Rather (Lois) papers, circa 1877-1996, (bulk 1945-1985)

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Summary

Title:
Lois Rather papers
Dates:
circa 1877-1996, (bulk 1945-1985)
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
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Lois Rather papers, BANC MSS 98/61 c, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.

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.
Processing information:

Processed by Bancroft Library staff in 2013.

Accruals:

No additions are expected.

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

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding Aid written by Lara Michels
Date Prepared:
2012
Date Encoded:
Machine-readable finding aid generated by Finding Aid author(s); markup validated by The Bancroft Library staff using OAC validation tools; Date of source: December 2012

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Head of Public Services, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, 94720-6000. Consent is given on behalf of The Bancroft Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright owner. See: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/reference/permissions.html.

Restrictions also apply to digital representations of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational purposes.Materials in this collection may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction of some materials may be restricted by terms of University of California gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from, or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Head of Public Services, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley 94720-6000. See: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/reference/permissions.html.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Lois Rather papers, BANC MSS 98/61 c, 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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