Emanuel Haldeman-Julius Little Blue Books Collection, 1923-1999

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Summary

Creators:
Haldeman-Julius, E. (Emanuel), 1888-1951
Abstract:
Emanuel Haldeman-Julius, a newspaper publisher, opened a publishing house in Girard, Kansas, where he published small, inexpensive paperback books, including classic works of literature and essays on myriad topics, for the working and middle classes. The publications in the Little Blue Books Collection are arranged by number from 1 to 1914. Gaps in the numbering usually indicate missing titles.
Extent:
16.00 linear feet
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style manual, or see the Citing Archival Materials guide.

Background

Scope and content:

The publications in this collection are arranged by number from 1 to 1914. Gaps in the numbering usually indicate missing titles. Some numbers were never used such as 1832-1842 and some numbers were used more than once for different titles. Many of the titles in this collection show evidence that the copyright date was scratched off the printing plate indicating it is a later re-issue. Multiple copies of the same number in the collection may have different titles or are distinguished by a cover illustration or different cover stock. They are divided into two series: Unbound and Bound Volumes.

Biographical / historical:

Emanuel Haldeman-Julius, a newspaper publisher, opened a publishing house in Girard, Kansas, in 1919 where he published small, inexpensive paperback books, including classic works of literature and essays on myriad topics, for the working and middle classes. For his first printing project, he selected fifty classic and socialist works. In 1923 he named the series "Little Blue Books." Little Blue Books measure 3½" x 5" and took their name from their blue covers. They fit into a pants or shirt pocket, and were especially popular across the US through the 1930s and 1940s, especially with travelers. He began issuing the Big Blue Books in 1925. They were 5 ½" x 8 ½."

Haldeman-Julius felt there was no subject too controversial to be in print. Customers could order titles from mail order catalogs or visit one of the outlet stores in Cincinnati, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Venice, Colorado. The Los Angeles store opened in 1924 in the downtown Mercantile Arcade Building (recently converted to loft apartments).

Acquisition information:
Norman E. Tannis and Jack Botwin.
Processing information:

Tony Gardner, 2007

Arrangement:

Series I: Unbound

Series II: Bound Volumes

Accruals:

1970s, 1990

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research use.

Terms of access:

Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of this collection has not been transferred to California State University, Northridge. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Preferred citation:

For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style manual, or see the Citing Archival Materials guide.

Location of this collection:
18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91330, US
Contact:
(818) 677-4594
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