Finding Aid for the H. Richard Archer and the Hippogryph Press Collection 1928-1978

Series 1. Correspondence 1943-1978

Scope and Content Note

This series includes correspondence to and from friends and colleagues, many of them in the library or printing communities. Later additions include miscellaneous correspondence arranged by date, correspondence to and from Grant and Helen Dahlstrom, job hunt correspondence, and a few letters about Archer's memorial service.

Arrangement

This series was originally arranged alphabetically by sender, and is still primarily arranged this way. Later additions are arranged thematically.

Box 1, Folder 1-5

Allen, Lewis and Dorothy (proprietors of the Allen Press) 1949-1972

Scope and Content Note

Includes "not only much news about the Bay area book world but much technical information on printing, type, paper, and work at the Allen Press".

Box 1, Folder 6

Allen Press

Scope and Content Note

Includes ephemera, photographs, news clippings, and other items.

Box 1, Folder 7

Allen, Sue

Physical Description: 1 letter

Box 1, Folder 8-9

Bentley, Wilder 1953-1955

Physical Description: 10 letters

Scope and Content Note

Includes replies by Archer and printing ephemera; also a manuscript draft of Bentley's "Theoretical Book Typography".

Box 1, Folder 10

Bliss, Carey and Amelia 1966-1967

Scope and Content Note

Includes one letter from Amelia (1967), and a reply to Carey from Archer (1966).

Box 1, Folder 11

Bradley, Will 1954

Scope and Content Note

Includes three items, with a reply by Archer.

Box 1, Folder 12

Brown, Philip and Helen 1955-1959

Scope and Content Note

Two letters with reply by Archer.

Box 1, Folder 13

Carpenter, Edwin 1952-1959

Scope and Content Note

Includes 42 letters with replies by Archer.

Box 1, Folder 14

Cheney, William and Dahlstrom, Grant 1960

Scope and Content Note

Includes approximately 30 letters regarding the Typestickers.

Box 1, Folder 15

Cheney, William

Scope and Content Note

Includes an article about the Typestickers for the Book Club of California newsletter (1956) by Archer, as well as drafts of the article, and correspondence about the article.

Note

Another folder with further Typesticker information may be found in Series 3, Subseries 2 (box 8, folder 8).

Box 1, Folder 16

Clark Library staff 1953-1957

Scope and Content Note

Includes approximately 50 lettes from Edna C. Davis, William Conway, and Elizabeth Angelico, with replies by Archer.

Box 1, Folder 17

Coman, Edwin T. 1953

Scope and Content Note

Includes three letters with replies by Archer.

Box 1, Folder 18

Coulter, Edith 1951-1956

Scope and Content Note

Includes six letters with replies by Archer.

Box 2, Folder 1-4

Dalhstrom, Grant and Helen 1954-1977

Scope and Content Note

Includes ephemera, postcards of Castle Press work on an exhibition at Honnold Library, 51 letters and postcards, and some replies by Archer.

Box 2, Folder 5

Dawson, Glen and Muir 1954-1977

Scope and Content Note

Includes 25 items with replies by Archer.

Box 2, Folder 6

Dillon, Richard 1953-1955

Scope and Content Note

Three letters with replies by Archer.

Box 2, Folder 7

Eshelman, William 1954-1962

Scope and Content Note

Includes fourteen letters with replies by Archer.

Box 2, Folder 8

Evans, Henry (Peregrine Press) 1956

Scope and Content Note

Includes three signed letters and an article on Lawton Kennedy from the Pacific Printer, Publisher, and Lithographer.

Box 2, Folder 9

Freedman, Theodore 1956-1968

Scope and Content Note

Includes approximately thirty items with replies by Archer as well as printed ephemera and photographs.

Box 2, Folder 10

Fruge, August 1953

Scope and Content Note

Includes six items with replies by Archer, and one by Lawrence Clark Powell.

Box 2, Folder 11

Harlow, Neal 1951-1957

Scope and Content Note

Includes nine letters with replies by Archer.

Box 2, Folder 12-15

Harmsen, Tyrus 1954-1977

Scope and Content Note

Includes replies by Archer.

Box 2, Folder 16

Hart, James and Ruth 1954-1969

Scope and Content Note

Includes six letters with replies by Archer.

Box 2, Folder 17

Holmquist, Gordon 1957-1967

Scope and Content Note

Includes two items with replies by Archer.

Box 2, Folder 18-19

Lecky, Margaret 1954-1955

Scope and Content Note

Includes two letters with replies by Archer, drafts of "Margaret Lecky, Bookbinder-Teacher" by Archer and correspondence with Max Hettler of Buchbinder Verlag regarding the article for his magazine.

Box 2, Folder 20

Levenson, Roger (Tamalpais Press, Berkeley) 1955

Scope and Content Note

Includes three letters with replies by Archer and some ephemera.

Box 2, Folder 21

Magee, David 1952-1955

Scope and Content Note

Includes eleven letters with replies by Archer and some ephemera.

Box 3, Folder 1

Marks, Saul and Lillian 1960, 1966-1967, 1974

Scope and Content Note

Includes four letters to Archer and one card notifying the Archers of the passing of Saul Marks.

Box 3, Folder 2

Moore, Everett 1952-1958

Scope and Content Note

Includes 27 letters with replies by Archer and some ephemera.

Box 3, Folder 3

Newham, Anthony 1957

Scope and Content Note

Includes two letters with replies by Archer and "Catalogue 4" which includes Faulkner items.

Box 3, Folder 4

Parrish, W. A. 1953

Scope and Content Note

Includes one typed letter, signed.

Box 3, Folder 5-7

Peason, Reuben 1949-1954

Scope and Content Note

Includes 45 letters with replies by Archer.

Box 3, Folder 8

Powell, Lawrence Clark 1952-1976

Scope and Content Note

Includes 28 letters with replies by Archer and some ephemera.

Box 3, Folder 9

Quinsey, Robert L. 1954-1959

Scope and Content Note

Includes three letters with replies by Archer. Quinsey was affiliated with the University of Kansas.

Box 3, Folder 10

Ritchie, Ward 1953-1957

Scope and Content Note

Fifteen letters (several from Marka, Ward's second wife) with replies by Archer, and some ephemera and newspaper clippings.

Box 3, Folder 11

Rosenthal, Erwin 1944-1953

Scope and Content Note

Includes eight letters with replies by Archer

Box 3, Folder 12

Schad, Robert O. 1952-1955

Scope and Content Note

Includes nine letters with replies by Archer.

Box 3, Folder 13

Stauffacher, Jack Werner (Greenwood Press) 1955-1974

Scope and Content Note

Includes twelve letters with replies by Archer and some ephemera.

Box 3, Folder 14

Thomas, F. F. Jr. 1954-1957

Scope and Content Note

Includes 16 letters with replies by Archer with some ephemera.

Box 3, Folder 15

Vosper, Robert and Loraine 1953-1961

Scope and Content Note

Includes 23 letters with replies by Archer.

Box 3, Folder 16

Wilson, Adrian 1954-1960

Scope and Content Note

Includes five letters with replies by Archer and some ephemera.

Box 3, Folder 17

Wreden, William P. 1954-1959

Scope and Content Note

Includes six letters with replies by Archer and some ephemera.

Box 3, Folder 18

Zeitlin, Jacob 1954-1976

Scope and Content Note

Includes 14 letters with replies by Archer; also includes ephemera, newspaper clippings, catalogs, and book descriptions.

Box 7, Folder 11-12

Correspondence from Archer to Grant and Helen Dahlstrom 1952-1958, 1970-1977

Box 7, Folder 13

Correspondence to Grant and Helen Dahlstrom and information about Archer's memorial 1978

Box 8, Folder 1

Job Hunting Correspondence 1943, 1954-1957

Scope and Content Note

Includes letters between Archer and prospective employers, including the Army War College, the University of Houston, the University of Vermont, Cornell University, the Military College of South Carolina, and Harvard University.

Box 8, Folder 2

Correspondence 1951-1959

Scope and Content Note

Includes correspondence from a variety of individuals.

Box 8, Folder 3

Correspondence 1960-1971, undated

Scope and Content Note

Includes correspondence from a variety of individuals.

Box 8, Folder 4

Correspondence 1955-1972

Scope and Content Note

Includes correspondence from a variety of individuals.

Box 8, Folder 5

Letter (ALS) from William Cheney to Mrs. H. Richard Archer January 30, 1978

Scope and Content Note

A handwritten note from William Cheney to Margot Archer after the death of H. Richard Archer on January 19, 1978.

Note

This item was a gift of Mrs. H. Richard Archer on February 12, 1982.

Series 2. Hippogryph Press and Printed Ephemera 1951-1969

Scope and Content Note

This series contains information about hippogryphs (including letters asking what a hippogryph is), artistic depictions of hippogryphs, ephemera printed by the Hippogryph Press, Christmas cards received by the Archers and Christmas cards printed for friends, and a folder of photos. Also of interest is a hand-written oversized journal begun in December 1951 detailing the progress of the Hippogryph Press.

Arrangement

This series is arranged into three general categories: about the Hippogryph Press, ephemera printed by the Hippogryph Press, and Christmas cards sent to and from the Archer family.

Box 4, Folder 1

About the Hippogryph Press 1955-1969

Scope and Content Note

Includes letters, newspaper clippings, and manuscripts about the origins of the Hippogryph Press. It includes a background of the press in various forms: a typed manuscript from Archer to Editor Footitt, February 7, 1956 for the Lakeside News; "The Hippogryph Press: Or, the Press of the Hippogryph (Sometimes spelled, Hippogriff, inter alia.) by H. Richard Archer, Printer (Librarian by Profession)"; and several drafts of "Of Hippogryphs & The Press Of" by Archer.

Box 4, Folder 2

Inquiries about Hippogryphs 1955-1963

Scope and Content Note

Includes a few letters from individuals asking what a hippogryph is, and a few notes about hippogryphs.

Box 4, Folder 3

Notes on Hippogryphs

Scope and Content Note

Includes excerpts from magazines and books about hippogryphs; a draft of a Christmas card from Archer "(From the hippogrpyh) (What the heck is that!!!)"; copied sketches of hippogryphs; and a few negatives and prints of images from "Ariosto" from the Huntington Library.

Box 4, Folder 4

Hippogryph Art

Scope and Content Note

Includes original sketches and concepts for the Hippogryph Press logos.

Box 4, Folder 5

Photos 1952-1953, undated

Scope and Content Note

Includes three portraits of Archer, a few candid photos of Archer working at his press, photos from Lawrence Clark Powell after a UCLA event, the Campbell Book Contest (1953), two large prints, and three small hand-drawn caricatures (presumably by Archer).

Box 4, Folder 6

Hippogryph Logo Ephemera

Scope and Content Note

Includes various items with the Hippogryph Press logo (in multiple incarnations), including letterhead, envelopes, cards, and note paper.

Box 4, Folder 7

"Announcement of a Rare Specimen Book of the Printing Types Available at the Hippogryph Press in Williamstown, Massachusetts" 1960

Note

This item was a keepsake of a joint meeting of the Zamorano and Roxburghe clubs.

Box 4, Folder 8

Printed Ephemera -- Duplicates

Scope and Content Note

This folder contains items that are close duplicates of each other, but with varying type, paper, size, or other features. Some items include the moving announcement of the Hippogryph Press, H. Richard Archer's Self-Styled Typomaniac, a garage sale announcement, and other printed items.

Box 4, Folder 9

Large Miscellaneous Printed Ephemera

Scope and Content Note

Includes printed items approximately the size of an 8.5 x 11" sheet of paper.

Box 4, Folder 10

Medium Miscellaneous Printed Ephemera

Scope and Content Note

Includes printed items ranging from approximately one quarter to one half the size of an 8.5 x 11" sheet of paper.

Box 4, Folder 11

Small Miscellaneous Printed Ephemera

Scope and Content Note

Includes printed items smaller than approximately one quarter of the size of an 8.5 x 11" sheet of paper.

Box 5, Folder 1

Hippogryph printed ephemera from the collection of Grant Dahlstrom

Box 5, Folder 2

Christmas cards printed by the Hippogryph Press for the Archer family

Scope and Content Note

Includes printed Christmas cards and small keepsakes made for friends by the Archers.

Box 5, Folder 3

Christmas Cards -- A through K

Scope and Content Note

Includes Christmas cards sent to the Archers from individuals whose last names start with the letters A through K. Cards are arranged alphabetically by last name.

Box 5, Folder 4

Christmas Cards -- L through Z, unknown

Scope and Content Note

Includes Christmas cards sent to the Archers from individuals whose last names start with the letters A through K. Cards are arranged alphabetically by last name; unknown senders are at the back of the folder.

Box 10

Journal of the Hippogryph (scrapbook) 1951

Note

This item is a large (10" by 16") journal completely hand-written by the Archers, begun in December 1951 about their forays into printing. Entries are incredibly detailed (down to the time of day and number of hours a step took) and demonstrative pieces of printed ephemera are pasted in with their corresponding entries.

Series 3. Personal and Professional Life 1928-1977

Scope and Content Note

This series contains documents related to Archer's personal and professional life, including academic diplomas and certificates, items related to clubs in which Archer was a member ((including the Zamorano, Roxburghe and Rounce & Coffin Clubs), drafts and final copies of journal and newspaper articles by Archer, materials related to the Chapin Library at Williams College, and other miscellany.

Arrangement

This series is divided into four subseries: 1) Certificates, Club Memberships, and Awards; 2) Publications, Manuscripts, and Articles; 3) Chapin Library, Williams College; and 4) Miscellaneous.

Subseries 1. Certificates, Club Memberships, and Awards 1928-1977

Arrangement

This subseries is arranged broadly into three categories: academic certificates, certificates of membership, and club-related material.

Scope and Content Note

This subseries contains diplomas from Archer's academic career ranging from high school to the PhD level, certificates and awards from various clubs Archer was involved with, and correspondence and ephemera from clubs Archer was a member of (including the Zamorano, Roxburghe and Rounce & Coffin Clubs, as well as the Book Club of California).

Box 6, Folder 1

H. Richard Archer's Curriculum Vitae ca. 1957

Box 6, Folder 2

H. Richard Archer's High School Diploma (Monrovia High School) 1928

Box 6, Folder 3

H. Richard Archer's University of California School of Librarianship Diploma (Berkeley) 1941

Box 6, Folder 4

H. Richard Archer's University of Chicago Doctor of Philosophy diploma from the Graduate Library School 1954

Scope and Content Note

Also includes proofs and final copies of a printed announcement for the graduation, as well as a letter from Archer to the Clark Library writing of his accomplishment.

Box 6, Folder 5

Beta Phi Mu (National Library Honor Society) certificate 1955

Box 6, Folder 6

Beta Phi Sigma certificate 1929

Box 6, Folder 7

Bibliophile Prize -- University of California, Berkeley 1940

Box 6, Folder 8

International Register of Press Names certificate 1951

Box 6, Folder 9

Library Company of Philadelphia certificate 1972

Box 6, Folder 10

Manuscript Society certificate 1956

Box 6, Folder 11

National Society of Autograph Collectors membership card 1950

Box 6, Folder 12

Pittsburgh Bibliophiles certificate 1962

Box 6, Folder 13

Society of Printers certificate 1957

Box 6, Folder 14

Williamstown Bowling Congress "Hall of Shame" certificate 1958

Note

For having "rolled an unbelievably ridiculous score of 68 in league competition".

Box 8, Folder 6

Certificates 1951-1975

Scope and Content Note

Includes Rounce & Coffin Club membership certificate (1951), American Institute for Typographic Design membership certificate (1954), a "500 Years of Printing" paper with a watermark portrait of Frederic W. Goudy given to Archer by Grant Dahlstrom (1960), and an honor certificate for Archer from the Typophiles (1975).

Box 6, Folder 15

Book Club of California -- correspondence 1957

Box 6, Folder 16

Book Club of California -- Newsletter correspondence 1948

Box 6, Folder 17

Book Club of California quarterly newsletter notes

Box 6, Folder 18

Rounce & Coffin Club correspondence 1952-1966

Scope and Content Note

This folder also contains an envelope of pictures, mainly portraits of Archer, and Archer shaking another man's hand; it also contains an envelope of pictures from a 1959 Rounce & Coffin Club dinner.

Box 6, Folder 19

Rounce & Coffin Club correspondence 1973, 1977

Box 6, Folder 20

Roxburghe Club correspondence and printed ephemera 1956-1964

Box 6, Folder 21

Zamorano Club correspondence (personal) 1953-1960

Note

This correspondence was sent to Archer (individually) regarding the Zamorano Club.

Box 6, Folder 22

Zamorano Club correspondence (printed) 1954-1972

Note

This correspondence was sent to all members of the Zamorano Club, and includes club notices and other general information.

Box 6, Folder 23

Hoja Volante, nos. 31 and 32 1952

Scope and Content Note

Includes drafts and final copies of articles from Hoja Volante, the publication of the Zamorano Club, numbers 31 and 32.

Box 6, Folder 24

Hoja Volante, no. 31 and other published letters 1947, 1952

Scope and Content Note

Includes a copy of Hoja Volante, no. 31. Also includes the "Librarie-Keeper's Second Letter" (1947", and a copy of the "Librarian's Occasional Letter to the Faculty #4" (December 1946), written by Lawrence Clark Powell.

Note

The "Occasional Letter" by Powell encourages faculty to have their students use and tour the Clark Library after World War II, to "get away from traffic-choked Westwood", remembers Clark gardener Alex McGillivray, and encourages class visits: "It should be a group no larger than 20 to 25. (Are there still such?)".

Subseries 2. Publications, Manuscripts, and Articles 1942-1975

Arrangement

This subseries is arranged thematically.

Scope and Content Note

This subseries contains items primarily written by Archer about the topics of the Clark Library, the Hippogryph Press, the University of California, and other book and printing-related topics. Included are drafts of articles, hand-edited manuscripts, newspaper articles, and issues of journals.

Box 6, Folder 25

Articles about the Clark Library, by Archer ca. 1945-1947

Scope and Content Note

Includes "The Clark Library Collection and the History of Printing" (Archer's personal copy), "The Graphic Arts Collection in the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library" (Archer's personal copy which appears to be similar to a collection development plan), "Your Librarian's Almanack" (1947), and a "Brief Checklist of Reference Materials on Printing now in the Clark Memorial Library".

Box 6, Folder 26

Curator's Annual Report for 1952/1953, by Archer 1953

Box 6, Folder 27

Notes for a review of "Modern Manuscripts" 1975

Scope and Content Note

Taken from Archer's copy of Duckett's "Modern Manuscripts".

Box 7, Folder 1

"Graphic Arts at the Clark Memorial Library" 1952

Scope and Content Note

For the Book Club of California. Also includes correspondence about the article.

Box 7, Folder 2

"The Hippogryph Aboard" [sic] ca. 1954

Scope and Content Note

Typed pages for the Hoja Volante.

Box 7, Folder 3

Notes for "The Hippogryph Abroad"

Scope and Content Note

For the Hoja Volante. Includes hand written notes from while abroad and the travel itinerary.

Box 7, Folder 4

"Southern California Printing, 1925-1952" 1953

Scope and Content Note

Given for a Santa Monica Bay Club of Printing House Craftsmen lecture.

Box 7, Folder 5

"The Ups & Downs of a Faulkner Collector" 1952

Scope and Content Note

In the Antiquarian Bookman.

Box 7, Folder 6-7

The Calibrarian 1952-1972

Note

The official alumni newsletter for the University of California library school.

Box 7, Folder 8

The UCLA Librarian 1946, 1955-1956

Box 7, Folder 9

The Librarian's Occasional Letter to the Faculty, nos. 8 and 11 1952

Box 7, Folder 10

Books and Libraries at the University of Kansas 1954-1958

Box 8, Folder 7

Miscellaneous Publications 1942-1963

Scope and Content Note

Includes issues of a variety of journals, including the Book Club of California, Library Quarterly, the Rare Books Section, and others.

Box 8, Folder 8

Typestickers

Scope and Content Note

Includes drafts and prints of various articles about the Typestickers.

Note

Another Typesticker article may be found in Series 1 (box 1, folder 15).

Box 8, Folder 9

Antiquarian Book Notes (typed drafts of articles) 1950

Scope and Content Note

Multiple articles for the Los Angeles Times.

Box 8, Folder 10

Draft of a "Bio-Bibliographical Foreword" 1970

Scope and Content Note

Includes notes, drafts, and correspondence.

Note

The "Bio-Bibliographical Foreword" was written by Archer for Grant Dalhstrom's printing of "Illustrations of Eating" (1970), which was written by George Vasey under the pseudonym "Beef-eater".

Box 8, Folder 11

"Five Centuries of the Printed Bible" 1957

Scope and Content Note

Includes exhibit photographs and newspaper articles about the "Five Centuries of the Printed Bible" exhibit, from the Chicago Tribune.

Subseries 3. Chapin Library, Williams College 1959-1972

Arrangement

This subseries is arranged thematically.

Scope and Content Note

This subseries contains items relating to Archer's career as Custodian of the Chapin Library of Williams College. Informational pamphlets, acquisition lists, and printed material announcing events are included.

Box 9, Folder 1

About Chapin Library

Scope and Content Note

Includes a few pamphlets about the Chapin Library at Williams College, some library letterhead, Archer's library business card, and a card thanking Lawrence Clark Powell for a gift to the library.

Box 9, Folder 2

Chapin Library Acquisitions 1962-1971

Scope and Content Note

Includes list of books and manuscripts acquired by the Chapin Library, ordered chronologically for each school year.

Box 9, Folder 3-4

Exhibit Announcements 1959-1972

Scope and Content Note

Includes announcements and invitations to programs held at Chapin Library and/or other locations at Williams College. Most of these items were designed and/or printed by Archer.

Box 9, Folder 5

Invitations to Lectures

Scope and Content Note

Includes invitations to lectures at various places, some by Archer, and others at Williams College.

Subseries 4. Miscellaneous

Arrangement

This subseries was arranged thematically.

Scope and Content Note

This subseries contains items that did not fit in other series or subseries, and includes Archer's personal copy of an early Clark Library publication, Archer's practice with calligraphy, small newspaper clippings and bits of ephemera, and other items.

Box Map Drawer "H"

"The McPhersons And All The Dogs of the Kennel Wish You a Merry Christmas".

Note

This item is located in the "H" drawer, which can be found in the oversized item map drawers. Information may also be found in the drawer contents page located inside the "H" drawer.

Box 9, Folder 6

Calligraphy ca. 1946-1955

Scope and Content Note

Includes examples of Archer's calligraphy practice, ranging from personal stationery designs to testing different pens and styles. Also included is a letter from Archer to his wife testing out writing various ways and with multiple nibs. Includes a page of sketches of the Clark Library owl in various incarnations.

Box 9, Folder 7

Heritage of the Graphic Arts, 6th series 1967

Physical Description: 2 booklets

Note

Includes a short biography of Archer.

Box 9, Folder 8

William Andrews Clark Memorial Library: Report of the First Decade, 1934-1944 [1945?]

Scope and Content Note

This report is Archer's annotated desk copy. It contains a copy of the reading room rules in the back cover. The folder also includes a copy of "Literary and Historical Manuscripts in the Clark Memorial Library", by Archer, reprinted from the January 1951 issue of the Autograph Collector's Journal.

Box 9, Folder 9-11

Miscellaneous

Scope and Content Note

Includes print scraps, small newspaper clippings, poems, notes for journals, and other items.

Container List