Finding Aid for the Wallace and Corry Nethery Papers 1931-2000
MS.2007.017
Created by Jamie Henricks; revised December 2022 by Rebecca Fenning Marschall.
William Andrews Clark Memorial Library
2009
2520 Cimarron Street
Los Angeles 90018
clark@humnet.ucla.edu
Contributing Institution:
William Andrews Clark Memorial Library
Title: Wallace and Corry Nethery Papers
Identifier/Call Number: MS.2007.017
Physical Description:
1.5 Linear Feet
4 boxes
Date (inclusive): 1931-2000
Abstract: This collection contains material created and collected by Wallace and Corry Nethery. Correspondence, drafts, research notes,
and ephemera are included for a number of Nethery's books. Materials related to Nethery's work as a librarian at the University
of Southern California are included as well. Photocopies of letters to, from, and about Elisabeth Jungmann are numerous. The
subject matter for most of the books and papers relate to Max Beerbohm, Charles and Mary Lamb, Elisabeth Jungmann, and miniature
books. Materials are in English, German, and Dutch.
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:
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], Wallace and Corry Nethery Papers, MS.2007.017, William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, University
of California, Los Angeles.
Acquisition Information
Gift, Corry Nethery, 2007.
Processing History
Processed and described by Jamie Henricks, August 2009. Title and front matter revised December 19, 2022 by Rebecca Fenning
Marschall.
Biography
Wallace Nethery born December 29, 1910 on his grandfather's farm outside the town of Gravity, Iowa. He received his Bachelor
of Arts in English from Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1934. He served in the Navy during World War II on the USS Enterprise,
stationed in the Pacific. He worked as the librarian at the Hoose Library of
Philosophy at USC until his retirement in 1976. He married a fellow USC Library employee, Corry Sprangers, in 1975.
Corry Sprangers Nethery was born March 28, 1921 in the Netherlands, and moved permanently to the Unites States in 1956.
Corry and Wallace worked together on many printing projects, which Wallace printed on his Kelsey Co. miniature press bought
in 1955. Over the course of nearly 40 years, the Netherys printed approximately 51 books and pamphlets. Most of the books
were miniature books printed personally, and sold at Dawson's Book Shop. Nethery was friends with Saul and Lillian Marks of
the Plantin Press, as well as Glen Dawson of Dawson's Book Shop.
In addition to printing, the Netherys also wrote and collected the artist and writer Max Beerbohm. Corry Nethery wrote a biography
of Beerbohm's second wife Elisabeth Jungmann in 1987.
Wallace died in Los Angeles in 1996, in the middle of printing his last miniature book "Pastorale," which Corry later completed.
Scope and Content
This collection contains material created and collected by Wallace and Corry Nethery, primarily related to their various book
printing projects, and includes correspondence, drafts, research notes, newspaper clippings, and advertisements.
There is also a significant amount of material related to Corry Nethery's 1987 biography of Elisabeth Jungmann (
The Second Lady Beerbohm). These papers consist of both research photocopies and correspondence, some of it in German. Other research files and correspondence
on Charles Lamb and Max Beerbohm are also collected here.
This collection also contains offprints ofjournal and magazine articles, as well as papers, letters, certificates, and ephemera
related to Wallace Nethery's work at USC. Personal correspondence, including letters written in English, German and Dutch,
are also included.
Arrangement
The collection remains in original order.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Letters -- California -- 20th century
Ephemera -- California -- 20th century
Clippings -- 20th century
Printers -- California -- 20th century
Miniature books -- California -- 20th century
Librarians -- California -- 20th century
Beerbohm, Max, Sir, 1872-1956
box 1, Folder 1
Engravings
May 23, 1994
Scope and Contents note
Order form for Pall Bohne's "A Miscellany of Thomas Bewick's Engravings" and letter from Bohne to Nethery.
box 1, Folder 2
Frank Baxter
1958-1963
Scope and Contents note
Correspondence from Frank Baxter to Nethery about Charles Lamb and Nethery's books. Also newspaper clippings about Baxter.
box 1, Folder 3
Rounce & Coffin Club -- Beatrice Warde
1932, 1962-1973
Scope and Contents note
Correspondence from Beatrice Warde, Bill Conway, and James Weygand.
box 1, Folder 4
Saul & Lillian Marks -- Plantin Press
1975
Scope and Contents note
Correspondence from Lillian Marks and Reverend Francis J. Weber about the passing of Saul Marks. Also included are three copies
of a memorial pamphlet about Saul Marks.
box 1, Folder 5
The American Book Collector
1959-1968
Scope and Contents note
Includes correspondence from various individuals about Nethery's articles in the Amrican Book Collector. Also includes three
issues of the American Book Collector: vol. 14, nos. 2 and 3 and vol. 12, no. 6.
box 1, Folder 6
Western Books Awards
1960-1994
Scope and Contents note
Includes two letters and five awards of merit from Western Books Exhibitions hosted by the Rounce & Coffin Club. One letter
(1960) from Edwin Carpenter informs Nethery his book on Charles Lamb was not picked for the exhibition. The other letter (1966)
from Carey Bliss informs Nethery his book was picked for the exhibition. Awards of Merit are included for the following books:
"Charles Lamb: Bibliophile" (1966), "Max & G.K.C" (1986), "The Second Lady Beerbohm" (1988), "A Visit with Dr. R" (1989),
and "A Dissertation on Gravity" (1994).
box 1, Folder 7
Miniature Books
1992-2000
Scope and Contents note
Includes a bibliography of books printed by Wallace Nethery, not including his 42 miniature books. (The miniature books are
detailed in John Class's compilation "The Miniature Books Printed by Wallace Nethery" in Miniature Book Society Newsletter,
New Series No. 31, October 1996, p. 7-11.) Also includes catalogs, lists, and correspondence about miniature books -- many
by Nethery. Some letters are in Dutch and most of the letters are addressed to Corry, Wallace Nethery's wife.
box 1, Folder 8
Correspondence misc -- miniature books, etc
1976-1992
Scope and Contents note
Includes correspondence from various individuals about Nethery's books, and a selection of Christmas cards sent to the Netherys.
Some letters are in German.
box 1, Folder 9
Max Beerbohm miscellaneous
ca. 1967-1997
Scope and Contents note
Includes primarily newspaper and magazine clippings about Max Beerbohm from various sources, including the New Yorker magazine.
Some articles are in German.
box 1, Folder 10
Chesterton
ca. 1930, 1980-1994
Scope and Contents note
Includes correspondence to and from the Chesterton Review, a copy of "Max and G.K.C" by Nethery, a copy of "Mr. Chesterton
Indulges in Autobiograpy", and a photocopy of "The Paradoxes of Mr Pond: Pond the Pantaloon" by Chesterton. (G.K.C. is Gilbert
Keith Chesterton.)
box 1, Folder 11
Photocopies of Max's drawings and letters
Scope and Contents note
Includes photocopies of title pages of some books of Beerbohm's, and photocopies of letters written by Beerbohm.
box 1, Folder 12
Dawson's Book Shop -- miniature books
1966, 1989-1998
Scope and Contents note
Includes a few catalogs of miniature books from Dawson's Book Shop, articles about miniature books, and a copy of a speech
given by Glen Dawson in 1989 called "Adventures in Miniature Books" about his own life and experiences with miniature books.
box 1, Folder 13
In Search of Max Beerbohm
ca. 1984
Scope and Contents note
A typed manuscript with handwritten notes and edits for the miniature book "In Search of Max Beerbohm" by Wallace and Corry
Nethery.
box 1, Folder 14
Max & G.K.C.
1984-1985
Scope and Contents note
Includes multiple drafts of typed manuscripts for "Max and G.K.C." and correspondence about the article.
box 1, Folder 15
Meditations of a Refugee, The Queen's Dolls' House, etc
1984-1986
Scope and Contents note
Includes letters to Nethery from Clarence House and the Lord Chamberlain's Office at St. James's Palace regarding miniature
books and Queen Mary's Dolls House. (Nethery was invited to Windsor Castle to view a miniature Beerbohm; he later published
his own copy of the book and gave a copy to the Queen.) Also includes a souvenir book and articles about the doll house, and
a copy of "Meditations of a Refugee" by Beerbohm (about pretending to go to the doll house).
box 1, Folder 16
The Second Lady Beerbohm -- notes, photocopies, Berlin & Marbach
Scope and Contents note
Includes notes and photocopies of letters about Max Beerbohm and his former secretary Elisabeth Jungmann who he married shortly
before his death. Some notes and letters are in German.
box 1, Folder 17
The Second Lady Beerbohm -- correspondence
1985-1991
Scope and Contents note
Includes correspondence to and from Wallace and Corry Nethery about Elisabeth Jungmann. Letters are primarily to and from
Eva Reichmann (a sister of Elisabeth), and Kenneth Rose. Some letters are in Dutch and German.
box 2, Folder 1
Elisabeth Jungmann -- misc. hauptmann -- binding c.s
ca. 1980-1990
Scope and Contents note
Notes, newspaper clippings, and articles primarily in German relating to Elisabeth Jungmann, Rudolf Binding, and Gerhart Hauptmann.
box 2, Folder 2
The Second Lady Beerbohm -- text
ca. 1987
Scope and Contents note
Includes typed drafts with annotations and edits of "The Second Lady Beerbohm" by Corry Nethery. Copies are in various stages
of editing, and one copy is annotated by Eva Reichmann.
box 2, Folder 3
Schiller-Nationalmuseum Staatsbibliothek Preussischer Kulturbesitz; re: Second Lady Beerbohm
1986
Scope and Contents note
Includes notes, letters, photocopies for the Netherys' research into Elisabeth Jungmann. Also includes information about the
Staatsbibliothek in Berlin, and reader cards for the Netherys. Most of the material is in German.
box 2, Folder 4
Photographs, cuts; Max, Elis. Jungmann; re: Second Lady Beerbohm
photos ca. 1931
Scope and Contents note
Includes prints of photographs of Elisabeth Jungmann with notes towards "The Second Lady Beerbohm".
box 2, Folder 5
Beach-la-Mar
Scope and Contents note
Includes a heavily edited draft with bibliography of "Beach-La-Mar" by Wallace Nethery. Beach-La-Mar (also known as Bislama)
is a creole language spoken on Vanuatu in the South Pacific (also previously known as Melanesia).
box 2, Folder 6
Las Colondrinas
Scope and Contents note
Drawings by Margaret Class.
box 2, Folder 7
A Dissertation on Gravity
1992-1993
Scope and Contents note
Correspondence with help for writing "A Dissertation on Gravity" and letters sent in praise of its publication. "A Dissertation
on Gravity" relates to the town of Gravity, Iowa.
box 2, Folder 8
Grandmother in Peace & War
1993-1994
Scope and Contents note
Correspondence praising Nethery's miniature book "Grandmother in Peace & War" about his grandmother.
box 2, Folder 9
The Poet & His Books
1994
Scope and Contents note
Correspondence to Nethery praising his printing of Max Beerbohm's "The Poet and His Books".
box 2, Folder 10
Little Books & Big Men
ca. 1994
Scope and Contents note
Handwritten drafts of "Little Books and Big Men" by Nethery, also titled "Big Authors and Little Books" in the notes.
box 2, Folder 11
Pastorale
1997
Scope and Contents note
Includes a handwritten draft, a typed draft, and copies of the layout for "Pastorale", the last miniature book Nethery wrote.
He died in the middle of printing it; his wife printed it in his honor. Also included is correspondence to Corry praising
the book and consoling her on the loss of her husband.
box 2, Folder 12
Charles Lamb Society (bulletin)
1958-1996
Scope and Contents note
Includes correspondence and papers related to the Charles Lamb Society. Also includes articles Nethery wrote in the Charles
Lamb Society Bulletin. Correspondence includes letters sent to and from Nethery to members of the Society, as well as a few
letters between Corry Nethery and David Wickham (chairman of the Society) after Nethery's death.
box 2, Folder 13
Charles Lamb Collection (Dawson) -- Lamb in America
1994
Scope and Contents note
Includes correspondence about the sale of Nethery's collection of Charles Lamb materials through Dawson's Book Shop. Also
includes a list of books in the Nethery's collection of Lamb materials.
box 2, Folder 14
Charles Lamb: Mr. H. in America, or, Anonymus redivivus / by Wallace Nethery
1955-1956, 1998
Scope and Contents note
Includes correspondence and copies of pages from "Mr. H in America, or, Anonymus Redivivus", as well as photograph negatives
for two pages in the book.
box 2, Folder 15
Charles Lamb Bibliophile
ca. 1965
Scope and Contents note
Includes copies of a catalog from Dawson's Book Shop and typed notes regarding "Charles Lamb: Bibliophile", Nethery's first
miniature book. Also contains hand-drawn mock-ups for "Charles Lamb: Bibliophile."
box 2, Folder 16
Lamb & Poe
1953, 1958, 1970-1971
Scope and Contents note
Includes a copy of the article "Poe and Charles Lamb" in the Poe Newsletter (1970). Also includes correspondence to Nethery
about Charles Lamb and Poe.
box 2, Folder 17
The Pioneer & Charles Lamb
1958-1959
Scope and Contents note
Correspondence regarding "The Pioneer and Charles Lamb".
box 2, Folder 18
Lamb's Town & Country
ca. 1980-1983
Scope and Contents note
Includes notes and ephemera related to Hertfordshire (England) for use in researching and writing "Charles Lamb's Town and
Country Revisited".
box 2, Folder 19
Charles Lamb in America to 1848
1963-1964, 1974
Scope and Contents note
Includes correspondence for the publication of, and handwritten manuscript pages of "Charles Lamb in America to 1848". Also
includes advertisements for the sale of the miniature book.
box 2, Folder 20
Eliana Americana
1958-1972
Scope and Contents note
Includes correspondence praising "Eliana Americana" by Nethery, as well as advertisements for the book, and a registration
to claim copyright certificate for the book.
box 2, Folder 21
A Victorian Idyll; Robert Balmanno and Mary Cowden Clarke
Scope and Contents note
Includes primarily photocopies of correspondence between Robert Balmanno and Mary Cowden Clarke (ca. 1825-1852). Presumably
used in the writing of "A Victorian Idyll", a miniature book by Nethery.
box 2, Folder 22
Note on Emma Isola
1953
Scope and Contents note
Include a letter from Ernest C. Ross and a letter from French Fogle regarding the relationship of Charles Lamb and Emma Isola.
(Lamb adopted Emma Isola, an orphan.)
box 3, Folder 1
Charles Lamb to Janus Weathercock
1962
Scope and Contents note
Includes a typed copy and a printed copy of an article in Notes & Queries titled "Charles Lamb to Janus Weathercock".
box 3, Folder 2
Midnight Darlings on Broadway
ca. 1959-1960
Scope and Contents note
Includes a letter and two pages about "Midnight Darlings on Broadway" by Nethery. Also includes an envelope of what appear
to be book plates reading "Midnight Darlings on Broadway".
box 3, Folder 3
Witches & Other Night-Fears
1968-1969
Scope and Contents note
Includes three letters praising Nethery on his printing of Charles Lamb's "Witches & Other Night-Fears".
box 3, Folder 4
Charles Lamb / Potgieter Translation (Dutch)
1961-1962
Scope and Contents note
Includes notes in Dutch and a photocopy of a Dutch translation of Lamb, "Proeven van een Humorist".
box 3, Folder 5
Edwin W. Marrs -- The Letters of Charles & Mary Lamb
1967, 1975
Scope and Contents note
Includes letters from Marrs about letters of Charles Lamb to include in his book; a description of the book's effort is also
included.
box 3, Folder 6
Charles Lamb misc.
1834-1835, 1958-1976, 1983
Scope and Contents note
Includes articles and letters about Charles and Mary Lamb, also included are two issues of the New York Mirror (1834-5) with
articles about Lamb.
box 3, Folder 7
Wallace Nethery misc.
1938, 1956-1975, 1994
Scope and Contents note
Includes correspondence from various individuals to Nethery, two photographs of Nethery (1976 and 1990), membership certificates,
and Nethery's annual contract (1972 and 1975) for his post at the University of Southern California. Also includes a preliminary
inventory of a Wallace Nethery Collection (accession #199606.02) donated by Corry Nethery to USC (though not found via USC's
catalog).
box 3, Folder 8
Wallace Nethery misc writing
1988
Scope and Contents note
Includes a typed copy and tentative front page of a book that does not appear to have been published: "Max Beerbohm: Three
Letters to Grant Richards" (1988), including a foreward, three letters from Beerbohm to Richards, and notes on the three letters.
Includes a letter from Rupert Hart-Davis relaying the news that one letter for the book is held in copyright and not likely
able to be reprinted. Includes notes about Thoreau and Lamb, an edited typed copy of "Letter on Charles Lamb & America by
a Friend of Elia", and a "Biblio-Index of American Publications Relating to Charles Lamb 1805-18468". Also includes many pages
of handwritten notes for use in various miniature books of Nethery's.
box 3, Folder 9
Letters from William James to W.T. Harris (The Personalist)
1968
Scope and Contents note
Includes a copy of "Pragmatist to Publisher: Letters of William James to W.T. Harris" edited by Wallace Nethery from the 1968
volume of The Personalist.
box 3, Folder 10
Big E -- James Michener
1995
Scope and Contents note
Includes a copy of a newspaper article from the July 4, 1995 Los Angeles Times entitled "Perspectives on World War II: Sea
Battles for the Ages" by James Michener. Also includes a photocopy of a letter from Nethery to the editor of the Times with
his comments about the article and makes note about disputes in the facts of a battle.
box 3, Folder 11
Retirement -- June '76
1976
Scope and Contents note
Includes cards and letters sent to Nethery congratulating him on his retirement from the University of Southern California.
box 3, Folder 12
Wallace Nethery bibliography and biography
Scope and Contents note
Includes multiple bibliographies of books published by Wallace Nethery. Also includes a short biography about Nethery written
by Muir Dawson in 1998.
box 3, Folder 13
Wallace Nethery -- articles about W.N & reviews (Charles Lamb)
1934, 1960-1984
Scope and Contents note
Includes a page from the Clock Tower (a Union College publication) with a blurb about Nethery's graduation and a picture (1934).
Includes many newspaper clippings about Nethery's work at USC and his miniature books. Also includes a letter from CBS Radio
thanking Nethery for appearing on "This is Los Angeles".
box 3, Folder 14
Massimo Bacigalupo
1991-1995
Scope and Contents note
Correspondence from Massimo Bacigalupo (primarily yearly Christmas letters about the family and cards), friends of the Netherys.
box 3, Folder 15
Ann Bahar
1987-1988
Scope and Contents note
Correspondence from Ann Bahar to Corry and Wallace Nethery; primarily about miniature books and the Beerbohm book the Netherys
made for the Queen Ann's Dolls House.
box 3, Folder 16
Tom & Charlotte Smith -- Tamazunchale Press
1987-1992
Scope and Contents note
Correspondence from Tom and Charlotte Smith to Wallce and Corry Nethery about the exchange and printing of miniature books.
The Smiths operated the Tamazunchale Press.
box 3, Folder 17
George L. Barnett
1960-1976
Scope and Contents note
Correspondence to Wallce Nethery from George Barnett regarding Charles Lamb.
box 3, Folder 18
Mark Samuels Lasner
1986-1988
Scope and Contents note
Correspondence from Mark Lasner to the Netherys regarding Max Beerbohm.
box 3, Folder 19
Aidan Mackey
1984-1996
Scope and Contents note
Correspondence from Aidan Mackey to the Netherys; some are personal letters, others are general letters for the G.K. Chesterton
Study Centre (Mackey was the administrator).
box 4, Folder 1-16
Photocopied letters relating to Elisabeth Jungmann
ca. 1933-1960, 2007
Scope and Contents note
These folders include photocopies of letters primarily to and from Elisabeth Jungmann. Some letters are between mutual friends
of hers. Letters are in English and German. Also included is a photocopy of a memorial for Jungmann (folder 16), and her work
history (folder 6). Also included is a letter from Corry Nethery to Bruce Whiteman describing the donated photocopies -- "primarily
from the Staatsbibliothek Preussischer Kulturbesitz in Berlin, some from the Deutsches Literaturarchiv in the Schiller National
Museum in Marbach, and a few sent to [the Netherys] by Mark Samuels Lasner."
box 4
George Hoyningen-Huene brochure
1970
Scope and Contents note
A brochure about George Hoyningen-Huene (fashion photographer) after a collection was received by USC's Doheny Library and
an exhibit was put on at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The brochure was edited by Wallace Nethery.