My book's original owner

[dhermann1]

I just got my nose into a book that's been on my shelf for along time, "British History in the 19th Century and After, 1782-1919", by G.M. Trevelyan. It's not as dry as it sounds, Trevelyan is one of the great historians. The book is hard bound and has a 1937 copyright date, printed Nov. 1947.
But inside the front cover in neat handwriting, obviously a fountain pen, is the name: Harold Myer Fondren, 0-22 Eliot House, Harvard College.
Well, having a perpetually idle mind I decided to Google him.
I found some fascinating and tantalizing stuff.
My starting point was a paid death notice in the NY Times from July 4, 1999. Harold "Hal" Fondren was an authority on Abstract Expressionism.
Further digging revealed that he had been a room mate of the poet Frank O'Hara at Harvard, and after, and that his name is mentioned in O'Hara's work a number of times. He lived near Washington Square in Greenwich Village.
He must have been on intimate terms with many of the artists and literati of the 1950's and 60's.
That's about all I've found so far, but it's fun and fascinating to reconstruct the identity of this interesting guy from what I've found via Google.
In the immortal words of Maynard G. Krebs, "What an age we live in, Dobe."

 

[dhermann1]

I just changed the name of this thread in hopes of getting a little more interest.

 

[RBH]

thats a neat story, let us in on anything else you find.


fftopic:
My father in law bought a few books at an estate sale a couple years ago and one was 'Baa Baa Black Sheep'' autographed by "Pappy'' Boyington to
Allan Davis. I googled Mr Davis and found that he had worked in the fim & TV industry and had retired here to Arkansas.

 

[ShoreRoadLady]

Fascinating. I often speculate about the previous owners of my vintage books, but never anything as interesting as this.

 

[Foofoogal]

I am sorry but just saw this thread.
I love, love, love the history of stuff. I have quite a bit of old books and I do always wonder about the little names and such handwritten in them. Especially childrens books including school ones. I just sold an older childrens school song book. When I spoke on the phone it was an elderly lady who bought it. I wondered if maybe she had used this book to teach or something. It is the people connection that makes it all interesting. Maybe one day people will pull up old FL conversations and know all about dhermann1, foofoogal, and all the rest of us. A few threads about us do show up in the search engines. lol
It is funny but I hated history in school but love history in tangible items. Maybe I should of had a more hands on teacher. lol
Google is my friend when it works.

 

[LizzieMaine]

My favorite instance like this is a book I found in a flea market years ago, a copy of Rudy Vallee's 1930 autobiography, "Vagabond Dreams Come True." It's signed on the title page by Vallee himself, and the autograph is accompanied by the owner's inscription --

"Nov. 18 1930 -- National Cross Country Run at Van Cortlandt Park, New York.

47th PLACE -- NORRIS W. CROSBY

Guest of Rudy Vallee at Villa Vallee -- this book presented and autographed by him."

Turns out Mr. Crosby was, like Vallee, a University of Maine man, majoring in electrical engineering, and went on to a career with General Electric as a draftsman. He died in 1988, which was just about the time I found the book, just one town over from where he'd lived. Obviously it was one of his favorite posessions!

I wonder what the guy got who finished 46th?

 

[Harp]

I just changed the name of this thread in hopes of getting a little more interest.

How did I miss this?

I prowled Paris and Oak Park, Illinois for an autographed Hemingway title.
...and I know it's still out there....

My grandmother collected a fair number of books; circa pre WWI,
and I often thought of those inked boys' names written inside a flycover
since most were of probable draft age. Never pursued the thought
any further but it is a reminder of fated provenance.

 

[KittyT]

I would love to see photos/scans of original names/bookplates in old books! I love it when I buy a book with one of these.

 

[Bourbon Guy]

Has anyone tried to contact an heir, say a son or daughter, to make a gift of something they might appreciate?

 

[dhermann1]

The death notice mentioned his brother. I got it at Strand Bookstore in Manhattan just a few years ago, so I surmise that the owner's books were sold off after he died in 1999. Frank O'Hara being pretty famously gay, I assume there were no progeny. So I guess I have an artifact of a very nice man who lived at the interesting fringe of fame.

 

[KY Gentleman]

Years ago I had a co-worker loan me a copy of "Marine Corps Sniper" about Carlos Hathcock. Inside the front cover was an inscription to my friend from Mr. Hathcock, it seems they served together. I made sure I took very good care of the book, and returned it quickly!
I used to buy a lot of used albums and many would have names written on the cover or the record label. So Ollie Wexler, if you're out there, I have one of your old Allman Brothers albums!

 

[Bourbon Guy]

Has anyone tried to contact an heir, say a son or daughter, to make a gift of something they might appreciate?

A resounding and definitive "no!" Forget any one else. I'm the only person in the world. I've got my old stuff and it is mine now. Enjoy.