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Finding Aid for the Clyde Browne and the Abbey Press
Collection 1918-1988
MS.2007.016
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Title: Clyde Browne and the Abbey Press
Collection,
Date (inclusive): 1918-1988
Collection number: MS.2007.016
Collector: Carpenter, Edwin
H.
Abstract: Items related to, written by or about Clyde Browne,
the printer and proprietor at the Abbey Press.
Extent:
1 box (.5 linear feet)
Repository:
University of California, Los Angeles. Library.
William Andrews Clark Memorial Library
Los Angeles, California 90095-1490
Physical location: Clark Library.
Language of materials: Collection materials in English.
Collection is open for research.
Copyright has not been assigned to the William Andrews Clark Memorial
Library, UCLA. All requests for permission to publish or quote from
manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Clark Librarian.
Permission for publication is given on behalf of the William Andrews
Clark Memorial Library, UCLA as the owner of the physical items and is
not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder,
which must also be obtained.
[Identification of item], Clyde Browne and the Abbey Press
Collection, MS.2007.016, William Andrews Clark Memorial Library,
University of California, Los Angeles.
Acquired in February 2007, along with a collection of printed books and
ephemera printed by Clyde Browne. These books are cataloged individually
under the call number "Press coll. Browne" and can be found via the
UCLA Library online catalog.
The majority of this collection was formerly in the possession of
Edwin H. Carpenter.
Clyde Browne established the Abbey Press and was a printer in the Los
Angeles area for approximately forty years until his death in 1942.
Browne was born in 1872 in Old Hickory, Ohio. After moving around the
Midwest and California, he worked at many newspapers in the San
Francisco Bay area. In 1902 or 1903, Browne moved to Los Angeles, where
he worked at the Los Angeles Examiner for four years. In 1909, he set up
his own print shop, and by 1910 had established the firm of Browne and
Cartwright with Alexander Cartwright. Soon after, he helped Occidental
College and the University of Southern California start their own school
newspapers.
Beginning in 1915, Browne started building what would eventually
become the Abbey San Encino, where he did most of his printing. The
Abbey was finished in July of 1924. Browne printed his own work
(including poems, books, and ephemera) as well as for others, including
Occidental College. Various printers rented studio space from Browne,
including Ward Ritchie, House Olson, and Scott Haselton. Lawrence Clark
Powell also rented one of Browne's studios before becoming the University
Librarian at UCLA and director of the William Andrews Clark Memorial
Library.
In the 1920s and 1930s, Browne was active with the Sea Scouts (a
division of the Boy Scouts of America). He later was the chairman of the
Democratic Party Committee in the 54th district, and ran for the State
Assembly. After Clyde Browne's death on July 1, 1942, his son closed the
press and sold most of the equipment. As of the 1980s, the Abbey was
owned by Browne's grandson, Severin.
This collection contains items related to, written by or about Clyde Browne,
the printer and proprietor at the Abbey Press. The majority of the items are newspaper
clippings or other articles, but materials also include photographs,
pamphlets, letters, a half-tone printing block, and examples of items
printed by the Abbey Press. Items range in date from 1918 to 1988, but
the bulk of the printed materials are found in the range of 1918 to
1947.
The collection is arranged in original order, with the exception of a
few folders titled "miscellaneous" broken into multiple folders at
logical divisions.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this
collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Abbey San
Encino Press
Browne,
Clyde, 1872-1942
Browne, Jackson
Davies,
David William, 1908-
Boy scouts--California--20th
century
Printers--California--20th
century
Sea scouts--California--20th
century
Clippings
Ephemera