James O. Brown Associates records, 1927-1992

Creator:

Extent:

231 linear feet 456 boxes

Language:

English .

Scope and content:

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.

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.

Acquisition information:

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.

Custodial history:

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

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.

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.

Accruals:

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

Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Alternative 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.

Access and use

Restrictions:

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 of access:

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.

Location of this collection:: Rare Book & Manuscript Library

RBML Home Page
6th Floor East Butler Library
535 West 114th Street
New York, NY 10027, USA
Before you visit:: Researchers interested in viewing materials in the RBML reading room must must book an appointment at least 7 days in advance. To make the most of your visit, be sure to request your desired materials before booking your appointment, as researchers are limited to 5 items per day.

Contact:: rbml@library.columbia.edu

Collection