Katharine Adams correspondence : approximately 1898-1960.

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Summary

Title:
Katharine Adams correspondence :
Dates:
approximately 1898-1960.
Creators:
Adams, Katharine, 1862-1952, creator. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/nr97023637, Kelmscott Press, printer. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n82126751, Charrington, John, 1856-1939, correspondent. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n83184875, Cobden-Sanderson, T. J. (Thomas James), 1840-1922, correspondent. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n50036057, Cockerell, Douglas, correspondent. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n91050247, Daniel, C. Henry (Charles Henry), 1836-1919, correspondent., Anderson, Mary, 1859-1940, correspondent. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n82225905, Ellis, Frederick Startridge, 1830-1901, correspondent. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n50008884, Geoffroy-Dechaume, Charles, correspondent., Gere, Charles M. (Charles March), 1869-1957, correspondent. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/nr99011043, Griggs, Frederick Landseer Maur, 1876-1938, correspondent. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n86130256, Hornby, Charles Harry St. John, 1867-1946, correspondent. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n83130002, Kenyon, Frederic G. (Frederic George), Sir, 1863-1952, correspondent. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n50044760, Murray, Charles Fairfax, 1849-1919, correspondent. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n80139392, Norman, Philip, 1842-1931, correspondent. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n87821929, Pissarro, Lucien, 1863-1944, correspondent. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n50010996, Prideaux, S. T. (Sarah Treverbian), correspondent. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n88157142, Shaw, Bernard, 1856-1950, correspondent., Walker, Emery, 1851-1933, correspondent. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n50024587, and Abbey, J. R. (John Roland), 1896-1969, compiler. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/nr94014439
Abstract:
Approximately 150 letters written to Katharine Adams sending congratulations from clients for whom she had bound books, discussing technical problems (such as the warping of vellum boards), etc. Correspondents include John Charrington, T.J. Cobden-Sanderson, Douglas Cockerell, Lord Aldenham, C. Henry Daniel, Mary de Navarro, F.S. Ellis, C. Geoffroy-Dechaume, C.M. Gere, F.L. Griggs, C.H. St. John Hornby, F.G. Kenyon, C. Fairfax Murray, Philip Norman, Lucien Pissarro, Sarah Prideaux, G.B. Shaw, Sir Emery Walker, and others. Collections also includes: two autograph manuscript addresses given by Adams to the Women's Guild of Art (on Sarah T. Prideaux, Feb. 26, 1936, and May Morris, Feb. 1940); a record of bindings from 1898 to approximately 1935 comprising working designs in pencil or stamped in black with tools, including a number of trials for lettering; transfer-drawings used for decorative bookbindings, including an elaborate design for the Doves Press "Seven poems and two translations" by Alfred Lord Tennyson; small drawings used for the tooling of spines of the Dyson Perrine copy of the Doves Press Bible; two oversize scrapbooks containing photographs and original drawings of Adams' bindings and designs, ephemera related to William Morris, the Kelmscott Press, and the Ashendene Press, etc.; and, miscellaneous photographs and postcards.
Extent:
1.25, (4, and 2
Language:
English
Preferred citation:
Katharine Adams correspondence, BANC MSS 2011/262, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.

Background

Biographical / historical:
Katharine Adams Webb (1862-1952) was an English bookbinder. Largely self-trained, Adams enjoyed the patronage of several private presses, including the Doves Press, the Ashendene Press, and the Kelmscott Press. Her most significant works date from the first quarter of the 20th century, although she continued to bind books until her death.
Acquisition information:

of Norman H. Strouse;

of Norman H. Strouse;

Arrangement:
Box 1: Correspondence, A-P. Box 2: Correspondence, R-W. Box 3: Addresses, binding records, drawings, photographs. Box 4: Original custom boxes and slipcases (now empty). Oversize box 1: Scrapbook compiled for (or by?) J.R. Abbey, comprises primarily photographic prints of Adams bindings; also includes numerous original working designs; photographic portrait of Adams laid in. Overize box 2: Scrapbook of Kelmscott Press and Ashendene Press ephemera, including photographic portraits of William Morris and Jane Morris, printed leaves and gatherings of Kelmscott publications, newspaper clippings, receipts, etc.
Physical description:
1.25 linear feet (4 boxes, 2 oversize boxes)

Access and use

Preferred citation:
Katharine Adams correspondence, BANC MSS 2011/262, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.
Location of this collection:
University of California, Berkeley, The Bancroft Library
Berkeley, CA 94720-6000, US
Contact:
510-642-6481
bancref-library@berkeley.edu
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