Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Rather, Lois, 1905-
- Abstract:
- Papers of Lois Rather, printer, writer, and proprietor, along with her husband Clif Rather, of the Oakland, California-based Rather Press.
- Extent:
- Number of containers: 8 cartons, 1 oversize box, 1 cardfile box (Linear feet: 10.75)
- Language:
- Collection materials are in English
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The collection consists of correspondence (mostly dating from 1970 to 1996), Lois Rather's writings and notes, printed materials from the Rather Press, printed materials from other presses and institutions, correspondence between Lois Rather and Paul Padgette (and related materials), early papers, and assorted other papers. The collection focuses mostly on the years of the Rather Press, though it does include writings from Rather's earlier life. Aside from a few manuscript drafts of writings for the WPA's Federal Theater Project, the collection does not document Rather's work on that project in any detail.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Lois Rather was a printer, writer, and proprietor, along with her husband Clif Rather, of the Oakland, California-based Rather Press. The press was located in a private home in Oakland and, except for making the paper, all press operations were performed by the Rathers themselves. Lois was born in Chicago in 1905 and moved to California with her family in 1925. She received her teaching credential from San Francisco State College and worked as a teacher and director with the San Francisco Children's Theater. She served as research supervisor of the Works Progress Administration Federal Theater from 1935-1936. For some years, Lois worked as a typist and editor for the graduate thesis shop at the University of California, Berkeley and did some transcription and historical research for Lawrence Kinnaird and Herbert Bolton. She married DeForest Rodecape, a librarian at UC Berkeley, in 1936. After Rodecape's death in 1943, Rather taught in the Oakland Public Schools (mostly kindergarten). In 1969, Lois Rather resigned from teaching and devoted her energies to the Rather Press.
- Acquisition information:
- The Lois Rather papers were gifted to the Bancroft Library by Paul Padgette in 1998-1999.
- Physical location:
- Many of the Bancroft Library collections are stored offsite and advance notice may be required for use. For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
- Rules or conventions:
- Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard
Access and use
- Location of this collection:
-
University of California, Berkeley, The Bancroft LibraryBerkeley, CA 94720-6000, US
- Contact:
- 510-642-6481