Finding Aid for the Stathis Orphanos Papers, ca. 1983-
Processed by Dan Luckenbill; machine-readable finding aid created by Dan Luckenbill and Caroline Cubé
UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections
Manuscripts Division
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
Email: spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
URL: http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/special/scweb/
© 1999
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Finding Aid for the Stathis Orphanos Papers, ca. 1983-
Collection number: 527
UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections
Manuscripts Division
Los Angeles, CA
Contact Information
- Manuscripts Division
- UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections
- Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
- Box 951575
- Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
- Telephone: 310/825-4988 (10:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., Pacific
Time)
- Email: spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
- URL: http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/special/scweb/
- Processed by:
- Dan Luckenbill, May 1999
- Encoded by:
- Dan Luckenbill and Caroline Cubé
- Online finding aid edited by:
- Josh Fiala, May 2003
© 1999 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Stathis Orphanos Papers,
Date (inclusive): ca. 1983-
Collection number: 527
Creator:
Orphanos, Stathis, 1940-
Extent:
1 box (0.5 linear ft.)
Repository:
University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Department of Special Collections.
Los Angeles, California 90095-1575
Abstract: Stathis Orphanos (1940- ) was a author, bookseller and photographer. He began bookselling with Sylvester and George Fisher
in 1972 as Sylvester & Orphanos, and issued their first catalog in 1973. They began publishing limited editions as Sylvester
& Orphanos in 1976. Orphanos' first portfolio of photographs was published in
Ontario Review in 1983. The collection consists of copies of portraits, reproductions of portraits in various literary magazines, lists
of publications and exhibits, ephemera relating to publications and exhibits, memoirs, correspondence with David Zeidberg,
and a copy of a letter about his short fiction piece,
Bathyllus, from Colin Wilson.
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.
Language:
English.
Administrative Information
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections. Literary rights, including
copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds
the copyright and pursue the
copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
Restrictions on Access
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Advance notice required for access.
Additional Physical Form Available
A copy of the original version of this online finding aid is available at the UCLA Department of Special Collections for in-house
consultation and may be obtained for a fee. Please contact:
- Public Services Division
- UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections
- Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
- Box 951575
- Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
- Telephone: 310/825-4988 (10:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., Pacific
Time)
- Email: spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Stathis Orphanos Papers (Collection 527). Department of Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research
Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
Biography
Stathis Orphanos was born in North Carolina of Greek parents and resides in Los Angeles and at his home on the Greek island
of Samos. He is a photographer who specializes in portraits of major figures, whose work has been included in many publications.
He is also a partner with Ralph Sylvester in a publishing firm, called Sylvester & Orphanos.
Biograpical Narrative
Stathis Orphanos was born in October 12, 1940 in Greensboro, North Carolina of Greek parents from the island of Samos; was
raised
in Connecticut and attended Cheshire Academy 1952-1958; attended Dennison University 1958-1959; attended CSULA 1960-1962,
where he studied with Dorothy Parker, among others; attended UCLA summer 1960; met partner Ralph Sylvester in 1960; began
bookselling with Sylvester and George Fisher in 1972; formed business as Sylvester & Orphanos and issued first catalog in
1973; began publishing limited editions as Sylvester & Orphanos in 1976 with Christopher Isherwood's
Christopher and His Kind, a special edition of the publisher's sheets and in 1978 with Joyce Carol Oates's
Sentimental education, printed by Lillian Marks; began photography at age 15 in 1955 with his first Rolleiflex; met friend Juli Veee (Gyula Visnyei)
in 1972 and first traveled with him to photograph authors on the East Coast in 1981; first portfolio of photographs published
in
Ontario Review in 1983; various shows of photography and Sylvester & Orphanos publications, including Los Angeles Art Association Galleries
1988 (curated by Shirley Burden), exhibit at UCLA Library
Department of Special Collections 1990 (curated by Dan Luckenbill), Beverly Hills Public Library 1995 (curated by Stefan Klima);
author of fiction, including stories set in Greece; author of non fiction, e.g. memoirs of photographing sitters, including
memoir of
knowing and photographing Christopher Isherwood published in
The Isherwood.
Scope and Content
The papers consist of papers, manuscripts, portraits, photographs and ephemera related to authors and the subjects of Southern
California-related books. Portraits are of Michael Nava, Mamie Van Doren. Includes material about Sylvester & Orphanos.
Expanded Scope and Content
Collection consists of copies of portraits of Michael Nava and Mamie Van Doren; reproductions of portraits in various literary
magazines; lists of publications and exhibits; ephemera relating to publications and exhibits; memoirs about photographing
famous authors with traveling companion Juli Veee, of photographing Mamie Van Doren, and of photographing U.S. Marines in
a series entitled
Kouroi; correspondence with David Zeidberg; and copy of a letter about his short fiction piece,
Bathyllus, from Colin Wilson.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Orphanos, Stathis--Archives.
Sylvester & Orphanos (Firm).
Photographers--Archival resources.
Related Material
- Portrait of bookseller Peggy Christian (gift of Peggy Christian), and of actress and Greek Minister of Culture, Melina Mercouri
(gift of the Estate of Peggy Christian). In Photographers Collection (Collection 98). Available at Department of Special Collections,
UCLA.
- Records of the Sylvester & Orphanos exhibit are in University of California. Library. Department of Special Collections Collection
(Exhibit records, 1967-1991). Available at University Archives, UCLA.
- Records of the Beverly Hills exhibit and lecture by Dan Luckenbill are in the Dan Luckenbill Papers (Collection 1484). Available
at Department of Special Collections, UCLA.
-
Sylvester & Orphanos: catalog of an exhibit, October-December 1990. Written and compiled by Dan Luckenbill, 1990. Available at Young Research Library, UCLA.
Container List
Writing, Photograph, and Publication Material
Box 1, Folder 11
Sylvester & Orphanos catalogue no.23. n.d.
Scope and Content Note
Cover reproduces portrait of SO.
Note
Other catalogs are in the Department's bookseller catalog collection and in the papers of Dan Luckenbill.
Box 1, Folder 14
Cancelled Melina Merocuri stamp. ca. 1995.
Box 1, Folder 9
On covers of journals. 1993-1994.
Robert Stone, James Dickey.
Box 1, Folder 16
Copies of
The Southern Review, no photos by SO. 1996.
Materials Related to Portraits
Box 1, Folder 4
Clippings reproducing portraits. 1993.
Physical Description: 3 articles. With envelope addressed in Mamie Van Doren's hand and with lipstick prints.
Scope and Content Note
Also copy of article sent to DZ by SO.
Box 1, Folder 3
Portrait, two figure studies. 1992[?].
Physical Description: 3 prints.
Box 1, Folder 1
Portrait. n.d.
Physical Description: 19.4 × 22.7 cm. Signed by SO.
Box 1, Folder 2
Portrait with Andrew Ferrero. n.d.
Physical Description: 21.1 × 19.5 cm. Signed by SO.
Note
Cf. prints in Michael Nava Papers (collection 1714). Available at Department of Special Collections, UCLA.
Box 1, Folder 7
Resume, press releases, invitations, etc. 1991-1995.
Scope and Content Note
Includes ephemera of production of
Illya Darling, Los Angeles 1995 (SO had show of photographs at the theater).
Box 1, Folder 8
Portraits of friends and writers. In:
The Ontario Review no.18. 1983 Spring / Summer.
Scope and Content Note
First reproductions of photographic work. Cover and portfolio.
Note
Some of these photographs are mentioned in Dan Luckenbill's
Sylvester & Orphanos.
Various Sylvester & Orphanos
Box 1, Folder 12
List(s) of publications. ca. 1995.
Box 1, Folder 13
Copies of articles about Sylvester & Orphanos. 1983, 1991.
Breasting the '90s: Photographing Mamie Van Doren
Box 1, Folder 5
Copy of reminiscence. 1992[?].
Physical Description: [1], 6 leaves. Typescript and word processor[?].
Untitled [Photographing Writers]
Box 1, Folder 6
Copy of account of trip with Juli Veee in 1981 to photograph authors, etc. on East Coast. n.d.
Physical Description: 3 leaves. Typescript.
Scope and Content Note
Also photocopy of letter from Susan Cheever, 1984. 1 leaf.
Box 1, Folder 10
Letter from Colin Wilson. 1989 March 22.
Physical Description: Photocopy.
Scope and Content Note
Bathyllus is a short fiction, set in ancient Samos, the Greek island birthplace of SO.
