Emanuel Haldeman-Julius Publishing Records, 2012-06-07

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Summary

Creators:
Haldeman-Julius, E. (Emanuel), 1888-1951
Abstract:
The Emanuel Haldeman-Julius Publishing Records consists of a small number of business records, the personal records of Jack Botwin, the printing plates for one title, and articles about the Haldeman-Julius Collection at the Leonard H. Axe Library (formerly the Porter Library) at Pittsburg State University, Kansas.
Extent:
1.26 linear feet
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

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

Background

Scope and content:

The Emanuel Haldeman-Julius Publishing Records consists of a small number of business records, the personal records of Jack Botwin, the printing plates for one title, and articles about the Haldeman-Julius Collection at the Leonard H. Axe Library (formerly the Porter Library) at Pittsburg State University, Kansas. The collection is divided into four major series: Business Records,Jack Botwin Records,Haldeman-Julius Collection at Kansas State College, and Printing Plates.

Series I, Business Records, consists of cancelled checks, publisher's catalogs, correspondence, photographs, and advertisements.

Series II, Jack Botwin Records, consists of the personal records of Jack Botwin, a Haldeman-Julius salesman.

Series III, Haldeman-Julius Collection at Kansas State College, consists of articles about the Haldeman-Julius Collection at Kansas State's Porter Library, which has subsequently been replaced by the Leonard H. Axe Library, Pittsburg State University, Kansas.

Series IV, Printing Plates, consists of one complete set of copper-electro printing plates (16 plates) for Little Blue Book no. 930, Mark Twain's An Idle Excursion.

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 Tannis and Jack Botwin.
Arrangement:

Series I: Business records

Series II: Jack Botwin Records

Series III: Haldeman-Julius Collection at Kansas State College

Series IV: Printing Plates

Indexed terms

Subjects:
Ephemera
Documents

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. Copyright status for other materials is unknown. 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 Materialsguide.

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