Finding Aid to the Lois Rather papers, circa 1877-1996 (bulk 1945-1985)
Finding Aid written by Lara Michels
The Bancroft Library
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California, 94720-6000
Phone: (510) 642-6481
Fax: (510) 642-7589
Email: bancref@library.berkeley.edu
URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/
2012
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Finding Aid to the Lois Rather papers, circa 1877-1996 (bulk 1945-1985)
Collection Number: BANC MSS 98/61 c
The Bancroft Library
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California
- Finding Aid Written By:
- Bancroft Library staff
- Date Completed:
-
May 2013
© 2013 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Collection Summary
Collection Title: Lois Rather papers
Date (inclusive): circa 1877-1996
Date: (bulk 1945-1985)
Collection Number: BANC MSS 98/61 c
Creators :
Rather, Lois, 1905-
Extent:
Number of containers: 8 cartons, 1 oversize box, 1 cardfile box
(Linear feet: 10.75)
Repository: The Bancroft Library
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California, 94720-6000
Phone: (510) 642-6481
Fax: (510) 642-7589
Email: bancref@library.berkeley.edu
URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/
Abstract: Papers of Lois Rather, printer, writer, and proprietor, along with her husband Clif Rather, of the Oakland, California-based
Rather Press.
Languages Represented: Collection materials are in English
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.
Information for Researchers
Access
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
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.
Alternate Forms Available
There are no alternate forms of this collection.
Acquisition Information
The Lois Rather papers were gifted to the Bancroft Library by Paul Padgette in 1998-1999.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Rather, Lois, 1905--Archives
Rather Press
Rather, Clif
Rodecape, Deforest Allen
Padgette, Paul. Correspondent
Printers--California--Oakland.
Women printers--California--Oakland
Women in the book industries and trade--California--Oakland
Women authors, American--California--Oakland
Private presses--California--Oakland
Administrative Information
Accruals
No additions are expected.
Processing Information
Processed by Bancroft Library staff in 2013.
Biographical Information
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.
Scope and Content of Collection
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.
Series 1:
Correspondence.
circa 1940-1995
Physical Description:
Carton 1
Scope and Content Note
General correspondence dating from 1970 to 1995; correspondence with Dr. Larson, Glenn Wessels, Helen Lee, Dr. David Palmer,
Dan Solo, the Sakuma family, Carol Cunningham, Jim Weygand, Carol and Mark Van Doren, Sherwood Grover, Paul Walker, San Francisco
Archive of Performing Art, Silverado Museum, and assorted personal friends and family members.
Series 2:
Writings and notes.
circa 1930-1994
Physical Description:
Carton 2-4; Carton 5, folder 1-9
Scope and Content Note
Assorted writings (published and unpublished) of Lois Rather, including manuscripts of books and stories. Also includes notes
on dance, Susan B. Anthony, and family history.
Series 3:
Rather Press printed materials and printing notes.
circa 1969-1996
Physical Description:
Carton 5, folder 10-27; carton 6; carton 7, folder 1-2; oversize box 1; cardfile box 1
Scope and Content Note
Various items printed by the Rather Press, including many written by Lois and Clif Rather. Also includes notebooks and notes
on the printing process at the Rather Press. Oversize box 1 includes an account book for the Rather Press. Cardfile box 1
consists of an index card mailing list and an alphabetical card file of recipients of Rather Press publications.
Series 4:
Printed materials from other printers and institutions.
circa 1960-1990
Physical Description:
Carton 7, folder 3-26; carton 8, folder 1-7
Scope and Content Note
Printed materials from other presses and institutions, including the Hart Press, the Book Club of California, the Roxburghe
Club, Les Lloyd, Mills College, the Gleeson Library, Paul Livingston, Edwin R. Willis, Norman Strouse, the Glovers, the Bancroft
Library, the Scarlet Ibis Press, and Lawton and Kennedy. Also includes assorted printed items from a range of institutions.
Series 5:
Correspondence with Paul Padgette and related papers.
circa 1974-1996
Physical Description:
Carton 8, folder 8-13
Series 6:
Early family papers.
1877-1880
Physical Description:
Oversize box 1
Scope and Content Note
Four letters to various recipients from Kate and Henry Jackson of Walla Walla, Washington. Also includes one Power of Attorney
form and one photograph (carte de visite) of an unidentified girl. On the back of the photograph is written: "Is this cousin
Kate."
Series 7:
Assorted other papers.
circa 1940-1994
Physical Description:
Carton 8, folder 14-25
Scope and Content Note
Clif Rather's 1963 trip scrapbook; writings of DeForest Rodecape; memorial card for Lois Rather; a few photographs of Lois
and Clif Rather; clippings about the Rather Press; some biographical materials; and an illustration (Noah's Ark) by Joyce
Lancaster Wilson.
