Finding aid for the Carpe Diem Press records 6150
Sue Luftschein
USC Libraries Special Collections
2018 January
Doheny Memorial Library 206
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, California 90089-0189
specol@usc.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Special Collections
Title: Carpe Diem Press records
creator:
Carpe Diem (Firm : Oaxaca, Mexico)
creator:
Brown, James hd
Identifier/Call Number: 6150
Physical Description:
19.04 Linear Feet
13 boxes
Date (inclusive): 2000-2017
Abstract: The collection consists of the archives of the Carpe Diem Press, consisting of maquettes for books, ephemeral items, notes,
art works, test prints, textile samples, and cover samples. Also included are posters and information about James hd Brown's
work, and materials on the Linotipografica Quintas, the printing company with which Carpe Diem Press works regularly. Carpe
Diem Press is owned and operated by artist James hd Brown and Alexandra Brown. Based in Oaxaca, Mexico, the press works with
well-known artists and local printers and craftsmen to produce limited edition artists' books.
Historical note
Carpe Diem Press is owned and operated by artist James hd Brown and Alexandra Brown. Based in Oaxaca, Mexico, the press works
with well-known artists and local printers and craftsmen to produce limited edition artists' books.
Content Description
The collection consists of the archives of the Carpe Diem Press, consisting of maquettes for books, ephemeral items, notes,
art works, test prints, textile samples, and cover samples. Also included are posters and information about James hd Brown's
work, and materials on the Linotipografica Quintas, the printing company with which Carpe Diem Press works regularly.
Organization
The collection is organized into series. Each series represents an artists' book, with the exception of the last two series,
which contain general material by and about James hd Brown and Carpe Diem Press.
Conditions Governing Access
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. Advance notice required for access.
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian.
Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections 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
[Box/folder no. or item name], Carpe Diem Press records, Collection no. 6150, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University
of Southern California
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from James hd and Alexandra BrownCarpe Diem Press, December 2017.
Related Materials
Special Collections also houses the complete run of Carpe Diem Press books.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Artists -- Mexico -- 20th century -- Archival resources
Artists -- United States -- Archival resources
Book artists -- Archival resources
Fine books -- Archival resources
Printing -- Specimens -- Archival resources
Artists' books (books)
Ephemera
Notes
Posters
Printing blocks
Textiles
Carpe Diem (Firm : Oaxaca, Mexico) -- Archives
Brown, James hd -- Archives
James HD Brown and Robert Lax, One Island
2000
Box 1, Folder 1
Prototype for size and binding
Box 1, Folder 5
Poem with title and [signed] colophon
Box 2, Folder 2
Colophon mockup, signed copies, text
James HD Brown and Octavio Paz, Tu Falda de Cristal
2001
Box 1, Folder 6
Watercolors--trial proofs
Box 2, Folder 4
Title page mockup and test prints
James HD Brown, The Elephant is Slow to Mate
2001
Box 2, Folder 7
Proofs and archival material
James HD Brown, 20 Prehispanic Stones
2001
Box 2, Folder 8
Maquette and original watercolors
Rob Wynne, Selected Words
2002
George Mead Moore, The Husband of Cuba
2002
Box 11, Folder 4
Maquette and proofs, test prints, presentation proof
James HD Brown and Michael Bulteau, Lead
2002
Box 1, Folder 10
Presentation proof [signed colophon and title page]
Box 1, Folder 12
Archival material (notes, prints, title page mockup)
James HD Brown and Michel de Grece, The Hospital of Souls
2003
Box 1, Folder 15
Complete seaweed prints [reproductions]
Box 2, Folder 9
Title page and colophon; proofs
Kiki Smith and Susanna Moore, Hunters and Gatherers
2003
Kiki Smith and So Juana de la Cruz, Blue Feet
2003
Rob Wynne and Maria Callas, A Beautiful Sound Alone is Not Enough
2004
Dan McCleary and Nora Cain, Untitled
2004
Box 7, Folder 3
Test prints and magquettes
James HD Brown, MACO
2004
James HD Brown, Kachina
2006
Judith Hudson and Richard Price, Flying Dutchman
2007
Folder 1
Book covers watercolor fabrics and paper
Box 8, Folder 4
Maquettes, fabric and paper samples, covers
Jack Pierson and Max Blagg, Don't Look Back
2007
Box 3, envelope 20-27
Photo session: Kembra/Jack Pierson
James HD Brown, Eclipse
2011
Joan Jonas, Masks, Dolls and Baskets
2012
Box 1, Folder 20
Text and printed ephemera
Box 7, Folder 4
Test prints and maquettes
Box 11, Folder 6
"Modern Painters" with Joan Jonas on the cover
Box 11, Folder 7
Book covers, proofs, maquettes
James HD Brown, Distinct Connection
2012
Scope and Contents
Exhibition catalog for show of Brown's work at the Texas Gallery.
Box 2, Folder 11
1 nearly perfect copy [maquette]
James HD Brown, Black and White
2015
Box 1, Folder 22
Archival material [notes, photos of art works]
James HD Brown, My Other House
2017
Scope and Contents
Exhibition catalog for USC Fisher Museum exhibition, 2017.
Box 2, Folder 12
Madhago portraits for Fisher catalogue
James HD Brown, ORB: The Annex
2017
Graciela Iturbide and Dr. Lakra, 1984
2017
Folder 3
Dr. Lakra prints and etched plate
Box 10, Folder 2
Colophon [notes, test prints, sample cover]
Box 10, Folder 4
First maquette/Revolucion with B&W pictures
James HD Brown, Easter Book
James HD Brown, Casa Oaxaca Coloring Books
Folder 2
Large ephemera
Scope and Contents
Three constructions on brown paper used in the Fisher Museum exhibit.
Folder 2, Box 4
Sponge map paintings
Scope and Contents
3 paintings on maps.
Folder 2
James HD Brown and Carpe Diem Press poster maquettes
Box 4
Carpe Diem Multiple prototype
Box 7, Folder 1-2
Carpe Diem Press & J. Brown posters
Box 11, Folder 1
Maquettes for Tile Project
Folder 3
Linotipografica Quintas
Scope and Contents
Posters and broadsides printed by Linotipografico Quintas.
Box 2, Folder 14, Box 3, envelope 28
Quintas and Carpe Diem Studio documents: photographs and ephemera
Box 2, Folder 15, Box 8, Folder 1-3
Carpe Diem Press general ephemera
Scope and Contents
Ephemeral materials used in the 2017 Fisher Gallery exhibition.
Box 3, envelope 33-46
Rug postcards
Scope and Contents
Postcards of artist-designed rugs from Matthew Brown Hand Loomed Carpet Studio, Oaxaca.
