James O. Brown Associates records, 1927-1992

Summary Information

At a Glance

Arrangement

Arrangement

Selected materials cataloged (Boxes C1-C48); remainder arranged. Authors, A-Z - Boxes 1-394; Agents, publishers& subjects - Boxes 395-413; J.O. Brown, personal - Box 414; Contracts - Boxes 415-420; Financial records - Boxes 421-446.

• Series I: Cataloged Correspondence
• Series II: Cataloged Manuscripts, Documents, and Photographs
• Series III: Author File
• Series IV: Agents, Publishers, Magazines, Corporates Names, & Subject File
• Series V: James Oliver Brown--Personal Correspondence
• Series VI: Contracts
• Series VII: Financial Papers, 1931-1977

Description

Summary

The files of the literary agency include correspondence with authors, publishers, and other agents and deal with editing and publishing, serial rights, reprints, dramatic rights, translations and foreign rights, promotion, copyright registration, contracts, royalty statements, tax statements, and other financial materials, and the personal affairs of many clients. Among the cataloged correspondents are: Louis S. Auchincloss, Erskine Caldwell, Herbert Gold, Alberto Moravia, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Rebecca West.

1985 ADDITION: 90 personal letters relating to Brown's illness & retirement have been added.

1987 ADDITION: James Oliver Brown donated selected volumes from his library, including 92 books inscribed to him by the authors, his clients. A shelflist of these uncataloged books is available at 654 Mez: 53A. Other similarly inscribed books, mostly by Louis Auchincloss, have been cataloged & added to the Rare Book Collection.

• Series I: Cataloged Correspondence

• Series II: Cataloged Manuscripts, Documents, and Photographs

• Series III: Author File

• Series IV: Agents, Publishers, Magazines, Corporates Names, & Subject File

• Series V: James Oliver Brown--Personal Correspondence

• Series VI: Contracts

• Series VII: Financial Papers, 1931-1977

Using the Collection

Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Restrictions on Access

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.

The following boxes are located off-site: Boxes 1-446, and volumes from the James Oliver Brown library. 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.

Lonnie Coleman materials (cataloged manuscripts & boxes 77-79) may not be used without the written permission of Curtis Brown Ltd., 10 Astor Place, NY NY 10003.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Single photocopies 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.

Preferred Citation

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); James O. Brown Associates records; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Accruals

Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.

Alternate Form Available

John Dickson Carr letters are on: microfilm.

Albert Payson Terhune letters are on: microfilm.

Laura Wilder letters from Box 380 are on: microfilm.

Rose Wilder letters from Boxes 223 & 224 are on: microfilm.

Ownership and Custodial History

Gift of James Oliver Brown, 1971-1981, 1984, 1986-1992.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Records: Source of acquisition--Brown, James Oliver. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--1971. Accession number--M-1971.

H. Gold letter: Source of acquisition--Brown, J.O. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--10/--/1991. Accession number--M-10-91.

2 letters from Herbert Gold: Source of acquisition--Brown, J.O. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--12/--/1991. Accession number--M-91-12.

5 letters: Source of acquisition--Brown, James Oliver. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--06/01/1992. Accession number--M-92-06-01.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Processing Information

Records Entered in AMC HR 10/21/1991.

H. Gold letter Cataloged HR 10/17/1991.

2 letters from Herbert Gold Cataloged HR 12/20/1991.

5 letters Processed HR 06/11/1992.

Revision Description

2009-06-26 File created.

2012-11-02 XML document instance created by Catherine C. Ricciardi

2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.

Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches at Columbia University through the Archival Collections Portal and through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, as well as ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

All links open new windows.

Genre/Form

Subject

History / Biographical Note

Biographical / Historical

Literary agency in New York City. Organized in 1949 as the successor firm to George T. Bye & Company, James Oliver Brown later absorbed the agencies of Maxim Lieber (1951), John Cushman Associates (1978), and others. James Brown Associates merged with Curtis Brown, Ltd. in 1981.