Collection of Material Relating to Jake Zeitlin, ca. 1930-1989

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Summary

Abstract:
Jacob Israel Zeitlin (1902-1987) was a bookseller, poet and book reviewer in Ft. Worth, Texas before moving to Los Angeles (1925). He was employed by the Holmes Book Company and the book departments of the May Company and Bullock's before opening his first shop (1927) which he relocated in 1929 and 1948. He sold rare books, prints and paintings, lectured widely on subjects related to rare books and the history of science, and represented many collectors of the history of science. Zeitlin was also instrumental in bringing many collections to UCLA including the Grunewald Graphic Arts Collection, and he personally donated several manuscript collections to the Department of Special Collections. The collection consists of works by and about Zeitlin including articles, clippings, mimeographs, and obituaries. There are also book catalogs and book lists, and items collected by him, some relating to Aldous Huxley.
Extent:
1 box (0.5 linear ft.) 1 oversize box
Language:
English.

Background

Scope and content:

Collection consists of materials relating to Los Angeles antiquarian bookseller Jake Zeitlin. Includes works by and about Zeitlin, including articles, clippings, mimeographs, and obituaries. Also includes book catalogs and book lists of Jake Zeitlin, as well as items collected by him, some relating to Aldous Huxley.

Biographical / historical:

Jacob Israel Zeitlin was born on November 4, 1902, in Racine, Wisconsin; worked as a bookseller, poet and book reviewer in Ft. Worth, Texas; moved to Los Angeles in 1925; began career in bookselling when employed by Holmes Book Company and the book departments of the May Company and Bullock's; published his first book of poems and began as an independent bookseller in 1927; opened his first shop, designed by Lloyd Wright, in 1927; Wright designed a more elaborate shop in 1929 that became a meeting place for the city's intellectuals; Zeitlin and friends published Opinion, an influential but short-lived magazine; he ran Primavera Press from 1929-33 in collaboration with Lawrence Clark Powell, Carey McWilliams, Phil Townsend Hanna, and Ward Ritchie; Zeitlin was one of the founders of the Rounce & Coffin Club in 1931; in collaboration with his wife, Josephine Ver Brugge, moved his shop into a large red barn on La Cienega Blvd. in 1948, selling rare books, prints, and paintings; lectured widely on subjects related to rare books and the history of science, and represented many collectors of the history of science; was instrumental in bringing many collections to UCLA, including the Grunewald Graphic Arts Collection, and personally donated several manuscript collections to the Department of Special Collections; received Doctor of Letters from Occidental College in 1981; died in August 1987.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Sam Zeitlin, 1996.
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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