American Booksellers Association records, 1910s-2010s
Collection context
- Creator:
- American Booksellers Association
- Extent:
- 100 Linear Feet 74 RSC; 2 Transfiles; 7 oversize folders
- Language:
- English .
- Scope and content:
-
The records include administrative documents, minutes, clippings, marketing materials, scrapbooks, posters, photographs, and audiovisual material that reflect the ABA's and its membership's many activities in the last 124 years, from annual conferences and training events, to specific marketing campaigns and intiatives such as Indie Next and the White House library.
The ABA produced many different publications over the past century. The records include runs of the Book Buyers Handbook, the Basic Book List, the ABA Newswire, and the American Bookseller, among others.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Founded in 1900, the American Booksellers' Association is a trade association for independent booksellers, with a total membership of over 2500 bookstores. The ABA provides its members with "education, promotion, advocacy, and operational support," from the basics of running a book business to marketing for national campaigns. The ABA is politically active; their campaigns promote free speech, call out the bad practices of corporate booksellers, and encourage voter registration. They also track bills that threaten free expression and engage in lawsuits.
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Material is unprocessed. Please contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.
This collection is located onsite.
- Terms of access:
-
Single reproductions may be made for research purposes. It is the responsibility of the user to secure permission for publication or use from the appropriate copyright holder.
- Preferred citation:
-
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); American Booksellers Association Records; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.
- Location of this collection:
- Before you visit:
- Researchers interested in viewing materials in the RBML reading room must must book an appointment at least 7 days in advance. To make the most of your visit, be sure to request your desired materials before booking your appointment, as researchers are limited to 5 items per day.
- Contact:
- rbml@library.columbia.edu