News from RBML’s Archivists | November 2019

vintage assorted books on shelf

Photo credit: Roman Craft

Head Archivist Kevin Schlottmann shares collections new from the RBML

Here are some new and updated finding aids, reflecting work by archivists in archival processing, collections management, and university archives, as well as by our graduate student internship program. – KWS

Updated links to following collections are now included in the finding aids:

Gregory Corso Papers

John Eugene Unterecker Papers

Judith Crist Papers

Lee Lockwood Papers

C.L.R. James Papers

Malcolm X Project records

Book Arts Ephemera collection, 1890-2019

Description of 158 linear feet of printing history ephemera, available online for the first time!

“These files have been compiled by the Rare Book and Manuscript Library from its origin in 1930 through the present day. The material derives largely from gifts, and the occasional purchase; much of the subject file in particular is made of ephemera included in the American Type Founders, Co. Library, purchased in 1942. Prospectuses and information sent by fine presses and book artists are added to the relevant files in an ongoing fashion. The files cover subjects from the beginning of printing to the current day.”

1791 New York City Legal Deposition by Free African American Woman Nelley Mumpherd, 1791

William Yukon Chang papers, 1920-2010

“William Yukon Chang was the founder and editor of “Chinese-American Times”, a Chinese American paper that published completely in English from 1955 to 1972. While running the newspaper, Chang also served in local social and civic groups to address issues facing the New York Chinatown community, including poverty, juvenile delinquency, mental illness and lack of access to adult language programs. The William Yukon Chang papers document Chang’s life and career, Chinese American life, and social service and activism scene in the Lower East Side from the 1950s to the 1970s.”

Leonide Massine Papers, 1914-1963

“The bulk of the collection consists of letters to a well known Russian ballet dancer and choreographer Leonide Massine (Leonid Fedorovich Miasin) from prominent Russian émigré dancers, composers, writers and artists, such as Alexandre Benois, Naum Gabo, Vernon Duke, Wassily Kandinsky, Serge Lifar, Nikolai Minskii, Evgenii Zamiatin and others. Also includes Massine’s lecture, notes for various ballet productions, documents and financial matters. Related to several BAR collections: Dobuzhinsky Papers, Zamiatin Papers, and Shervashidze Papers.”

Serge Hollerbach papers, 1914-2019

“The Serge Hollerbach Papers consist of correspondence, photographs, sketchbooks and artworks, writings, notebooks, biographical materials, documents related to the life and career of Serge Hollerbach, Russian émigré artist, critic and author”

Nicholas Publishing Company records

“The orders Nicholas placed on behalf of the CNPIC, which averaged around 5,000 documents annually, were among the largest technical information purchases recorded by the Department of Commerce. One particular order, for example, was for the 10,000 microfiches (approximately 600,000 pages) of NASA documents from the 1960s. Nicholas’ role in this large-scale information transfer was indispensable because at the time the US had not recognized the PRC, and all interaction between the two governments needed to go through private channels. After the two governments established formal diplomatic relations in 1979, CNPIC ceased placing orders through Nicholas and the relationship came to an abrupt stop.”

George W. Perkins Sr. papers, 1871-1920

“The papers of George Walbridge Perkins, 1862-1920, financier and industrialist. Perkins was a vice president of the New York Life Insurance Company, and a partner in the financial firm of J.P. Morgan; he also took an active part in the formation of the International Harvester Company, and the Northern Securities Company, and in the management of the U. S. Steel Corporation.”

Ol’ga Ivanovna Subbotina Papers, 1846-1954

“Correspondence, documents, diaries and notebooks, photographs, printed materials and memorabilia of Olǵa Ivanovna Subbotina (or Soubbotine, 1886-1963), her grandmother, Marii︠a︡ Sergeevna Benckendorff, and her sister, Elizaveta Ivanovna Taube (Mrs. Harold Roberts). The correspondence includes letters and telegrams of Aleksandra Fedorovna, Empress of Russia. The letters of Marii︠a︡ Benckendorff’s son, Vasiliĭ Dolgorukov, provide information about the Imperial family in 1916-1918.”

William O. Trapp papers, 1940s-1950s

“This collection consists of William Trapp’s lectures and class materials for his Government and Writing courses taught at the School of General Studies in the 1940s and 1950s. ”

Daniel J. Leab papers, 1961-1989

“This collection consists of Leab’s University Seminars records, University Senate minutes and his chronological files. ”

John Jay II Papers, 1834-1911

“John Jay II was a graduate of Columbia College and an abolitionist. This collection includes letters, legal and financial documents, newspaper clippings, writings, photographs, circulars, and pamphlets.”

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