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.
This collection has no restrictions.
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.
This collection is arranged in two series.
You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.
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.
This collection has no restrictions.
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.
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Overbrook Press Records; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.
Herbert H. Lehman Papers, 1858-1963 Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University
Frank Altschul Papers, 1884-1986, Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University
Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.
Source of acquisition--Altschul, Frank. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--1980. Accession number--M-80.
Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Cataloged Christina Hilton Fenn 08/--/89.
Papers processed Carolyn Smith 2008.
Finding aid written Carolyn Smith October 2010.
2010-11-10 File created.
2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Overbrook Press operated for nearly thirty years, closing its doors in 1969.
This series contains correspondence of three types; alphabetical correspondence arranged by surname, author-title files containing correspondence relating to specific works, and general chronological correspondence.
This 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.
Box 1 Folder 1
Box 1 Folder 2-3
Box 1 Folder 4
Box 1 Folder 5
Box 1 Folder 6
Box 1 Folder 7
Box 1 Folder 8
Box 1 Folder 9
Box 1 Folder 10
Box 1 Folder 11
Box 1 Folder 12
Box 1 Folder 13
Box 1 Folder 14
Box 1 Folder 15
Box 1 Folder 16
Box 1 Folder 17
Box 1 Folder 18
Box 1 Folder 19
Box 1 Folder 20
Box 1 Folder 21
Box 1 Folder 22
Box 1 Folder 23
Box 1 Folder 24
Box 1 Folder 25
Box 1 Folder 26
Box 1 Folder 27
Box 1 Folder 28
Box 1 Folder 29
Box 1 Folder 30-31
Box 1 Folder 32
Box 1 Folder 33
Box 1 Folder 34
Box 1 Folder 35
Box 1 Folder 36
Box 1 Folder 37
Box 1 Folder 38
Box 1 Folder 39
Box 1 Folder 40
Box 1 Folder 41
Box 1 Folder 42
Box 1 Folder 43
Box 1 Folder 44
Box 1 Folder 45
Box 1 Folder 46
Box 1 Folder 47
Box 1 Folder 48
Box 1 Folder 49
Box 1 Folder 50
Box 1 Folder 51
Box 1 Folder 52
Box 1 Folder 53
Box 1 Folder 54
Box 1 Folder 55
Box 1 Folder 56
Box 1 Folder 57
Box 1 Folder 58
Box 1 Folder 59
Box 1 Folder 60
Box 1 Folder 61
Box 1 Folder 62
Box 1 Folder 63
Box 1 Folder 64
Box 1 Folder 65
Box 1 Folder 66
Box 1 Folder 67
Box 1 Folder 68
Box 1 Folder 69
Box 1 Folder 70
Box 1 Folder 71
Box 1 Folder 72
Box 1 Folder 73
Box 1 Folder 74
Box 1 Folder 75
Box 1 Folder 76
Box 1 Folder 77
Box 1 Folder 78
Box 1 Folder 79
Box 1 Folder 80
Box 1 Folder 81
Box 1 Folder 82
Box 1 Folder 83
Box 1 Folder 84
Box 1 Folder 85-86
Box 1 Folder 87
Box 1 Folder 88
Box 1 Folder 89
Box 1 Folder 90
Box 1 Folder 91
Box 1 Folder 92
Box 1 Folder 93
Box 1 Folder 94
Box 1 Folder 95
Box 1 Folder 96
Box 2 Folder 1
Box 2 Folder 2
Box 2 Folder 3
Box 2 Folder 4
Box 2 Folder 5
Box 2 Folder 6
Box 2 Folder 7
Box 2 Folder 8
Box 2 Folder 9
Box 2 Folder 10
Box 2 Folder 11
Box 2 Folder 12
Box 2 Folder 13
Box 2 Folder 14
Box 2 Folder 15
Box 2 Folder 16
Box 2 Folder 17
Box 2 Folder 18
Box 2 Folder 19
Box 2 Folder 20
Box 2 Folder 21
Box 2 Folder 22
Box 2 Folder 23
Box 2 Folder 24
Box 2 Folder 25-26
Box 2 Folder 27
Box 2 Folder 28
Box 2 Folder 29
Box 2 Folder 30
Box 2 Folder 31
Box 2 Folder 32
Box 2 Folder 33
Box 2 Folder 34
Box 2 Folder 35
Box 2 Folder 36-37
Box 2 Folder 38
Box 2 Folder 39
Box 2 Folder 40
Box 2 Folder 41
Box 2 Folder 42
Box 2 Folder 43
Box 2 Folder 44
Box 2 Folder 45
Box 2 Folder 46
Box 2 Folder 47
Box 2 Folder 48
Box 2 Folder 49
Box 2 Folder 50
Box 2 Folder 51
Box 2 Folder 52
Box 2 Folder 53
Box 2 Folder 54
Box 2 Folder 55
Box 2 Folder 56
Box 2 Folder 57
Box 2 Folder 58
Files 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.
Box 2 Folder 58
Box 2 Folder 59
Box 2 Folder 60
Box 2 Folder 61
Box 2 Folder 62
Box 2 Folder 63
Box 2 Folder 64
Box 2 Folder 65
Box 2 Folder 66
Box 2 Folder 67
Box 2 Folder 68
Box 2 Folder 69
Box 2 Folder 70
Box 2 Folder 71
Box 2 Folder 72
Box 3 Folder 1
Box 3 Folder 2
Box 3 Folder 3
Box 3 Folder 4
Box 3 Folder 5
Box 3 Folder 6 to 7
Box 3 Folder 8
Box 3 Folder 9
Box 3 Folder 10
Box 3 Folder 11
Box 3 Folder 12
Box 3 Folder 13
Box 3 Folder 14
Box 3 Folder 15
Box 3 Folder 16
Box 3 Folder 17
Box 3 Folder 18
Box 3 Folder 19
Box 3 Folder 20
Box 3 Folder 21
Box 3 Folder 22
Box 3 Folder 23
Box 4 Folder 1
Box 4 Folder 2
Box 4 Folder 3
Box 4 Folder 4
Box 4 Folder 5
Box 4 Folder 6
Box 4 Folder 7
Box 4 Folder 8 to 10
Box 4 Folder 11
Box 4 Folder 12
Box 4 Folder 13
Box 4 Folder 14
Box 4 Folder 15
Box 4 Folder 16
Box 4 Folder 17
Box 4 Folder 18
Box 4 Folder 19
Box 4 Folder 20
Box 4 Folder 21
Box 4 Folder 22
Box 4 Folder 23
Box 4 Folder 24
Box 4 Folder 25
Box 5 Folder 1
Box 5 Folder 2
Box 5 Folder 3
Box 5 Folder 4
Box 5 Folder 5
Box 5 Folder 6
Box 5 Folder 7
Box 5 Folder 8
Box 5 Folder 9
Box 5 Folder 10
Box 5 Folder 11
Box 5 Folder 12
Box 5 Folder 13
Box 5 Folder 14
Box 5 Folder 15
Box 6 Folder 1
Box 6 Folder 2
Box 6 Folder 3
Box 6 Folder 4
Box 6 Folder 5
Box 6 Folder 6
Box 6 Folder 7
Box 6 Folder 8
Box 6 Folder 9
Box 6 Folder 10
Box 6 Folder 11
Box 6 Folder 12
Box 6 Folder 13
Box 6 Folder 14
Box 6 Folder 15
Box 6 Folder 16
Box 6 Folder 17
Box 6 Folder 18
Box 7 Folder 1
Box 7 Folder 2
Box 7 Folder 3
Box 7 Folder 4
Box 7 Folder 5
Box 7 Folder 6
Box 7 Folder 7
Box 7 Folder 8
Box 7 Folder 9
Box 7 Folder 10
Box 7 Folder 11
Box 7 Folder 12
Box 7 Folder 13
Box 7 Folder 14
Box 7 Folder 15
Box 8 Folder 1
Box 8 Folder 2
Box 8 Folder 3
Box 8 Folder 4
Box 8 Folder 5
Box 8 Folder 6
Box 8 Folder 7
Box 8 Folder 8
Box 8 Folder 9
Box 8 Folder 10
Box 8 Folder 11
Box 8 Folder 12
Box 8 Folder 13 to 14
Box 8 Folder 15
Box 8 Folder 16
Box 8 Folder 17
Box 8 Folder 18
Box 9 Folder 1
Box 9 Folder 2
Box 9 Folder 3
Box 9 Folder 4
Box 9 Folder 5
Box 9 Folder 6
Box 9 Folder 7
Box 9 Folder 8
Box 9 Folder 9
Box 9 Folder 10
Box 9 Folder 11
Box 9 Folder 12
Box 9
Box 9 Folder 2
Box 9 Folder 3
Box 9 Folder 4
Box 9 Folder 5
Box 9 Folder 6
Box 9 Folder 7
Box 9 Folder 8
Box 9 Folder 9
This 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.
Box 9 Folder 10
Box 9 Folder 11 to 14
Box 11 Folder 1 to 4
This 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.
Box 11 Folder 5
Box 11 Folder 6
Box 12 Folder 1
Box 12 Folder 2
Box 12 Folder 3
Box 12 Folder 4
Box 12 Folder 5
Box 12 Folder 6
Box 12 Folder 7
Box 12 Folder 8 to 10
Box 13 Folder 1 to 3
Box 13 Folder 4
Box 13 Folder 5
Box 14 Folder 1 to 2
Box 14 Folder 3
Box 14 Folder 4
Box 14 Folder 5
Box 14 Folder 6
Box 14 Folder 7
Box 14 Folder 8
Box 14 Folder 9
Box 14 Folder 10
Box 14 Folder 11
Box 14 Folder 12