Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Jason Epstein papers
Epstein, Jason
18443553
MS#2173
English
/repositories/2/resources/6795
7 Linear Feet
4 RSC Boxes and 1 flat item (MC 15-B-3)
1970-2010
Conditions Governing Access
Material is unprocessed but can be made available without further review. 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
Five 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 List/repositories/2/archival_objects/1608547Tear sheets, general:/repositories/2/archival_objects/1608548DVDs- 2; Documents- 12; Booklet (with Jason Epstein biography)- 1/repositories/2/archival_objects/16085491Editing: Document- 3/repositories/2/archival_objects/16085501Misc Papers: Documents- 7/repositories/2/archival_objects/16085511General Correspondence: Documents (letters, note cards and postcards)- 28; Photos - 6/repositories/2/archival_objects/16085521Knopf/Cookbook: Documents- 3/repositories/2/archival_objects/16085531Speeches; Documents- 4/repositories/2/archival_objects/16085541LOA, 1959-1966: Documents- 5 documents, multi-page/repositories/2/archival_objects/16085551The Literary Classics of the United States/The Library of America:/repositories/2/archival_objects/1608556Documents- 68; Booklet from LoA- 1; Folder, The Guardians of American Letters Fund documents- 10/repositories/2/archival_objects/16085571Contracts: Documents- 15/repositories/2/archival_objects/16085581Random House: Documents- 10/repositories/2/archival_objects/16085591FDN, Mail, etc.: Documents- 29/repositories/2/archival_objects/16085601Book Business: Documents- 90; Booklets- 1/repositories/2/archival_objects/16085611Edited Proofs of Book Business – 6 full unbound printed books, 2 smaller multipage edits, 1; bound uncorrected proof/repositories/2/archival_objects/16085621Japan: Documents- 13; Booklets- 2/repositories/2/archival_objects/16085632Adler: Documents- 27/repositories/2/archival_objects/16085642240 Centre: Documents- 29/repositories/2/archival_objects/16085652Siegel, Sacks, Press & Lacher, PC: Documents- 2/repositories/2/archival_objects/16085662240 Centre Street: Blueprints- 9/repositories/2/archival_objects/16085672SAG Harbor: Documents- 9/repositories/2/archival_objects/16085682SH and Montank: Booklets- 7; Documents- 3/repositories/2/archival_objects/16085692Research for EH- History & Guide: Documents- 12/repositories/2/archival_objects/16085702Inn @ Little Washington: Documents -4/repositories/2/archival_objects/16085712Business Correspondence: Documents- 10/repositories/2/archival_objects/16085722Garden Readers: Sale Documents- 21; Garden Book Club (Booklets- 6; Documents- 16)/repositories/2/archival_objects/16085732Nabokov File: Documents- 2/repositories/2/archival_objects/16085742NY Rev/Sale: Documents- 26/repositories/2/archival_objects/16085752Speech 11/29/88: Documents- 2/repositories/2/archival_objects/16085762Readers Catalogue: Documents- 13/repositories/2/archival_objects/16085772Jason Epstein ODB: Documents- 7/repositories/2/archival_objects/16085782Jason Epstein ODB 2: Documents- 17/repositories/2/archival_objects/16085792ODB: Documents- 18/repositories/2/archival_objects/16085802On Demand: Documents- 33/repositories/2/archival_objects/16085812On Demand 2: Documents- 7 & Booklet- 1/repositories/2/archival_objects/16085822On Demand Books: Documents- 20/repositories/2/archival_objects/16085832Amazon Archives:/repositories/2/archival_objects/1608584Amazon Documents- 9;Amazon (Blue folder) &Booklets- 2; Documents- 12; Amazon (Green folder); Documents- 4/repositories/2/archival_objects/16085852Lillian Hellman: Documents- 2/repositories/2/archival_objects/16085862Gray/Black Notebook- Various notes throughout/repositories/2/archival_objects/1608587217 books with written notes and edits/repositories/2/archival_objects/160858837 short (and partial) manuscripts with notes and edits/repositories/2/archival_objects/16085893Box 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 Jason/repositories/2/archival_objects/160859033 wood and metal plaques, awards and honors/repositories/2/archival_objects/160859142 round metals with ribbons, awards and honors/repositories/2/archival_objects/160859219882000429 tearsheets and New York Review of Books relevant to Jason Epstein/repositories/2/archival_objects/16085934Various photographs and unframed awards on paper/repositories/2/archival_objects/16085944Envelope of important correspondence with writers/repositories/2/archival_objects/16085954Flash drive of all scans and photographs completed by Cyndi Shattuck Archiving/repositories/2/archival_objects/16085964John Jay award/repositories/2/archival_objects/1608597198852 black-and-white matted photos/repositories/2/archival_objects/16085985