Benjamin Parsons Bourland Rowfantia collection
Scope and Content
Collection mainly consists of announcements for Rowfant Club exhibitions, lectures, auctions and meetings from 1909 to 1936. Included as enclosures in meeting announcements are subscription forms for Rowfant publications, order forms for candlesticks and bookplates, and, occasional notices for fees and donations. There are a small number of memorial tributes to notable members and letters to Bourland in regard to his term as Secretary of the club.
The Rowfant Club is a Cleveland, Ohio organization established in 1892 for "primarily the critical study of books in their various capacities to please the mind of man." Encyclopedia of Cleveland History.
Dates
- Creation: 1909-1936
Language of Materials
The records are in English
Restrictions on Access
The Special Collections Research Center is open to any interested researcher upon presentation of a valid CASE ID or other valid official identification card. Collections are made available to researchers by appointment only.
Restrictions on Use
No usage restrictions
Biography of Benjamin Parsons Bourland 1870-1943
Born on May 2, 1870, in Peoria, Illinois, Benjamin Parsons Bourland was awarded Bachelor of Arts in 1889 and Master of Arts in 1890 by the University of Michigan, and, Doctor of Philosophy by the University of Vienna in 1897. As Instructor in French at the University of Michigan, he attained the rank of Assistant Professor in 1899. He accepted the position of Associate Professor of Romance Languages in Adelbert College of Western Reserve University in 1901. In 1905 he was made full Professor of Romance Languages, in which position he remained until his retirement, as Professor Emeritus, in 1940. He married Gertrude Louise Thayer in 1902. Bourland enjoyed a reputation as an outstanding scholar, a patron of the performing arts, a wine connoisseur, and, as a bibliophile noted for his active leadership of the Rowfant Club of Cleveland, Ohio. He died on January 12, 1943.
Extent
2.5 linear feet
Abstract
Rowfantia collected by Benjamin Parsons Bourland as a Rowfant Club member.
Statement of Arrangement
The collection is arranged chronologically by date, month and year within folders reflecting one year of notices mailed to Rowfant Club members.
Acquisition Information
Gift from the library of Benjamin Parsons Bourland, in his memory, 1943
- Title
- Finding aid for the Benjamin Parsons Bourland Rowfantia Collection
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Special Collections staff
- Date
- 2015
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English
Repository Details
Part of the Kelvin Smith Library Special Collections Repository
Kelvin Smith Library
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland OH 44106-7151 United States
216.368.0189
kslspecialcollections@case.edu