CURRIE, KIT. Photograph Collection.
<-- Back Print 

Guide to the Kit Currie Photograph Collection



Title:
Kit Currie Photograph Collection

OCLC/RLIN No. (Unique ID):
912591941

Dates:
1977-2012

Bulk Dates:
1977-2001

Extent:
1 linear foot (2 photograph albums + 1 framed photo)

Abstract:  
This collection is comprised of photographs taken of or by Kit Currie documenting her life, her career in the book world and Grolier Club activities.

Access Restrictions:
Collection is open for research use. Copyright restrictions may apply; please contact repository for requests for copying and for authorization to publish, quote, or reproduce the materials.

Preferred Citation:
[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Kit Currie Photograph Collection, 1977-2012, The Grolier Club of New York.
About the Finding Aid: This finding aid was prepared by Sophia Dahab in Microsoft Word at the Grolier Club, March 2015.

Provenance:
From the estate of Kit Currie.  

Access Points: 
Currie, Kit
Kraus, Hans Peter, 1907-1988
Lerner, Abe, 1908-2002

H.P. Kraus (Firm)
Dawson’s Book Shop.
Grolier Club.

Biographical/Historical Note:
Kit Currie, a native of Wanstead, England, began her career in the antiquarian book trade as the personal assistant for London bookdealer Bertram Rota.  Currie worked for Rota until 1964, when she moved to California and began working at Dawson’s Book Shop in Los Angeles.  Currie remained at Dawson’s for 14 years, eventually moving to New York City in 1977 with her husband, noted typographer and graphic designer Abe Lerner.  Unable to find work initially, Currie ventured to start her own bookselling business, and issued her first and only catalog in the winter of 1977-1978. Soon afterward, however, she was offered a position with H. P. Kraus.   Currie was a member of the Grolier Club from 1980-1988, and from 1998 until her death in 2014. 

Scope and Content Note:
This collection contains photographs taken by or of Kit Currie during her life and career in the antiquarian book trade and her activities with the Grolier Club, including book fairs, an exhibition mounted by her husband Abe Lerner, and Grolier Club bibliophile trips. 

Arrangement Note:
Photos in this collection are arranged in the order in which they were received. The majority of photos were kept by Currie in their original envelopes with negatives, and moved into archival photo sleeves.  Labels from these original envelopes have been documented, and are reflected in the Series listed below. Photographs in Series I were arranged at the discretion of the Archivist.  Series VIII consists of a second accrual of photographs, left in their original photo album. Four loose photos were also included in this second accrual, and have been added to the end of Series I. 

Container List: 
Box 1:
Series I: Portraits, etc. (20 photographs, including framed portrait of H.P. Kraus (Item 1*), and one newspaper article)
Series II: Los Angeles 1977 (17 photos)
Series III: Abe Lerner’s Exhibition at the Grolier Club, December 12, 1986 (2 envelopes, no negatives, 85 photos plus three notecards)
Series IV: San Francisco Book Fair (1996?) (14 photos)
Series V: Grolier Club bibliophile trip to Venice 1998 (25 photos)
Series VI: Grolier Club bibliophile trip to England 2001 (7 photos)
Series VII: Negatives

Box 2:
Series VIII: Blue Marbled Family Photo Album, undated (1965-2002?) (60 photos)


*Framed portrait (item 1)  housed separately.
Site Scripts
Hide Click to Edits:
FED Scripts
CWS & Content Load