Roger Burford-Mason Collection on Roy Vernon Sowers
MS.1997.006
Processed by Jamie Henricks.
William Andrews Clark Memorial Library
©2009
2520 Cimarron Street
Los Angeles 90018
clark@humnet.ucla.edu
Contributing Institution:
William Andrews Clark Memorial Library
Title: Roy Vernon Sowers Collection,
Creator:
Burford-Mason, Roger
Identifier/Call Number: MS.1997.006
Physical Description:
0.21 Linear Feet
1 box
Date (inclusive): 1940-1996
Abstract: This collection is the research
material collected by Roger Burford-Mason for his book, Roy Vernon Sowers : a life in rare
books (1997).
Physical Location: Clark Library
Language of Material:
English .
Access
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright has not been assigned to the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, UCLA. All
requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to
the Clark Librarian. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the William Andrews
Clark Memorial Library, UCLA as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to
include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Roger Burford-Mason Collection on Roy Vernon Sowers, MS.1997.006,
William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
Acquisition Information
Purchase, 1997.
Biography
Roy Vernon Sowers was born in Brantford, Ontario on August 7th, 1897. He spent most of his
youth in the nearby town of London, Ontario, where he had a variety of odd jobs. Sowers
attended the University of Toronto and graduated in 1921 before attending St. John's College
at Oxford. Limited finances caused him to leave Oxford and travel to Germany before
returning to Ontario.
He later moved to Pasadena, California and worked for Alice Millard, an antiquarian book
dealer who lived in one of the area's Frank Lloyd Wright homes. Sowers eventually moved on
to work at the Huntington Library in San Marino, California. He later moved to San Francisco
after marrying, but divorced his first wife and built a home in the mountains near Santa
Cruz, California. Sowers was familiar with the owners of the Grabhorn Press and set up one
of the first exhibitions about their press. He operated a rare book and fine print business
out of his personal library until the late 1960s; he died in 1970.
Scope and Content
This collection is the research material collected by Roger Burford-Mason for his book Roy
Vernon Sowers : a life in rare books (Toronto : Subway Books, 1997). It contains
biographical material and requests for information about Sowers by Burford-Mason. The
correspondence includes letters and interviews of individuals who knew Sowers, including his
daughter and son.
The collection is arranged in thematic order.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Antiquarian booksellers -- California -- 20th century
Antiquarian booksellers -- Canada -- 20th century
Sowers, Roy Vernon, 1897-
box 1, folder 1
Book Club of California -- Quarterly Newsletter 11997
1953, 1964, 1969
box 1, folder 2
Photocopies of Prospectuses 11996
Scope and Contents note
Includes covers of catalogs, a short biography of Sowers, and invitations to various
events held by Sowers.
box 1, folder 3
Typed Memoir of Roy Vernon Sowers 11995
early 1940s
box 1, folder 4
Photocopy of "An Excerpt from the Book Catalogues of Roy Vernon
Sowers"
11994
1980
box 1, folder 5
Correspondence 11993
1996
Scope and Contents note
Includes a letter and memoir by Sowers' daughter, Lucia Frances Bridge Sowers Hyde, and
other correspondence sent to Burford-Mason including a typed interview of Anthony Sowers
(a son of Sowers).
box 1, folder 6
Biographical material about Sowers 11992
Scope and Contents note
Includes photocopies of material from multiple sources.
box 1, folder 7
Correspondence 11991
1996
General note
Includes letters asking about Sowers' mentors and place of death.
box 1, folder 8
Copy of Sowers collection finding aid from Stanford University 11990
ca. 1996
box 1, folder 9
Letter and two pamphlets 11989
1996
Scope and Contents note
Includes a letter from Glen Dawson to Bruce Whiteman about Sowers. Also includes a
brochure from the Huntington Library and a publications list from Dawson's Book Shop
from 1905 to 1972.
box 1, folder 11
OCLC Printouts 11987
Scope and Contents note
Includes a list of books about the Huntington Library and the Pasadena area.
box 1, folder 12
Correspondence 11986
1996
Scope and Contents note
Includes letters to and from Burford-Mason inquiring about holdings at various
libraries for books and information about Sowers, his wife, and other people related to
Sowers.
box 1, folder 13
Correspondence and photocopies of catalogs 11985
ca. 1996
Scope and Contents note
Includes photocopies of catalogs of Sowers' books, and correspondence from
Burford-Mason to and from individuals inquiring for information about Sowers.
