It is called the "Junior-Senior" high school because the junior high school and senior high school are housed in the same building complex.-Junior High, Senior High, and Middle...
. In 1933 he retired from his teaching job to become self-employed running a service station and operated a secondhand store as a sideline in the basement of a local grocer
Grocer
A grocer is a bulk seller of food. Beginning as early as the 14th century, a grocer was a dealer in comestible dry goods such as spices, pepper, sugar, and cocoa, tea and coffee...
. In this store, he launched the first used comic books trading store.