Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Campbell, Robert, 1898-1985
- Abstract:
- Robert B. Campbell (1898-1985) married Blanche Gramlich (1923) and moved to Los Angeles. They opened a bookstore across the street from the Southern Branch of the University of California. When UCLA moved to Westwood, the Campbells moved their store to Le Conte Avenue and built up the trade book section. Robert became the first bookseller on the West Coast to serve as president of the American Booksellers Association. The collection consists of personal and UCLA-related memorabilia and materials related to the career of bookstore owners Robert and Blanche Gramlich Campbell and Campbell's Book Store.
- Extent:
- 4 boxes (2 linear ft.) 4 oversize boxes
Background
- Scope and content:
-
Collection consists of personal and UCLA-related memorabilia and materials related to the career of bookstore owners Robert and Blanche Gramlich Campbell and Campbell's Book Store. Includes photographs, scrapbooks, clippings, speeches, caricature drawings, and realia. Photographs feature pictures of their Los Angeles bookstores on Vermont Avenue and Le Conte Avenue, as well as Hedda Hopper, Rudy Vallee, Bennett Cerf, Harry Truman, Richard Nixon, Haile Selassie, Prince Philip, Mayor Tom Bradley, UCLA Chancellor Charles Young, Meredith Willson, and Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Reagan.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Robert B. Campbell was born on February 5, 1898 in Osceola, Nebraska; attended University of Nebraska; worked at Long's College Book Store in Lincoln; married Blanche Gramlich on June 20, 1923; they moved to Los Angeles in 1924 and opened a bookstore on Vermont Avenue, across the street from the Southern Branch of the University of California; when UCLA moved to Westwood, the Campbells moved their store to Le Conte Avenue and built up the trade book section; Blanche Campbell began and built up the children's book section; Robert Campbell joined the Rotary Club in 1932, writing its weekly newsletter, The Windmill; he served as president of the Westwood Chamber of Commerce in 1933 and 1944; served on board of directors, University Religious Conference; became first bookseller on the West Coast to serve as president of the American Booksellers Association; the Campbells supported UCLA in various ways, including establishing the Campbell Book Collection Awards at UCLA in 1948; Campbell's Book Store was sold to the Brentano chain in 1968; retired in 1974; he died in 1985, and Blanche died in 1989.
- Acquisition information:
- Gift of Clarice Alcott, 1990-1991. Gift of Mrs. Robert Tolstad, 1990.
- Physical location:
- Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
- Rules or conventions:
- Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard
Indexed terms
Access and use
- Location of this collection:
-
A1713 Charles E. Young Research LibraryBox 951575Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575, US
- Contact:
- (310) 825-4988