Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Jason Epstein papers
Epstein, Jason
18443553
MS#2173
English
.
7 Linear Feet
5 Boxes
1970-2010
Conditions Governing Access
Material is unprocessed. Please contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.
Biographical / Historical
Jason Epstein (August 25, 1928 – February 4, 2022) was an American editor and publisher. While at Doubleday he helped launch Anchor Books and was a key figure in the "paperback revolution" in mid-20th century publishing. He was the editorial director of Random House (1976-1995), and co-founded The New York Review of Books in 1963. He was a key figure in founding the Library of America series and in 2004 co-founded On Demand Books, which with the Espresso Book Machine promised to produce bound paperbacks in minutes from digital files. He studied English at Columbia (BA, 1949, MA, 1950).
Preferred Citation
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Jason Epstein Papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.
Content Description
5 boxes of letters, memos, and manuscripts from Jason Epstein's career as an editor, publisher, and entrepreneur.
Conditions Governing Use
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.
Authors and publishers -- United States -- 20th century
Authors and publishers
Paperbacks -- Publishing -- United States -- History -- 20th century
Publishers and publishing -- 20th century
Random House (Firm)
Box ListTear sheets, general:DVDs- 2; Documents- 12; Booklet (with Jason Epstein biography)- 11Editing: Document- 31Misc Papers: Documents- 71General Correspondence: Documents (letters, note cards and postcards)- 28; Photos - 61Knopf/Cookbook: Documents- 31Speeches; Documents- 41LOA, 1959-1966: Documents- 5 documents, multi-page1The Literary Classics of the United States/The Library of America:Documents- 68; Booklet from LoA- 1; Folder, The Guardians of American Letters Fund documents- 101Contracts: Documents- 151Random House: Documents- 101FDN, Mail, etc.: Documents- 291Book Business: Documents- 90; Booklets- 11Edited Proofs of Book Business – 6 full unbound printed books, 2 smaller multipage edits, 1; bound uncorrected proof1Japan: Documents- 13; Booklets- 22Adler: Documents- 272240 Centre: Documents- 292Siegel, Sacks, Press & Lacher, PC: Documents- 22240 Centre Street: Blueprints- 92SAG Harbor: Documents- 92SH and Montank: Booklets- 7; Documents- 32Research for EH- History & Guide: Documents- 122Inn @ Little Washington: Documents -42Business Correspondence: Documents- 102Garden Readers: Sale Documents- 21; Garden Book Club (Booklets- 6; Documents- 16)2Nabokov File: Documents- 22NY Rev/Sale: Documents- 262Speech 11/29/88: Documents- 22Readers Catalogue: Documents- 132Jason Epstein ODB: Documents- 72Jason Epstein ODB 2: Documents- 172ODB: Documents- 182On Demand: Documents- 332On Demand 2: Documents- 7 & Booklet- 12On Demand Books: Documents- 202Amazon Archives:Amazon Documents- 9;Amazon (Blue folder) &Booklets- 2; Documents- 12; Amazon (Green folder); Documents- 42Lillian Hellman: Documents- 22Gray/Black Notebook- Various notes throughout217 books with written notes and edits37 short (and partial) manuscripts with notes and edits3Box of color prints from Staples to add to the archives, scans of books and photographs, kept and/or sold, but with significant inscriptions and letters to Jason33 wood and metal plaques, awards and honors42 round metals with ribbons, awards and honors19882000429 tearsheets and New York Review of Books relevant to Jason Epstein4Various photographs and unframed awards on paper4Envelope of important correspondence with writers4Flash drive of all scans and photographs completed by Cyndi Shattuck Archiving4John Jay award198852 black-and-white matted photos5