Finding Aid for the Rampant Lions Press Collection 1961-2001

Processed by Jamie Henricks.
William Andrews Clark Memorial Library
University of California, Los Angeles
2520 Cimarron Street
Los Angeles, CA 90018
Phone: (323) 731-8529
Fax: (323) 731-8617
Email: rfenning@humnet.ucla.edu
URL: http://www.humnet.ucla.edu/humnet/clarklib/
©2009
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.


Descriptive Summary

Title: Rampant Lions Press Collection,
Date (inclusive): 1961-2001
Collection number: Press coll. Archives Rampant Lions
Creator: Rampant Lions Press
Extent: 1 box (.4 linear feet)
Repository: University of California, Los Angeles. William Andrews Clark Memorial Library
Los Angeles, California 90018
Abstract: This collection contains items related to the Rampant Lions Press and its owners Will and Sebastian Carter. Materials include those printed by and about the Rampant Lions Press, including books in print pamphlets, lecture announcements, book prospectuses, and other printed ephemera.
Physical location: This collection is stored at the Southern Regional Library Facility. Please contact Clark Library staff at least 2 weeks in advance if you would like to view the materials in this collection.
Language of Material: Collection materials in 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 or printed items 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], Rampant Lions Press Collection, Press coll. Archives Rampant Lions, William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

Acquisition Information

Items in the collection were accumulated over time by John Bidwell during his employment as a librarian at the William Andrews Clark Library. Correspondence to Grant and Helen Dahlstrom was a gift of Helen Dahlstrom in June, 1984. 3 items, including correspondence and ephemera from the collection of Jacob Zeitlin were a gift of Josephine Ver Brugge Zeitlin in November, 1987 (MS.1988.003).

Processing History

Processed by Jamie Henricks, November 2009

Biography

William Nicholas Carter (generally known as Will Carter) was born in Slough, Berkshire (England) on September 24, 1912. Carter was foremost a printer, but also designed letters and did his own carving. He founded the Rampant Lions Press in 1924 after visiting the Oxford University Press. Will Carter published his first book in 1936, and officially turned the Rampant Lions Press into a business in 1949 in Cambridge following a stint in the Navy during World War II. He married Barbara Digby in 1939, and the couple had four children (one boy and three girls).
Will Carter's son, Sebastian, joined him in the press during the 1960s and eventually took over in 1991. He toured the United States on multiple occasions, including 1961 and 1967, and lectured at UCLA. He was made an Officer of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 1989. Will died in Cambridge on March 17, 2001. The Rampant Lions Press officially closed in 2008.

Scope and Content

This collection contains items related to the Rampant Lions Press and its owners Will and Sebastian Carter. The collection is comprised of materials printed by and about the Rampant Lions Press, including pamphlets advertising books in print, lecture announcements, prospectuses for books for sale, and copies of page proofs for a book about Will Carter, and other printed ephemera. There is also a small amount of correspondence to John Bidwell and Grant and Helen Dahlstrom.

Arrangement

The collection arrived with no order imposed on it; all items were loose. Materials were grouped thematically with like items together and are are arranged in chronological order when possible.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects

Bidwell, John, 1949-
Carter, Sebastian
Carter, Will, 1912-2001
Dahlstrom, Grant Edward
Dahlstrom, Helen, 1917-
Printers--England--20th century
Small presses--England--20th century

Genres and Forms

Ephemera--England--20th century


Box 1, Folder 1

Correspondence to John Bidwell 1984-1990

Note

Includes six letters from Sebastian Carter to John Bidwell (of the Clark Library).
Box 1, Folder 2

Correspondence to Grant and Helen Dahlstrom 1963-1970

Scope and Content Note

Includes letters and Christmas cards from Will Carter to Grant and Helen Dahlstrom.
Box 1, Folder 3

Copies of page proofs from "Will Carter, Printer", by Alan Tarling 1969

Box 1, Folder 4

Lecture Announcements and Invitations 1961-1993

Note

Includes announcements and invitations to lectures highlighting Will Carter and his work at the Rampant Lions Press.
Box 1, Folder 5

Portfolio ONE: Specimen sheets of printing type-design and letter-cutting carried out by Will Carter at the Rampant Lions Press workshop, 12 Chesterton Road, Cambridge, between 1959 and 1967 / by Will Carter. 1967

Box 1, Folder 6-7

Books in Print booklets 1972-2001

Note

Includes booklets listing books printed by the Rampant Lions Press by year or season. Also includes a checklist of books printed from 1934-1986.
Box 1, Folder 8-9

Prospectuses (small) 1969-1996, undated

Note

Includes prospectuses for books for sale by the Rampant Lions Press. Prospectuses may include information about the book to be printed (including paper type, size, binding, etc.), price information, and/or a sample of text or illustration. These prospectuses (when folded) are smaller than an 8.5x11" sheet of paper.
Box 1, Folder 10-11

Prospectuses (large) 1964-1984, undated

Note

Includes prospectuses for books for sale by the Rampant Lions Press. Prospectuses may include information about the book to be printed (including paper type, size, binding, etc.), price information, and/or a sample of text or illustration. These prospectuses (when folded) are larger than an 8.5x11" sheet of paper.
Box 1, Folder 12

Wood engravings by Miriam MacGregor [1986-1988?]

Note

Includes two prints from wood engravings by Miriam MacGregor of the Rampant Lions Press. Also includes a letter from Miriam MacGregor to John [Bidwell?].
Box 1, Folder 13

Ephemera

Note

Includes miscellaneous printed ephemera, including small booklets, a bookmark, a Christmas greeting, personal stationery, and other items.
Box Map Drawer "R"

Oversize Printed Ephemera 1964, 1969, undated

Scope and Content Note

Includes an article by Ian Finch about Will Carter, two keepsake copies of a Dartmouth letter 'R', and an advertisement for a book of George Mackley's wood engravings.

Note

These items are located in the "R" drawer, which can be found in the oversized item map drawers.