Gilbar, Steven

Steven Gilbar was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1941. In 1963, he graduated from the University of Michigan and then went on to earn his J.D. from Detroit's Wayne State University Law School. After practicing law in Detroit for a few years, he moved to California in 1970. His lifelong interest in books led him to the San Francisco law book publishing firm Matthew Bender & Company, where he worked as senior managing editor. In 1978, he moved to Santa Barbara and set up his own practice, which specialized in literary law. At this time he began putting together anthologies. His earliest works were aimed at bibliophiles.

In the 1990s, Gilbar turned his attention to the rich literary tradition of his adopted home town, producing Tales of Santa Barbara (1994) and Red Tiles, Blue Skies: More Tales of Santa Barbara (1996). He then collaborated with local historian Dean Stewart to produce Literary Santa Barbara (1998), which traces the history of the numerous writers and publishers who have made the area their home or their subject matter.

In 1996, he founded the non-profit organization Speaking of Stories, a professional theater company that reads short stories to live audiences. Since retiring from his law practice in 2002, Steven Gilbar has remained active in Santa Barbara's literary community, serving on the board of the Santa Barbara Book Council and launching the first "Santa Barbara Reads!" program. He also continues to put together anthologies of his favorite fiction.

From the description of Steven Gilbar Collection, 1840s-1990s [bulk dates 1980s-1990s]. (University of California, Santa Barbara). WorldCat record id: 780785124