Finding Aid for the Richard J. Hoffman Collection 1932-1989
Press coll. Archives Hoffman
Processed by Jamie Henricks
William Andrews Clark Memorial Library
©2009
2520 Cimarron Street
Los Angeles 90018
clark@humnet.ucla.edu
Contributing Institution:
William Andrews Clark Memorial Library
Title: Richard J. Hoffman Collection
Creator:
Hoffman, Richard J.
Identifier/Call Number: Press coll. Archives Hoffman
Physical Description:
1.7 Linear Feet
5 boxes
Date (inclusive): 1932-1989
Abstract: This collection contains material created and printed by Richard J. Hoffman for various individuals, institutions, and clubs.
Items are mostly printed ephemera including Christmas cards, invitations, announcements, memorials, and certificates for various
events.
Physical Location: This collection is stored at the Southern Regional Library Facility. Please contact Clark Library staff at least 2 weeks
in advance if you would like to view the materials in this collection.
Language of Material:
English
.
Access
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
The Clark Library owns the property rights to its collections but does not hold the copyright to these materials and therefore
cannot grant or deny permission to use them. Researchers are responsible for determining the copyright status of any materials
they may wish to use, investigating the owner of the copyright, and obtaining permission for their intended publication or
other use. In all cases, you must cite the Clark Library as the source with the following credit line: The William Andrews
Clark Memorial Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Richard J. Hoffman Collection, Press coll. Archives Hoffman, William Andrews Clark Memorial Library,
University of California, Los Angeles.
Acquisition Information
Part of this collection originated in accession MS.1988.001. These items were purchased by the Clark in 1988.
Processing History
This collection was processed and described by Jamie Henricks in July, 2009. The finding aid adheres to Describing Archives:
a Content Standard (DACS).
Biography
Richard J. Hoffman was born in Los Angeles on July 25, 1912. He graduated from Garfield High School in 1928, and from Los
Angeles Junior College in 1932. Hoffman received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Los Angeles State College in 1947,
and went on to receive a Master of Science in advanced education from USC.
Hoffman worked as a printer from high school on. He taught starting in 1943 at Los Angeles City College and had his own printing
office for many years in which he wrote, designed, and printed many of his own books. He married Ruth Janet Lofthouse on March
24, 1934 and went on to have three children and seven grandchildren. After teaching for many years, he retired from his job
as a professor at California State University, Los Angeles. He died in Los Angeles on September 26, 1989.
He was a member of various associations and clubs, including the Columbian 415 Chappel (as a founding father), the Comma Club,
Los Angeles (as a founding member), the International Typographical Union, Phi Delta Kappa, the Rounce & Coffin Club Los Angeles,
the Typophiles of New York, and the Zamorano Club of Los Angeles.
He received many awards including the John Paul II Medal in a papal visit, state assembly recognitions, the International
Graphic Arts Education Association President's medal (1958), Phi Delta Kappan of the year (1977), a scholarship for perpetuating
printing technology education, and many others.
Scope and Content
This collection contains material created and printed by Richard J. Hoffman, a printer in Southern California who printed
many items for various individuals, institutions, and clubs (including Los Angeles Junior College, California State University
at Los Angeles, the Rounce and Coffin Club, and the Roxburghe and Zamorano Clubs). Items consist largely of printed ephemera
including Christmas cards, invitations, announcements, memorials, and certificates for various events.
Boxes 2 and 3 below originated in Clark accession MS.1988.001.
Arrangement
The collection was arranged previously by another individual. The order was preserved except in the case of box 5, where booklets
were put into chronological order.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Private presses -- California -- 20th century
Printers -- California -- 20th century
Ephemera -- California -- 20th century
Small presses -- California -- 20th century
Box 1, Folder 1
Christmas Greetings
1937-1938
Scope and Contents note
Includes two copies of a large printing of "Jest 'fore Christmas" by Eugene Field, and one small copy of "Christmas Carol"
by Phillips Brooks as Christmas greetings from the Hoffman family.
Box 1, Folder 2
Christmas Cards and Birth Announcement
1940-1949
Scope and Contents note
Includes various Christmas cards from the Hoffman family as well as a birth announcement for Hilary Janet Hoffman.
Box 1, Folder 3
Christmas Cards and Letters
1950-1959
Scope and Contents note
Includes Christmas cards and a few letters about the family sent with the cards.
Box 1, Folder 4
Christmas Cards
1961-1967
Box 1, Folder 5
Christmas Cards
1971-1976, 1979
Box 1, Folder 6
Christmas Cards
1980-1984, 1987-1988
Box 1, Folder 10
Christmas cards
1945-1988
Box 1, Folder 7
Cora I. Upp (piano teacher) recital announcements and programs
1946-1969
Box 1, Folder 8
Rounce & Coffin and Zamorano Club Ephemera
1944, 1946, 1965, 1971-1988
Box 1, Folder 9
Letterhead Stationery
Scope and Contents note
Includes letterhead for various individuals and companies, including Mary Hoffman.
Box 2, Folder 1-2
Undated Ephemera
Scope and Contents note
Includes pieces of printed material of all sizes, including but not limited to announcements, invitations, programs, advertisements,
certificates, and postcards.
Box 2, Folder 3
Printed Ephemera
1933-1939
Box 2, Folder 5-8
Printed Ephemera
1950-1979
Box 3, Folder 1-2
Printed Ephemera
1980-1989
Box 3, Folder 3
Los Angeles Junior College newspapers
1932-1937
Scope and Contents note
Includes numbers 1 and 3 (1932 and 1934) of the Los Angeles Junior College Campus Spectator, two copies of supplement 5 to
volume 6, number 35, and an "EXTRA!" edition of the Campus Spectator announcing the birth of Judith Anne Hoffman.
General note
The "EXTRA!" item is located in the "H" drawer, which can be found in the oversized item map drawers.
Box 3, Folder 4
"Metal Flowers" by D.B. Updike
1959
Box 3, Folder 5
"The Ideal Book or Book Beautiful" by Thomas James Cobden-Sanderson
1963
General note
Note in the back reads: "The Ideal Book or Book Beautiful was printed as a project by some members of the Senior Graphic Arts
Class at Los Angeles State College. Professor Richard J. Hoffman suggested the text and also contributed most generously of
his time and knowledge. Participating members of the class were: Terry Cowgill, Robert. L. Kish, Richard B. Odemar, Donald
Roland, Fred L. Williams. This edition was limited to one hundred numbered copies, of which this is number 80."
Box 4, Folder 1
"Richard J. Hoffman 1912-1989"
1989
Scope and Contents note
Includes short pieces of personal biographical information, education, employment, memberships, offices held, awards, professional
activities, church affiliations, and speaking engagements. Also includes books about, major articles about, books written
and designed by, and books printed and designed by Richard J. Hoffman.
Box 4, Folder 2
Southern California Printing Teachers Yearbook, volume 1
1933
Scope and Contents note
Includes collected examples of items printed by schools in Southern California as well as small articles about teaching printing,
and costs of providing materials.
Box 4, Folder 3
Two items printed by the Los Angeles State College graphic arts students.
1960
Box 4, Folder 4
Letters about the creation of the Richard J. Hoffman Scholarship for the Perpetuation of Printing Education Technology at
California State University, Los Angeles
Box 4, Folder 5
Pamphlets about fine presses by Tyrus G. Harmsen
Scope and Contents note
Includes Grant Dahlstrom (Castle Press), The Plantin Press, and the Ward Ritchie Press.
Box 4, Folder 6
"Small Renaissance: Southern California Style" by Jacob Zeitlin
1972
General note
First read as a lecture at the Huntington Library in 1955, first printed in the Papers of the Bibliographical Society of America,
v. 50, 1st quarter, 1956, and reprinted in 1972 by Richard Hoffman for the author. 2 copies.
Box 4, Folder 7
"Pain: Historical Perspectives" by Edwin M. Todd
1984
Box 4, Folder 8
"Remembering Ed Castagna" by Lawrence Clark Powell
1984
General note
This item is a keepsake from a joint meeting of the Zamorano and Roxburghe clubs.
Box 4, Folder 9
"A Tale of Two Books" by Ward Ritchie
1986
General note
This item is a keepsake from a joint meeting of the Zamorano and Roxburghe clubs.
Box 4, Folder 10
"Next to Mother's Milk..." by Lawrence Clark Powell
1987
General note
A reprint of an Engelhard Lecture on the Book at the Library of Congress, April 8, 1986.
Box 4, Folder 11
Printed Ephemera
1948-1983
Scope and Contents note
Includes booklets from an exhibit on Hugo Steiner-Prag, a program from the inauguration of California State College at Los
Angeles President Franklyn Arthur Johnson, a print of a talk at the Zamorano Club "Billington on Nevins", a 1981 Hoffman family
Christmas letter, a memorial print for Andrew Horn, and a few other items.
Box 4, Folder 12
Printed Ephemera
Scope and Contents note
Undated printed ephemera, including stationery, invitations, greeting cards, and other items.
Box 4, Folder 13-17
Printed Ephemera
1940-1989
Scope and Contents note
Includes a memorial for Gregg Anderson (1949), a program for the naming of the John F. Kennedy Memorial Library at California
State College at Los Angeles (1964), an invitation to the golden wedding anniversary party for the Hoffmans (1984), invitations
to events, announcements of retirements, memorials, and birthdays, and other printed ephemera.
Box 4, Folder 18
Items related to an exhibition at the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library about Richard J. Hoffman
1978
Scope and Contents note
Items related to a retrospective exhibition at the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library to showcase his more than fifty
years of printing. Includes an invitation to the reception for the exhibit, a keepsake quotation print, and photocopies of
the guest book from the reception.
Box 4, Folder 19
Announcement for Richard J. Hoffman's memorial service
1989
Box 5, Folder 1
Printed Ephemera
1976, 1978
Scope and Contents note
Includes a printed keepsake from the Zamorano Club ("The Beginnings of Journalism in Southern California" by Carey S. Bliss)
and a program from the dinner honoring Richard J. Hoffman on his retirement.
Box 5, Folder 2
"Printer's Life is Happily Typecast" by Susan Surges
1981
General note
A newspaper article printed twice (September 6 and 10, 1981) from the Los Angeles Times. The articles are located in the "H"
drawer, which can be found in the oversized item map drawers.
Box 5, Folder 3
Miscellaneous Ephemera
1980
Scope and Contents note
Includes an oversized Zamorano Club keepsake and a University of Southern California sample certificate for the Albert S.
Raubenheimer Distinguished Faculty Award.
General note
These items are located in the "H" drawer, which can be found in the oversized item map drawers.
Box 5, Folder 4
Printed booklets
1935-1984
Scope and Contents note
Includes a variety of small booklets printed by Richard J. Hoffman for individuals, clubs, and classes at Los Angeles Junior
College. There are 26 different items; some have duplicate copies.
Box 1, Folder 11
Ephemera printed for/about CSU Los Angeles
1967-1978
Box 1, Folder 12
The Gardens and Flower Shoes of England and Holland
1982
Scope and Contents
Written by Mildred Matthias and others. Pamphlet with mauve paper covers.
drawer 10
Oversized printed ephemera.
- Ashurst, Henry Fountain. "A Speech in the United States Senate." 1955. 3 copies.
- "Call for Books 39th Western Books Exhibition 1980".
- [A Christmas message from the Hoffmans.]
- Churchyard, Thomas. "A description and playne discourse of paper..."
- Cleland, T.M. "A First Letter - T.M. Cleland to Will Bradley." 2 copies.
- Davis, Robert H. "I am the Printing Press..." Broadside. 1978.
- Donne, John. "All Mankinde is of One Author..."
- [A facsimile reproduction of the Declaration of Independence.] 1976. 2 copies.
- "Fourteenth Western Books Exhibition -- 1955 Award of Merit" certificate.
- Hart, James D. "A Page from McTeague by Frank Norris..." 2 copies.
- Hoffman, Richard. "Rags Make Paper..." 1971.
- [Hugo Steiner-Prag Memorial Exhibition Brochure.] 1948. 2 copies.
- "I believe in the United States of America without reservation." 1988.
- "The Journalist's Creed." 15 copies.
- "Leonardo - The Desire to Know." 4 copies.
- "Letter from John White Geary to his brother Edward Geary."
- "Los Angeles Corral Westerners." 1986.
- Meynell, Sir Francis. "But your flowers!" Broadside. 1987.
- Moxon, Joseph. "The Waygoose."
- "The Old Gordsedd Prayer." Broadside.
- [Portrait of Richard Hoffman with Class.] November 1948.
- St. Francis of Assissi. [Prayer written September 13, 1981.]
- "Up Up & Away with Ready Gates California's First Balloonist." 2 copies.
- "Alpha-Psi Chapter Epsilon Pi Tau Initiation and Installation Program."
- [Announcement of a lecture by Lawrence Clark Powell entitled "The Language of the Heart." February 20, 1957.]
- Donne, John. "All mankinde is of one Author, and is one volume..." 2 copies.
- "I believe in the United States of America without reservation..." 1961.
- [Memorial Exhibition announcement for Hugo Steiner-Prag.]
- Milton, John. "A Reopagitica." [An excerpt from a speech, 1644.]
- Purcell, Henry. "Why so serious, why so grave..." 1954.
- "Resolutions of Commendation for Clifford G. Dobson." 1973.
- "Resolutions of Appreciation to the University of Colorado."
- White, William Allen. "Daily, thousands of citizens..."
General note
These items are 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 MS.2017.021 Box 1
Broadsides from the collection of Ethan B. Lipton
about 1950-1989
Scope and Contents
Gift of Ethan Lipton, 2017 (accession MS.2017.021).