THEFOUNDER

Cornelius Coot was the founder of Duckburg. That is pretty much all we know about the duck world's most important character from the past. In his early 1950s comic book stories Carl Barks was adding characterizing elements of architecture and pieces of background history to his invention Duckburg - often with little concern for the overall coherence. A few of the elements went on to become part of the permanent landscape (such as Killmotor Hill and the Money Bin), but most were not needed on a regular basis. Cornelius Coot was one of them. Barks used him in just three stories, each one depicting a different type of statue. Although he was never an important factor in the plots, lovers of Barks all seem to know this elusive character quite well. For this reason he now has his own page...

THE BACKGROUND

Every time Barks needed a character to help form a plot for a story, he just sat himself down and quickly invented one to solve the current problem. Many times this superficial way of acting backfired on him (f.i. he had to alter the characteristics of Uncle Scrooge and Gladstone Gander to suit coming plots, and many times he regretted having invented Gyro Gearloose with the atypical appearance he has), and it is most likely that Barks did not think long and hard about the appearance of Cornelius, either.

He might have thought that a founder of a whole town should be an upright American with solid roots back in time, so he dressed him partly as a pilgrim (hat, shoes, haircut), and partly as a frontiersman (buckskin jacket). In his hands Barks placed an abundance of corn - the symbol of fertility and plenty. Maybe the choice of vegetable even triggered the name Cornelius!?
This is all very straightforward and rational thinking on Barks' part. On the other hand it seems a little bit bewildering that he chose Cornelius to be a coot instead of a 'real' duck. And it is even stranger that he should name his town Duckburg instead of Cootburg. However, this was not the first time that a coot entered the duck world; just think of Grandma Duck whose maiden name was Elvira Coot. For all we know the two could even be related!

THE STORIES

WDCS138 - 1952

Synopsis:
Scrooge and the wealthy Maharajah of Howduyustan are competing to build the most expensive statue of Duckburg's founder, Cornelius Coot.

Remarks:
Undoubtedly, to most Barksists this is THE story about Cornelius Coot. A story which has made an indelible, positive impact.
This was not necessarily so when the story was published in 1952. A parent protested against all the extravagance of showing off wealth by building numerous useless statues. Barks responded that she had missed the whole point; the contest had secured work for countless Duckburgians; lumber dealers, stone masons, transportation workers, jewellers and so forth.

	WDCS196 - 1957 Synopsis: Duckburgians are competing to build the finest snow statue and Donald thinks that a certain poor family should win. But the nephews' statue is better looking. Something has to be done...
Remarks: The nephews are making a snow statue of Cornelius. This time he is grasping an old rifle instead of the corn cobs. Later, Donald is carving a similar statue out of sponges sprayed with plastic Christmas tree frost.

	WDCS201 - 1957 Synopsis: Donald is hired to pour bug powder into Duckburg's water reservoir but by accident he pours red dye into it instead. The result is somewhat different!
Remarks: This statue of Cornelius is standing in the city park. It functions as a water fountain with Cornelius holding a pitcher. It is not on top of a plinth but on what appears to be a small rock. The statue symbolizes Cornelius piping mountain water to Duckburg.