Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Finding Aid for the Lawrence Clark Powell Papers, 1914-2001
229
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Description
Lawrence Clark Powell (1906-2001) joined the UCLA Library staff in 1938, became a
UCLA Librarian (1944-61), director of the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library (1944-66), and the first Dean of the UCLA School of Library
Service (1960). A prolific author, Powell's writings include books and articles on a variety of topics including literature,
librarianship, the book trade, California history, and travel. The collection consists of correspondence, manuscripts, galley
proofs, photographs, tape recordings, books, and printed materials by and about Lawrence Clark Powell.
Background
Powell was born September 3, 1906 in Washington, D.C.; his family moved to South Pasadena, California, 1910; BA, Occidental
College, 1928; Ph.D., University of Dijon, France, 1932; worked at Jake Zeitlin's bookstore in Los Angeles, mid-1930s; graduated
from library school, University of California at Berkeley, 1937; worked briefly at the Los Angeles Public Library; joined
the UCLA Library staff in 1938; UCLA Librarian, 1944-61, and director of the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, 1944-66; became the first Dean, UCLA School of Library
Service, 1960; when he retired from UCLA in 1966, the campus's main library was named in his honor; a prolific author, Powell's
writings include books and articles on a variety of topics including literature, librarianship, the book trade, California
history, and travel; professor-in-residence at the University of Arizona from 1971; awarded an Honorary Life Membership of
the American Library Association, 1981. Powell died in 2001.Lawrence Clark Powell was born in Washington, D.C., on September 3, 1906. His parents, G. Harold and Gertrude (Clark) Powell,
soon moved to Southern California, where Lawrence grew up. His early schooling was in South Pasadena, and he attended Occidental
College in Los Angeles, where he received a bachelor's degree in English in 1928. Moving to France for his graduate studies,
Lawrence Powell earned a Ph.D. at the University of Dijon in 1932, for work on Robinson Jeffers and his poetry. Soon after
his return to the United States, Dr. Powell married Fay Ellen Shoemaker; they have two sons.
Extent
211 boxes (105.5 linear ft.)
22 oversize boxes
Restrictions
Letters by T.S. Eliot cannot be copied without the permission of
Mrs. T.S. Eliot.
Availability
Portions of collection are restricted. Consult finding aid for additional information.