Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Overbrook Press Records
Overbrook Press
4079185
MS#0959
English
.
6.3 linear feet
15 document boxes
1929-1978
1935-1961
This collection documents the operation of Overbrook Press, a private American press once located in Stamford, Connecticut, from its founding by Frank Altschul in 1934 until it ceased operation in 1969.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in two series.
Restrictions on Access
This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.
Restrictions on Access
This collection has no restrictions.
Scope and Content
This collection contains materials relating to approximately 150 of the books, pamphlets, and broadsides printed by the Overbrook Press from its founding in 1934 until its last year of activity, 1969. It also includes a small amount of earlier records relating to the Helealt Corporation, the fiscal parent of Overbrook Press. Approximately two-thirds of the collection consists of business correspondence between Altschul, authors, and agents. The collection also contains a great deal of correspondence between Frank Altschul and noted artists and book designers such as Valenti Angelo, W.A. Dwiggins, Jean Hugo, Rudoph Ruzicka, Daniel B. Updike, Thomas M. Cleland, and Elmer Adler. Correspondence on a particular book or pamphlet is sometimes accompanied by proofs, drafts, or an example of the final product. The collection also contains memoranda, manuscripts, and financial records. Particularly noteworthy are the files relating to the publication of
Manon Lescaut (1958), Robert Louis Stevenson's Inland Voyage (1938), and Herbert Cahoon's 1963 Overbrook Press Bibliography.
Preferred Citation
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Overbrook Press Records; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction
Reproductions may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Source of acquisition--Altschul, Frank. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--1980. Accession number--M-80.
Related Material
Herbert H. Lehman Papers, 1858-1963 Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University
Related Material
Frank Altschul Papers, 1884-1986, Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University
Historical Note
The Overbrook Press was founded in 1934 in Stamford, Connecticut, by Frank Altschul, an investment banker and civic leader with a lifelong interest in book arts and printing. Altschul initially pursued printing as a hobby, experimenting with a small press in his New York apartment. In 1934, he was approached by designer Margaret B. Evans, who had been working for Ashlar Press. Ashlar was closing, and Evans hoped Altschul would continue its work.
Historical Note
Altschul set up the press in converted outbuildings on his Stamford farm and hired Evans as designer and compositor and John MacNamara as pressman. The Overbrook Press went on to print an eclectic variety of books and pamphlets, as well as ephemera such as awards and certificates. Evens placed great emphasis on technical expertise and craftsmanship, and even smaller pieces - political pamphlets such as Towards a More Creative Policy and short books on chess problems - were handled with surprising care.
Historical Note
Altschul set up the press in converted outbuildings on his Stamford farm and hired Evans as designer and compositor and John MacNamara as pressman. The Overbrook Press went on to print an eclectic variety of books and pamphlets, as well as ephemera such as awards and certificates. Evens placed great emphasis on technical expertise and craftsmanship, and even smaller pieces - political pamphlets such as "Toward a More Creative Policy" and short books on chess problems - were handled with unusual care.
Historical Note
Overbrook volumes were also known for fine illustrations. In the 1930s, the Overbrook Press published an edition of Robert Louis Stevenson's travelogue
An Inland Voyage, which featured illustrations by French artist Jean Hugo. Hugo was commissioned to follow Stevenson's path through Belgium and France and produce gouaches of scenes along the route. The press worked with many other artists, including Valenti Angelo, Anna Simons, and Bruce Rogers, but is most closely associated with T.M. Cleland, who illustrated a number of Overbrook volumes. His most ambitious project was an edition of Prevost's Manon Lescaut, for which he created elaborate silk-screened illustrations. The volume, which was published in 1958 after six years of work, is considered one of the highest quality private press books of the time.
Historical Note
The Overbrook Press operated for nearly thirty years, closing its doors in 1969.
Processing Information
Cataloged Christina Hilton Fenn 08/--/89.
Processing Information
Papers processed Carolyn Smith 2008.
Processing Information
Finding aid written Carolyn Smith October 2010.
Accruals
Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.
Artists
Book design
Illustration of books
Layout (Printing)
Presswork (Printing)
Printing
Publishers and publishing -- Connecticut -- Stamford
Literature publishing
Scholarly publishing
Civic leaders -- Connecticut -- Stamford
Philanthropists
Book collectors
Altschul, Frank, 1887-1981
Angelo, Valenti, 1897-1982
Dwiggins, W. A (William Addison), 1880-1956
Hugo, Jean, 1894-1984
Ruzicka, Rudolph, 1883-1978
Updike, Daniel Berkeley, 1860-1941
Cleland, T. M (Thomas Maitland), 1880-1964
Adler, Elmer, 1884-1962
Dulles, John Foster, 1888-1959
Frankfurter, Felix, 1882-1965
Gunther, John, 1901-1970
Luce, Clare Boothe, 1903-1987
MacLeish, Archibald, 1892-1982
Rockefeller, Nelson A. (Nelson Aldrich), 1908-1979
Evans, Margaret B.
Stevenson, Robert Louis, 1850-1894
Cahoon, Herbert, 1918-2000
Helealt Corporation
Overbrook Press
Series I: Correspondence1933-1978Scope and ContentsThis series contains correspondence of three types; alphabetical correspondence arranged by surname, author-title files containing correspondence relating to specific works, and general chronological correspondence.
Subseries I.1: Alphabetical Correspondence1934-1976Scope and ContentsThis subseries contains letters to Altschul from artists, actors, politicians, and other individuals outside the publishing field. Most are brief letters of thanks in response to the complementary books Altschul often sent to notable figures. Files have been arranged alphabetically by correspondent name.
Series I: Correspondence1933-1978Subseries I.1: Alphabetical Correspondence1934-1976Acheson, Dean1951-196111Adler, Elmer1934-1935(2 folders)12-3Aldrich, Winthrop196814Amory, Cleveland195515Angelo, Valenti193516Armstrong, Hamilton Fish1945-196417Auchincloss, Louis196718Austin, Warren1937-194319Bedard, Pierre1965-1969110Beilenson, Peter1945111Bliss, Robert Woods1955112Bloom, Sol1943113Boggs, Hale1955-1961114Bolton, Frances1943115Bowman, Isaiah1945116Braden, Spruille1950117Brandeis, Louis1937118Brewster, Kingman1969-1970119Bruce, David1969120Bush, Prescott1953121Capper, Arthur1937-1938122Cardozo, Benjamin1937123Cary, Melbert1935124Cert, Bennett1936125Church, Frank1970126Claire, Ina1936127Clark, Tom1949128Clay, Lucius1968-1969129Cleland, Thomas1934-1958(2 folders)130-31Cohn, Alfred1935-1952132Coolidge, Achibald1953-1954133Copeland, Royal1938134Cousins, Norman1952-1922135Coykendall, Frederick1955136Cushing, Harvey1935137Davis, John1950138Douglas, Paul1953139Dryfoos, Orvil1947140Duggan, Stephen1949141Dulles, John Foster1947-1954142Duvoisin, Roger1939143Dwiggins, William Addison1935144Eisenhower, Dwight1950145Emmett, Burton1935146Farrand, Max1942147Finletter, Thomas1976148Flanner, Janet1951149Florinsky, Michael1951-1961150Forand, Aime1937-1945151Frankfurter, Felix1941-1963152Fulbright, James1959-1976153Galantiere, Lewis1961-1968154Galbraith, John Kenneth1951-1975155Garcia, Carlos1960156Gill, Brendan1962-1966157Goodrich, Carter1948-1952158Grabhorn, Edwin1935159Graham, Philip1952160Grew, Joseph1951161Gunther, John1948-1965162Halifax, Edward Frederick1942163Hand, Learned1953164Hanks, Nancy1966165Heckscher1951-1975166Hersey, John1975167Herter, Christian1948168Hugo, Jean1937-1938169Humphrey, Hubert1953170Ickes, Harold1937171Isaacs, Stanley1950172Jackson, Barbara1976173Jebb, (Sir Hubert Miles), Gladwyn1953174Johnson, Alvin1954175Johnson, Lyndon B1963176Johnston, Paul1934177Kent, Henry1934178Kerr, Clark1970179Kerr, Jean1957180Knopf, Alfred1935-1965181Knopf182Lamont, Thomas1963183Lane, Margaret, Countess of Huntington1963184Leffingwell, Russell1935-1959(2 folders)185-86Lehman, Edith Altschul1937-1938187Lehman, Irving1935-1939188Lerner, Max1950189Lippman, Walter1968190Lodge, Henry Cabot1937191Luce, Clare Boothe1976192Lydenberg, Harry Miller1935193McCarran, Patrick1937194McLeish, Archibald1968195Macmahon, Arthur1949-1950196Malik, Charles195021Mansfield, Howard193522Medina, Harold195323Merrill, Charles1935-193724Montague, Gilbert1946-195925Mosher, Thomas Bird192326Muggeridge, Malcom195327Oenslager, Donald196828Ogburn, Charlton195029Pearson, Norman1941210Pell, Clairborne1954211Plimpton, Francis1957-1958212Plimpton, Francis1959-1975213Proskauer, Joseph1938-1967214Reid, Whitelaw1953215Reston, James1970216Ribicoff, Abraham1957-1961217Rockefeller, David1975218Rockefeller, Nelson1959-1969219Rogers, Bruce1937220Rogers, Lindsay1960-1969221Roper, Elmo1952222Ross, Harold1948223Rusk, Dean1959224Ruzicka, Rudolph1935(2 folders)225-26Saltonstall, Leverett1945-1961227Sarnoff, David1951228Schlesinger, Arthur1960-1968229Seligman, Eustace1951-1975230Seymour, Whitney North1968231Smith, Datus1942232Smith, Margaret1945-1970233Stevenson, Adlai1960-1964234Sulzberger, Arther1937-1963235Sulzberger, Iphigene1935-1969(2 folders)236-37Swope, Herber1935-1952238Symington, Stuart1953239Symons, Alphonse1935240Taft, Robert1943241Taylor, Maxwell1948242Thompson, Dorothy1941243Treadwell, John1953-1958244Truman, Harry1957245Tydings, Millard1938246Tyson, Levering1957-1961247Updike, Daniel1935248Van Doren, Irita1946249Wardwell, Allen1937250Warren, Earl1955251Wechsler, James1963252Weizmann, Chaim1947253Welles, Sumner1943254White, Walter1953255Wilmont, John1963256Wilson, Edward1953257Woods, Rose Mary1969258Subseries I.2: Author-Title Files1933-1969Scope and ContentsFiles in this subseries hold correspondence between Altschul and authors, editors, illustrators, and others regarding the design and publication of books, broadsides, and pamphlets. Many also contain drafts, proofs, or final copies of broadsides and pamphlets. In general, files are arranged alphabetically by author and contain correspondence related to the publishing of a single work, though in some cases they may cover several works by the same author. It is unclear whether this arrangement is original or was imposed at a later date.
Acheson, Dean--"Fifty Years After,"1961258Adams, Frederick B. Jr.--Radical Literature in America1939259"Address to the People by Certain Members of the Senate,"1938260Adler, Elmer--Menu for a Dinner Honoring Adler1940261Aldington, Richard--A Dream in the Luxemburg1935262Aldrich, Amy--"Fifty Years Ago,"1959263Allen, Edgar W. and Eric M. Hassenberg--To Alain White: A Tribute1945264Altschul, Charles--"The Influence of England,"1954265American Political Science Association--Award Scrolls1948-1953266Annalita--"Be Careful,"1968267Armstrong, Hamilton Fish--"The Task and Price of World Leadership,"1947268Baerwald, Emil, 1869-1948--Quotations from his Funeral Service1948269Ballantine, Arthur A.--Poems1955270Baruch, Bernard M.--"Freedom for Man: A World Safe for Mankind: An Address," Introduction by August Hekscher,1955271Benton, William--"Brien McMahon: A Tribute,"1952272Bingham, June--Do Cows have Neuroses?194831Borg, Madelaine195632Breton, Nicholas and Bruce Rogers (Illustrator)--Twelve Months194933Brewster, Kingman--Style, Pluck and Integrity196934Buschke, Albrecht, Richard Cheney and Alan White--The Two-Move Chess Problem in the Soviet Union, 1923-1943, 19431923-1943194335Cahoon, Herbert, Compiler--The Overbrook Press Bibliography1963(2 Folders)36 to 7California, State Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 12195738Chiang May Ling Soong--Addresses194339Churchill, Winston Spencer--An Address by Winston S. Churchill1943310Cleland, Thomas Maitland--"Progress" in the Graphic Arts1949311Clemens, Samuel L.--Three Sketches1946312Cohn, Alfred E. et al--A Memorandum on the Need for a New Journal on higher Education in the United States1943313Cohn, David L.--America to England1940314Conant, James B.--The Defense of Freedom1960315Cook, Madge--Poems1934316Council on Foreign Relations--Lamont, Thomas W.1948317Council on Foreign Relations--Resignation of Henry M. Wrist as President,1964318Council on Foreign Relations--Resolution Adopted by the Board of Directors,1946 May 21319Cousins, Norman--Wanted: Ten Billion Angry Men1958320Dodd, Thomas J.--If Coexistence Fails (from Orbis)1960321Duggan, Laurence--In Memoriam1949322Dunne, George--God Bless America1961323Dwiggins, W.A--four-page Signature from Robert Nathan's One More Spring,193541The Economist--"Containment Plus,"195242Edman, Irwin--If Not, Not195243Eisenhower, Dwight D.--Guildhall Address in London and the Address Before the Congress in Washington,194544Eisenhower, Dwight D.--The Spirit of Geneva195545Eisenhower, Dwight D.--A Tribute to Winston Spencer Churchill196546Emmett, Burton--"Notes for a Statement Regarding the Collection," P.M. Magazine Insert193747The English-Speaking Union of the United States, 1958, 196519581965(3 Folders)48 to 10Etheridge, Mark F.--"Of Whom Shall I Be Afraid?"1953411France, Anatole--L'Affaire Crainquebille1937412Fulbright, James William--"The Price of Empire,"1967413Fulbright, James William--"Toward a More Creative Foreign Policy,"1959414Calantiere, Lewis--"America Today,"1950415Galbraith, John Kenneth--"How Keynes Came to America,"1965416George VI, King of Great Britain Donors to the King George VI Memorial Fund,1953417Gist, Thomas--Indian Captivity1942418Coldenson, Samuel--Philip J. Goodhart, 1856-1944, 19441856-19441944419Greenman, Frederick F.--Wire Tapping and Civil Liberties1956420"Alfred Whitney Griswald: In Memoriam,"1964421Griswold, Alfred Whitney--Inaugural Address1950422Grolier Club--Report of the House Committee1955423Haight, Anne Lyon--"Charles Dickens Tries to Remain Anonymous" and "Notes on the Loving Ballad of Lord Bateman,"1939424Haight, Anne Lyon--Morals, Manners, Etiquette and the Three R's1949425Halifax, Lord Marquess of, George Saville--"The Lady's New Year's Gift,"193551Hand, Learned--"Liberty,"194152Hand, Learned--"Rational Inquiry and the Triumph of Wisdom,"195453Heilbronner, Robert L.--"New Horizons in Economics,"196454High, Stanley--"To Chick - At Fifty,"195255Horsfall, Percy--"Thanksgiving for the Life and Work of Robert Henry Brand,"196356Hubby, Germain A.--Commemoration of New Canaan Country School195657Jackson, Barbara Ward--"Herbert Lehman at 80,"195858Jacobs, Walter and Alain White--Variation Play: A Study in the Mechnisms and Relationship of Black Moves in the Two-Move Chess Problem194359Johnson, Lyndon Baines--"An Eloquent Plea-for Action: An Address Delivered Before a Joint Session of Congress,"1963 November 27510Judah Magnes Foundation--Judah Magnes Memorial Booklet1949511Kennan, George--"The Liberal Arts in Contemporary American Society,"1953512Kennedy, John F.--An Address Delivered Before the Massachusetts Legislature,January 9, 1961513Kerr, Jean--"Toujour Tristess,"1957514King, Martin Luther Jr.--"Letters From Birminghton Jail,"1968515Lane, Margaret--L'Amitie Amoureuse196361Lasalle, Ferdinand--Une Page d'Amour de Ferdinand Lasalle195962Lehman, Irving--"Benjamin Nathan Cardozo,"193863"Sam A. Lewisohn, 1884-1951,"195164Leyburn, James G.--Pierson College: The First Decade, 1933-1943.194465Lippman, Walter--The Confrontation195966Luce, Clare Boothe--"Little Rock and the Muscovite Moon: Challenges to American Leadership, An Address,"195767MacArthur, Douglas--An Address Delivered at Los Angeles, California1955 January 2668McLeish, Archibald--"The Great American Frustration,"196869Malgaigne, Joseph Francois--Conseils pour le Choix dune Bibliotheque Ecrits pour une Jeune Fille1936610Malik, Charles--"The Problem of Asia,"1951611Malik, Charles--War and Peace1950612Mallory, Walter H.--Remarks at a Small Dinner on the Occasion of his Retirement as Exective Director of the Council on Foreign Relations,1959613Mansfield, Comins--"Adventures in Composition,"1944614Maude, Angus--"Why is Waffle?"1957615May, George O.--"Truth and Usefulness in Accounting,"1950616Meredith, George--"Modern Love,"1942617Merrick, Leonard--Conrad in Quest of His Youth1968618Meyer, Agnes--"Freedom of the Mind,"195371Meyer, Ernest L.--"A Footnote on L'Amour,"194772Mill, John Stuart--"On Liberty,"196473Muggeridge, Malcolm--"Senator McCarthy McCartyized: Or, The Biter Bit,"195374Nathan, Robert and W.A. Dwiggins (Illustrator)--"One More Spring,"193575Nevinson, Henry W.--Farewell to America193576New York Court of Appeals--"In Memoriam: Irving Lehman, 1876 - 1945," 19451876194577New York Supreme Court Anniversary194178New Yorker Magazine--"The Night of the Blackout,"196579Nixon, Richard M., John Kennedy--"On the Results of the Election, 1960"(cover title: "A Gleam of Light Ahead") Foreword by Frank and Helen Altschul,1960710Paix et Liberte, Paris--"Balance Sheet of a Dictatorship,"undated711Perry, Ralph Barton and Rudolph Ruzicka (Illustrator)--"Plea for an Age Movement,"1943712Phillips, Wendell--Toussaint L'Ouverture1963713Pinckney, Mary Stead--Letter Book: November 14th, 1796 to August 29th 17961946714Plimpton, Francis T.P.--"In Praise of Polygamy,"1957715Prevost, Abbe and T.M. Cleland--"Histoire du Chevalier des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut,"195881Project Hope Journal196782Ransom, Will--"A Brochure in Honor of Gutenberg,"194183Redfield, Robert--"Talk with a Stranger,"195884Reston, James B.--Eulogy for Orvil E. Dreyfoos196385"James Harvey Rogers: In Memoriam,"194086"The Round Table War Pamphlet: The Issue,"194087Schlesinger, Arthur M., Jr.--"Herbert H. Lehman: The Conservative as Radical,"196788Shepardson, Whitney H.--"Early History of the Council on Foreign Relations,"196089Steinbeck, John--A Letter Written in Reply to a Request for a Statement about His Ancestry,1940810Sterne, Laurence--A Sentimental Journey through France and Italy by Mr. Yorick,1936811Stevenson, Adlai E.--"Must We Have War?"1954812Stevenson, Robert Louis and Jean Hugo (Illustrator)--An Inland Voyage, 1938. Hugo, Jean, illustrator(2 Folders)813 to 14Streeter, Edward--"Words of Welcome,"1962815Thompson, Dorothy--The Abbey, the Museum, the Commons. 1941 and "In Support of the Precident," 194519411945816Tompkins, Boylston A.--A Toast proposed by Boylston A. Tompkins on the Eve of the Wedding of Judith Lee Tompkins and Henry Taylor Compton, Jr.,1955817U.S. Congress, "Adverse Report of the Committee of the Judiciary,"1937818Valentine, Alan--"A Modest Proposal for the Care and Use of Subversives,"195491Vandenberg, Arthur--"The American Position,"194892Van Tassel, Etta May--"Beyond Geography: A Few Poems,"194693Warren, Earl--"The Blessings of Liberty,"195594Wasson, R. Gordon--"Toward a Russian Policy,"195195Weizmann, Chaim--"Before the United Nations,"194796Welles, Sumner--An Address (not printed)194397Wharton, Edith--Ethan Frome196798White, AlainChess books, 1941 - 19491941194999F. Gamage : An Artist in Chess Problems1941910F. Gamage--Second Book (not printed)1943-1949911White, Alain and Comins Mansfield--Frederick Gamage and Vincent Eaton: A Century of Two-Movers,1941912Wilde, Oscar and Rudolph Ruzicka--The Happy Prince and Other Tales19369Willkie, Wendell Lewis--Occasional Addresses194092Wilson, Woodrow--"Leaders of Men,"1950-195193Wilson, Woodrow--"The Road Away from Revolution,"194894Wolfers, Arnold--"Eulogy for William M. Burden III,"196295The Woodrow Wilson Foundation--Joseph Daniels Memorial Tribute194196Yale University--Report of the President's Advisory Committee195297Zenger, John Peter--"A Brief Narrative of the Trial of John Peter Zenger,"194798Zilborg, Gregory--"I Won't Apologize: Two Letters,"193999Subseries I.3: General Correspondence1934-1978Scope and ContentsThis subseries is comprised of general correspondence arranged by year. It includes requests for books and pamphlets, correspondence with other presses, and the occasional letter of praise from an enthusiastic collector. In most cases, both the incoming mail and copies of Overbrook's responses are present.
General1934-1940910General1960-1965(4 Folders)911 to 14General1966-1978(4 Folders)111 to 4Series II: General1929-1977Scope and ContentsThis small but varied series contains documents related to the operation of the press, including financial records, internal correspondence, and paper samples. It also holds copies of the Overbrook Bibliography and information on book exhibits.
The American Institute of Graphic Arts. Fifty Books of the Year Exhibitions, 1939, 1942, 1945193919421945115Andrade, Barry Jack de Costa--Chess Problems1944-1948116Bibliographies of Overbrook Press from 1934-1969 by Norman Strouse, 1973-19751934-19691973-1975121University of California--Exhibition of Overbrook Press Books1943122Census and Federal Trade Commission--U.S. Correspondence1943-1944123The Columbiad Club--Hartford Book Show1938124Electoral Charts1936125Employment--Illustrators and Artists1939126Evans Margaret B., Art Director--Memos1940127Financial1929-1937(3 Folders)128 to 10Financial1938-1947131 to 3Financial--Stamford Trust Company1944-1949134Inquiries and Requests1935-1961135Inventories, Orders and Recipients of Books1936-1977141 to 2Legal Discussions--Memos and Minutes1933-1944143New York Times National Book Fair1937144Orders1956-1965145Paper samples and type specimensundated146Sloan, Frank R.1946-1947147Strouse, Norman--"The Overbrook Press: An Example of Collecting in Depth,"1975148Printed Itemsundated149General Correspondence1966-19691410Inventory1967-19771411Legal Documents19291412