Fowler Brothers Papers, 1880-2014

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Summary

Title:
Fowler Brothers papers
Dates:
1880-2014
Creators:
Fowler Brothers (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Abstract:
This collection includes material related to the history of the Fowler Brothers bookstore in Los Angeles and the Fowler and Lindstrom families of South Pasadena, California.
Extent:
464 items in 12 boxes
Language:
The records are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of Item], Fowler Brothers papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The Fowler Brothers papers contain material related to the history of the Fowler Brothers bookstore, including some records, ephemera, bookmarks, publications, photographs, and six scrapbooks that document the 106-year-old history of the bookstore. Also included is the store’s visitor book which includes signatures of several notable people including: artist Leo Politi, Ray Bradbury (who was a frequent visitor of the store, also he met his wife there), John Philip Sousa, Zane Grey, Douglas Fairbanks, and Charles Lindberg.

The collection also documents the history of the Fowler and Lindstrom families of South Pasadena, California. This material includes diaries and other writings by Ruth Fowler Lindstrom, as well as Warde Fowler’s experiences in World War I, multiple family members’ experiences in World War II, genealogy material on the Fowler, Young, and Lindstrom families, and over 130 family photographs. Some of the material includes notes written by Margaret Lindstrom, wife of Siegfried F. Lindstrom, and donor of the collection.

Organized in the following manner: Manuscripts and Correspondence (Boxes 1-4); Scrapbooks (Boxes 5-10); Ephemera and Photographs (Boxes 11-12).

Biographical / historical:

Fowler Brothers bookstore was the oldest family-owned bookstore in Los Angeles, in operation from 1888 to 1994, when it closed due to new, large chain bookstores and subway construction that disrupted shopping downtown. It began initially as a church and Sunday school supply house, but became a book and stationery store that survived six different downtown locations. The store was founded by brothers J. W. Fowler and Robert A. Fowler of South Pasadena, California. When the bookstore closed, Siegfried F. Lindstrom, grandson of J. W. Fowler, and son of Ruth Fowler Lindstrom, was running the store.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Margaret Lindstrom, Siegfried Fowler Lindstrom and John William Lindstrom, November 2014.
Rules or conventions:
Finding Aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Brooke M. Black
Date Prepared:
© 2017
Date Encoded:
Machine readable finding aid encoded by Brooke M. Black in February 2017

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Terms of access:

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining permission rests with the researcher.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of Item], Fowler Brothers papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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