Finding Aid for the Clyde Browne and the Abbey Press Collection 1918-1988

Processed by Jamie Henricks.

William Andrews Clark Memorial Library

University of California, Los Angeles

2520 Cimarron Street

Los Angeles, CA 90018

Phone: (323) 731-8529

Fax: (323) 731-8617

Email: rfenning@humnet.ucla.edu

URL: http://www.humnet.ucla.edu/humnet/clarklib/

Descriptive Summary

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.

Access

Collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

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.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Clyde Browne and the Abbey Press Collection, MS.2007.016, William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

Acquisition Information

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.

Biography

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.

Scope and Content

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.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects

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

Genres and Forms

Clippings

Ephemera

Container List

Box 1, Folder 1

Half-Tone Block showing Clyde Browne on the patio of the Abbey San Encino

Physical Description: Metal on wood block, 4.25" x 5.5"

Box 1, Folder 2

Newspaper Article -- "The House that Browne Built", by Lannie Haynes Martin ca. 1930

Box 1, Folder 3

Newspaper Articles -- about Jackson Browne May 22, 1983, October 2, 1988, November 6, 1988

Note

Musician Jackson Browne is the grandson of Clyde Browne.

Box 1, Folder 4

"Jackson Browne: the story of a holdout" by Rich Wiseman 1982

Note

A bound book about Jackson Browne, grandson of Clyde Browne.

Box 1, Folder 5

Farragut Sea Scout Troop ca. 1933

Note

Includes newspaper clippings about the Sea Scout Troop, a letter of recommendation from Browne about one of the troop members, and a pen illustration of the troop's boat "Harmony."

Box 1, Folder 6

Newspaper Articles 1926, 1934, 1947, 1967, 1974

Box 1, Folder 7

John Swingle and Abbey San Encino Exhibit November 8, 1975

Note

Includes handwritten notes and description cards about an exhibit about or at the Abbey San Encino.

Box 1, Folder 8

David W. Davies -- photocopied manuscript and letters July 1982

Note

Includes photocopy of a manuscript entitled "Clyde Browne and the Abbey Press" and letters about the manuscript between Davies and Edwin Carpenter.

Box 1, Folder 9

Research notes about Clyde Browne 1937, 1942, 1947

Note

Includes copies of newspaper articles about the life of Clyde Browne, questions to direct the collector's research, statements from conversations about Clyde Browne by colleagues, and bibliographic records of books by or printed by Clyde Browne. Statements are available from Mr. Aultman, Edwin Carpenter, Mrs. Mabel Carruthers, Dr. Carruthers, Grant Dahlstrom, John Harris, and Scott B. Haselton.

Box 1, Folder 10

Journal of the Cactus and Succulent Society of America -- vol. 1, no. 12 June 1930

Note

Includes an article by Scott Haselton titled "An Editor's Dream" with a description of the Abbey San Encino and a picture of Clyde Browne.

Box 1, Folder 11

"The Bugle" - vol. 1, nos. 1-6; vol. 2, no. 1 1931-1932

Note

Initial issues of "The Bugle" printed by the Boy Scouts of America in Los Angeles. There is an article about Browne in the first issue, and there may be others. There are also articles about the Sea Scouts.

Box 1, Folder 12

Articles about Clyde Browne and the Abbey San Encino 1934, 1966, 1967

Note

Various articles about Clyde Browne and the Abbey San Encino from multiple types of publications, including a campaign pamphlet, a Cal State LA newspaper, the Los Angeles Times, Sunset magazine, and the Occidental College Alumnus.

Box 1, Folder 13

Occidental College Sabretooth May 1923

Note

Second to last page at the bottom reads "This book is from the press of Clyde Browne, Master Printer."

Box 1, Folder 14

Ephemera printed by the Abbey Press 1931-1935

Note

Miscellaneous cards, pamphlets, and other items printed by Clyde Browne at the Abbey Press.

Box 1, Folder 15

Martha Baird piano recital November 14, 1930

Scope and Content Note

A printed notice about the recital, an article about the event, and a letter to Ed Carpenter about the papers.

Box 1, Folder 16

Recommendation letters January 5th and December 8th, 1932

Note

Two letters written about Robert Nash by Clyde Browne, relating to Sea Scout activities.

Box 1, Folder 17

Print drafts

Note

Drafts of two Boy Scout programs, and "The Roadrunner."

Box 1, Folder 18

Pages from "Cloisters of California" 1918

Note

Pages from the second edition of "Cloisters of California," by Clyde Browne. The book appears complete at 133 pages, but is unbound.

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