Robert Ernest Cowan Library and Bibliographical Lists, ca. 1935

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Summary

Creators:
Cowan, Robert Ernest, 1862-1942
Abstract:
Robert Ernest Cowan (1862-1942) was a San Francisco bookseller (1895-1920) and author of bibliographies of history of California and the Pacific Coast. He was also the librarian for William Andrews Clark, Jr. (1919-33). Cowan's collection of books and manuscripts form the nucleus of the UCLA Department of Special Collections' holdings in Californiana. The collection consists of library and bibliographical lists of the Robert E. Cowan Library made by Mr. Cowan and members of the UCLA Library staff.
Extent:
8 boxes (4 linear ft.) 1 oversize box
Language:
English.

Background

Scope and content:

Collection consists of library and bibliographical lists of the Robert E. Cowan Library made by Mr. Cowan and members of the UCLA Library staff. Includes a manuscript catalog made in Cowan's hand in 1935, a list of 3534 items in the Cowan Library with a bibliography, manuscript catalogs with Cowan's valuations, UCLA catalog cards with full entries on 3 × 5” slips, and a manuscript volume of a list of Cowan's books, chiefly Californiana. Cowan's Library formed the nucleus of UCLA's Californiana holdings.

Biographical / historical:

Robert Ernest Cowan was born in 1862 in Toronto, Canada; came to San Francisco in 1870; student at UC Berkeley 1882-84; San Francisco bookseller from 1895-1920 and author of bibliographies of history of California and the Pacific Coast; librarian for William Andrews Clark, Jr., 1919-33; moved to Los Angeles at Clark's request in 1926; Cowan's collection of books and manuscripts form the nucleus of the UCLA Department of Special Collections' holdings in Californiana; married Marie Margaret Fleissner in 1894; only child was Robert Granniss Cowan; died in 1942.

Physical location:
Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.

Access and use

Location of this collection:
A1713 Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575, US
Contact:
(310) 825-4988
AskLSC@library.ucla.edu
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