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Finding Aid for the Robert Ernest Cowan Papers, 1876-1942
232  
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Description
Robert Ernest Cowan (1862-1942) wrote bibliographies of California history and the Pacific Coast, and worked as a librarian for William Andrews Clark, Jr. from 1919 to 1933. His collection of books and manuscripts form the nucleus of the UCLA Department of Special Collections' holdings in Californiana. The collection consists of correspondence, catalog, bibliographic materials, account books, an early diary, photographs, ephemera and memorabilia.
Background
Robert Ernest Cowan was born in 1862 in Toronto, Canada; came to San Francisco in 1870; student at University of California at Berkeley 1882-84; San Francisco bookseller from 1895-1920 and author of bibliographies of history of California and the Pacific Coast; librarian for William Andrews Clark, Jr., 1919-33; moved to Los Angeles at Clark's request in 1926; Cowan's collection of books and manuscripts form the nucleus of the UCLA Department of Special Collections' holdings in Californiana; married Marie Margaret Fleissner in 1894; only child was Robert Granniss Cowan; died in 1942.Mr. Cowan was born in Toronto and came to the United States in 1870. From 1882 to 1884 he was a student at the University of California. He was a bookseller in San Francisco from 1895 to 1920 and beginning in 1919 was librarian for William Andrews Clark, Jr. This position he held until shortly before Mr. Clark's death in 1934.
Extent
28 boxes (14 linear ft.) 3 oversize boxes
Restrictions
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.
Availability
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.