These papers pertain to Borsdamm's career as bookbinder and consist primarily of letters received, with some biographical materials, clippings, ephemera, and two photographs of Borsdamm. The bound volume, "Letters of appreciation to John Borsdamm on the occassion of his retirement from Stanford University Press, June 1, 1950," includes letters from J. E. Wallace Sterling, Herbert Hoover, Jessie Knight Jordan, Pedro deLemos (Pedro J. Lemos), William F. Durand, Carol Green Wilson, David S. Jacobson, Ray Lyman Wilbur, and Borsdamm's colleagues at the Press. Of note are letters from Julius A. Quelle and Jessie Dunten Whittern recounting the history of the Press. The papers also include the original design of a phoenix by Nathan Van Patten that was used on the binding Borsdamm did for THE LETTERS OF D. H. LAWRENCE.

John Borsdamm, bookbinder, joined the Stanford University Press in 1915. He was born in Germany and served an apprendiceship as bookbinder in Leipzig before coming to the United States. His work was exhibited at the Golden Gate Exposition in 1939 and elsewhere. While at the Press, he designed the "Borsdamm Binding," an economical method of binding papers and magazines for library use. He retired in 1960.

1.5 Linear feet

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Gift of Felicia Hassell Pearce, 1996.