Archives West Finding Aid

Scope and Content: The material primarily consists of correspondence, clippings, writings, notes, publications, and photographs from Soper's personal and professional life. A portion of the material is personal: Soper and Jacky family histories relating to Walla Walla; high school and college composition books; college yearbooks; travel ephemera; clippings and photographs from his home in Clyde Hill (Bellevue); notes in preparation for speeches and writings; and photographs, guest book, and ephemera from his 1993 retirement party, "Goodbye, Mr. Books." Material relating to Soper's professional life include clippings, correspondence, photographs, and papers from operating Walla Walla Book Store, University Book Store (including book-signing photographs of Carolyn Kizer and Tiny Tim), and Raymar Northwest Book Company. Also included is his correspondence with, and photograph collection of, Mary Randlett; correspondence with Ivan Doig, Tom Robbins, and Gary Larson; manuscripts from Wes Wehr; and ephemera and publications of Robert Sund. Lastly, minutes and correspondence from Soper's civic involvements with University Press, the Epsy Foundation, Allied Arts, and other organizations are also included.

Scope and Content: Three sound cassettes and other interview materials (list of interview topics and questions, biographical information, and notes) for an oral history interview with Leroy "Lee" Soper, conducted by Tom Orton between March 6 and March 18, 2009. Interview topics include Soper's early life in school and during World War II, the beginning of his career at the Walla Walla Book Store, his work at the University Bookstore and Raymar Northwest Book Company, his involvement and board work with the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association and the American Booksellers Association, authors and bookstore employees with whom Soper worked, and the overall state of bookselling and publishing (particularly for independent bookstores in the age of large chain and online stores).