Carpenter, Edwin H.

Clyde Browne was a printer in the Los Angeles area for approximately forty years until his death in 1942. He was born in 1872 in Old Hickory, Ohio and in 1902 or 1903, moved to Los Angeles, where he worked at the Los Angeles Examiner for four years. In 1909, he set up his own print shop, and by 1910 had established the firm of Browne and Cartwright with Alexander Cartwright. Soon after, he helped Occidental College and the University of Southern California start their own school newspapers. Beginning in 1915, Browne started building what would eventually become the Abbey San Encino, where he did most of his printing. The Abbey was finished in July of 1924. Browne printed his own work (including poems, books, and ephemera) as well as for others, including Occidental College. Various printers rented studio space from Browne, including Ward Ritchie, House Olson, and Scott Haselton. Lawrence Clark Powell also rented one of Browne's studios before becoming the University Librarian at UCLA and director of the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library. In the 1920s and 1930s, Browne was active with the Sea Scouts (a division of the Boy Scouts of America). He later was the chairman of the Democratic Party Committee in the 54th district, and ran for the State Assembly. After Clyde Browne's death on July 1, 1942, his son closed the press and sold most of the equipment. As of the 1980s, the Abbey was owned by Browne's grandson, Severin.

Carpenter was born on Aug. 21, 1915 in Burlington, IA; attended Los Angeles Junior College, 1932-34; AB in English and history, MA (1939) and Ph. D (1949) in history, UCLA; MSLS, Univ. of Southern CA, 1950; page, LA public library, 1935-36; attendant in rare book reading room, Huntington Library, 1946-47; university archivist, UCLA Library, 1950; publications secretary, Huntington Library, 1950-53; bibliographical editor, New York Public Library, 1953-57; indexer, California Historical Society, 1957-60; bibliographer (1960-73) and in 1973, lecturer, Huntington Library; publications include Printers and publishers in Southern California, 1850-1876 (1964) and Early cemeteries of the city of Los Angeles (1973).

Edwin H. Carpenter was born in Iowa, August 21, 1915. He became a Western American bibliographer at the Huntington Library in San Marino, California. He was interested in hand printing presses, especially in California and the western United States. The collection described in this finding aid contains information collected about hand presses, primarily in California, and appears to have been part of a census of hand presses in the West. It is unclear whether an official list was published, but handwritten and typed drafts are included in the collection. The work of inquiring about presses and their owners was undertaken by Edwin Carpenter and Roger Levenson. Carpenter did publish a book entitled "Printers and Publishers in Southern California 1850-1876" (La Siesta Press: 1964). He died in Los Angeles on January 12, 1995.

Biography

Edwin H. Carpenter was born in Iowa, August 21, 1915. He enlisted in the Army in Los Angeles on July 11, 1941, eventually becoming a warrant officer. He later became a Western American bibliographer at the Huntington Library in San Marino, California. He was interested in hand printing presses, especially in California and the western United States. This collection contains information collected about hand presses, primarily in California. The information appears to have been intended to create a census of hand presses in the West. It is unclear whether an official list was published, but handwritten and typed drafts are included in the collection. The work of inquiring about presses and their owners was undertaken by Edwin Carpenter and Roger Levenson. Carpenter did publish a book entitled "Printers and Publishers in Southern California 1850-1876" (La Siesta Press: 1964). He died in Los Angeles on January 12, 1995.

Biography

Clyde Browne established the Abbey Press and was a printer in the Los Angeles area for approximately forty years until his death in 1942. Browne was born in 1872 in Old Hickory, Ohio. After moving around the Midwest and California, he worked at many newspapers in the San Francisco Bay area. In 1902 or 1903, Browne moved to Los Angeles, where he worked at the Los Angeles Examiner for four years. In 1909, he set up his own print shop, and by 1910 had established the firm of Browne and Cartwright with Alexander Cartwright. Soon after, he helped Occidental College and the University of Southern California start their own school newspapers.

Beginning in 1915, Browne started building what would eventually become the Abbey San Encino, where he did most of his printing. The Abbey was finished in July of 1924. Browne printed his own work (including poems, books, and ephemera) as well as for others, including Occidental College. Various printers rented studio space from Browne, including Ward Ritchie, House Olson, and Scott Haselton. Lawrence Clark Powell also rented one of Browne's studios before becoming the University Librarian at UCLA and director of the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library.

In the 1920s and 1930s, Browne was active with the Sea Scouts (a division of the Boy Scouts of America). He later was the chairman of the Democratic Party Committee in the 54th district, and ran for the State Assembly. After Clyde Browne's death on July 1, 1942, his son closed the press and sold most of the equipment. As of the 1980s, the Abbey was owned by Browne's grandson, Severin.