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The papers of Barbara McLain contain personal correspondence and other communications
related to books and book collecting. McLain appears to have been an avid collector
of
twentieth century literature and first editions, especially those of Christopher Morley
and
Ernest Hemingway. The papers are arranged in two series: I. Correspondence, 1928-1956,
and
II. Other Papers, 1919-1970. |
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There is extensive correspondence from Ben Abramson, owner of The Argus Book Shop,
sent to
Barbara McLain, first from Chicago and then New York, between 1928 and 1953. The discussions
in these letters are wide-ranging, beginning with formal reading suggestions and growing
to
include more personal topics, such as a vacation Abramson took to Mexico and his thoughts
on
World War II. The correspondence breaks off abruptly in 1953. There is one folder
of drafts
of letters sent from McLain to Abramson, but these letters are much fewer in number
than
Abramson's. |
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Catalogs, book announcements, and invoices that document McLain's book buying are
also
present in the collection. The catalogs are all from The Argus Book Shop and Argus
Books,
but there are announcements and invoices from a number of other book sellers as well,
including James F. Drake, Inc. of New York, and the Artemisia Book Shop in San Diego.
Several folders of personal and family papers also show McLain's interest in books
and book
collecting, with lists of books she read and articles on book collecting techniques.
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