Guide to the Lyman G. Bloomingdale correspondence and collection on John Buchan, circa 1915-1994

John Hay Library , Special Collections
Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Tel: 401-863-2146
email: hay@brown.edu

Published in 2013

Collection Overview

Title:	Lyman G. Bloomingdale correspondence and collection on John Buchan
Date range:	circa 1915-1994
Creator:	Bloomingdale, Lyman G. (Lyman Gustave), 1912-
Extent:	4.5 Linear feet
Abstract:	The collection consists of correspondence and research related to Lyman G. Bloomingdales collecting and interest in the British author and statesman John Buchan. The collection is assiduously focused on the acquisition of the published works of John Buchan and Buchan-related materials.
Language of materials:	English
Repository:	John Hay Library , Special Collections
Collection number:	MS.2012.012

Scope & content

The collection consists primarily of correspondence and research related to the John Buchan Collection, a collection of several thousand editions of the published works of John Buchan, British statesman, author and Governor General of Canada. The collection was created by Lyman G. Bloomingdale, most actively between the 1940s and 1970s. Bloomingdale collected Buchan manuscript materials and related ephemera, both of which are represented in the collection.

The correspondence includes both incoming and outgoing correspondence and is divided between correspondence with book sellers and with others. The correspondence with book sellers tends to formal business correspondence and relates primarily to the acquisition of Buchan volumes. Correspondence with others is focused on the acquisition of a broader range of materials including manuscript materials and ephemeral publications. The materials are arranged chronologically with incoming and outgoing correspondence interfiled.

Ephemera and printed materials comprise items collected by Bloomingdale and include materials attributed to Buchan as well as clippings and printed documents about Buchan. Materials attributed to Buchan include a number of pages with John Buchan's autograph signature, a bookplate from his library, an inscribed calling card, and two typescript speeches. The remaining materials include pamphlets with essays by Buchan, articles and essays about Buchan and his writings, dustjackets from Buchan publications, clippings, and printed ephemera as postcards and leaflets.

The third series, items removed from books in the John Buchan collection, consists primarily of correspondence with book sellers, similar to that found in the correspondence series. In addition, there are notes and clippings. Much of this material can be attributed to Bloomingdale, though some may have been in volumes at the point of his acquisition.

The final series consists of materials gathered by Bloomingdale including Buchan bibliographies and collection inventories, as well as the correspondence and research of John P. Cavanagh. Inventories include three typescript copies of a catalogue of John Buchan's library at Elsfield Manor and a list compiled by Bloomingdale. The series includes a photocopy of James D. Mack's John Buchan: a bibliography and Robert G. Blanchard's The first editions of John Buchan: a collector's bibliography. The John P. Cavanagh correspondence and research included in this series is similarly related to Buchan bibliography and includes correspondence with Mack and Blanchard, Susan Tweedsmuir (Buchan's wife), and Lyman Bloomingdale.

Access Points

Subject Names

• Blanchard, Robert G., 1909-
• Bloomingdale, Lyman G. (Lyman Gustave), 1912-
• Buchan, John, 1875-1940
• Cavanagh, John P.
• Mack, James D. (James Decker), 1916-
• Tweedsmuir, Susan, b. 1882

Subject Topics

• Book collecting
• Book collectors
• Booksellers and bookselling

Document Types

• Clippings (Information artifacts)
• Correspondence
• Leaflets (Printed works)
• Pamphlets

Subject Topics

• Language and Literature

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in four series:

• I. Correspondence
• II. Ephemera and printed materials related to John Buchan
• III. Materials removed from books in the John Buchan Collection (Brown University)
• IV. John Buchan bibliography

Access & Use

Access to the collection:	There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.
Use of the materials:	Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Preferred citation:	Lyman G. Bloomingdale Correspondence and Collection on John Buchan, Ms.2012.012, Brown University Library.
Contact information:	John Hay Library , Special Collections Box A Brown University Providence, RI 02912 Tel: 401-863-2146 email: hay@brown.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
Acquisition:	Gift of Lyman G. Bloomingdale, 1973-1998.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Author:	Finding aid prepared by Brown University Library staff.
Encoding:	This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2013 January 25
Descriptive rules:	Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)
Sponsor:	Processing funded by a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

Additional Information

Related material:	The John Buchan Papers (Ms.Buchan) John Buchan and his circle collection (Ms.2012.011)
Separated material:	Photographs of John Buchan were removed from the collection and added to the John Buchan Papers (Ms.Buchan).

Inventory

---