Bookpeople of Moscow records

Bookpeople of Moscow records, 1971-2014

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Bookpeople of Moscow
Title: Bookpeople of Moscow records
Dates: 1971-2014 (inclusive)
19712014
Quantity: 3.75 linear feet of shelf space, (8 containers)
Collection Number: Cage 832 (collection)
Summary: The Bookpeople of Moscow was an independent bookstore founded in 1973. The Bookpeople of Moscow collection consists of publicity for the store, newsletters, financial documents, and records used for the day-to-day operation of the store. The collection also contains a small handful of digital files including videos and audio files commemorating the store's 40th anniversary.
Repository: Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Terrell Library Suite 12
Pullman, WA
99164-5610
Telephone: 509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu
Access Restrictions: This collection is open and available for research use.
Languages: English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

The Bookpeople of Moscow was formed in 1973 in Moscow, Idaho and was incorporated in 1977 as a worker-owned co-operative bookstore. Ivar Nelson was one of the driving forces behind the business during its initial years. As a locally owned, independent bookstore, the Bookpeople of Moscow has played an active role in promoting arts and culture in Moscow. In 1981, Robert Greene purchased the store, which he ran until 2011. While the co-operative was dissolved when Greene bought the store, the Bookpeople remained an important contributor to culture in Moscow and the Palouse. Under Greene, Bookpeople began to engage in video rental and the online book trade. In 2011, the store was purchased by Nicole and Steffen Werner and Walter and Carol Spurling under the name BooX without Borders, LLC, while the store retains its original name, the Bookpeople of Moscow.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection contains records related to the operation of the Bookpeople of Moscow bookstore in Moscow, Idaho from 1973-2011. The collection primarily consists of financial records, newsletters, event flyers, correspondence, and meeting notes from the organizations early days as a co-operative. The collection also contains floor plans and drawings of the building, as well as digital files about Bookpeople events. These include photographs, videos of the 40th anniversary, an interview with founder Ivar Nelson from 2013, flyers, and radio advertisements.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Preferred Citation

[Item description]. Bookpeople of Moscow Records, 1971-2014. Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into three series. Series 1 and 2 are grouped according to owner. Series 3 contains an oral history of Ivar Nelson, photographs, and videos from the 40th Anniversary party.

Series 1: Ivar Nelson files, 1971-1982. This series is arranged into two subsereis: Administrative files and Subject files.

Subseries 1: Administrative files, 1974-1982. This subseries contains materials related to the organization of the store and eventual sale to Bob Greene in 1981, as well as financial documents. This includes bylaws, Bookpeople stock, and the sale contract.

Subseries 2: Subject files, 1971-1980 This subseries contains, financial records, promotional materials for Bookpeople events, staff meeting minutes, correspondence, and the store lease.

Series 2: Robert Greene files, 1982-2014. This series is arranged into three subseries: Administrative files and correspondence, Financial records, and Publicity and events.

Subseries 1: Administrative files and correspondence, 1982-2010. This subseries contains correspondence, procedures pertaining to the day-to-day operation of Bookpeople, business plans, and backups of the store hard drive.

Subseries 2: Financial records, 1981-2006. This subseries contains information about the Bookpeople’s sales and expenses and the store lease and subsequent mortgage.

Subseries 3: Publicity and events, 1988-2007. This subseries contains advertisements, scrapbooks, newsletters, photographs, and flyers.

Series 3: Bookpeople 40th Anniversary, 2014. This series contains materials commemorating the history of Bookpeople. This includes a video of the 40th Anniversary party and of Ivar Nelson recounting the history of the store. It also contains two compact disks with photographs and oral histories.

Acquisition Information

The Bookpeople of Moscow Records was donated by Ivar Nelson between 1981 and 2014 (MS 1981-18, MS 1981-32, MS 1984-25, and MS 2014-02) and Robert Greene in 2012 (MS 2012-02).

Processing Note

This collection was processed by Jason Hogstad and Steven Bingo in 2015.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series 1: Ivar Nelson files , 1971-1982Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
		Subseries 1: Administrative files	1974-1982
Box	Folder
5	99	Bookpeople stock certificates and sale documents	1979-1981
5	100	Employment contract, bylaws and articles of incorporation	1977
8	101	Insurance policies	1978-1980
8	102	Invoices	1974-1975
8	103	Monthly sales	1975-1978
8	104	Bylaws and contract	1977-1980
8	105	Financial statements	1977-1980
8	106	Lease	1979
8	107	Leases	1979-1980
8	108-109	Sale to Bob Greene	1978-1982
		Subseries 2: Subject files	1971-1980
Box	Folder
5	98	Advertisement	undated
1	1	Advertising information	1975
1	2	Agricultural manuals	1974
1	3	American Booksellers Association	1971-1974
1	4	American Booksellers Association School	1974
1	5	Articles on bookselling	1973
1	6	Artistry Ink	1974
1	7	Association of American+C31 Publishers	1973
1	8	Book Place	1974
1	9	Book reviews	1972-1973
1	10	Book reviews for newspapers	undated
1	11	Book Shop Boise newsletter	1974
1	12	Budget	1972-1974
1	13	Bulk mailer	undated
1	14	Categories in store	undated
1	15	Center for Creative Educational Services	1974-1975
1	16	Chamber of Commerce	1976-1977
1	17	Children's lists	1973
1	18	Clearwater Public Library	1975
1	19	Co-op advertising	1974-1975
1	20	Co-ops	1974
1	21	Courses	undated
1	22	Customer letters	1975-1976
1	23	Customer list	undated
1	24	Dynamite	1974
1	25	Carla Emery	1975
1	26	The 5¢ Cup	1974
1	27	Functions	1975
1	28	General Telephone	1975
1	29	Idaho	1974-1975
1	30	Jani	1975
1	31	Lawyer	1977
1	32	Lease	1973
1	33	Letters to publishers	1973
2	34	Libraries	1974
2	35	Lidoff and Benson consignments	1977
2	35	Local authors	1974-1976
2	37	Logo	1974
2	38	Minutes and notes	1977-1980
2	39	Photos	1975
2	40-43	Planners	1979-1980
2	44	Plans	undated
2	45	Publicity photos	1974-1981
2	46	Pullman store	1976
2	47	Quilting in America	1973-1977
2	48	Rural resources and information	undated
6		Shirt and book bag	undated
2	49	Shopping center	1975
Map Drawer		Signs	undated
2	50	Special orders	1974-1976
2	51	Staff meetings	1976
Map Drawer		Store plans	undated
2	52	Store systems	1976
2	53	Store through	undated
2	54	Tales of the Primitive Area	1976

Series 2: Bob Green files, 1982-2011Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
		Subseries 1: Administrative files and correspondence	1982-2011
Box	Folder
3	55	Author correspondence, event information, and misc.	1982-1985
6		Autograph book	1984-2004
3	56	Business plan	1999
3	57	Business plan	1998
3	58	Calligraphy hours sign	undated
3	59	Checklists	1986-2002
3	97	Correspondence	2006-2008
3	60	Hard drive backup	2008
3	61	Miscellaneous items from American Express appointment book	2000
3	62	Postcards, incoming	2001, 2008-2010
3	63-64	Store procedures	1986, 2003
3	65	Video list	1989-1991
7		Video scrapbook	circa 1995
3	66	Website	2010
		Subseries 2: Financial resources	1981-2006
Box	Folder
3	67	Bookpeople sale contract	1981
3	68	Café Libre	1982-1984
3	69	Check register summary report	1996
3	70	Donations receipts	1996
3	71	Financial records	2003
3	72	Financial statements	1995-1999
3	73	Lease and miscellaneous	1984-1999
3	74	Monthly sales records	1990-1991
3	75	Retail audit	1997
3	76	Sales and returns (incomplete)	1995-1997
4	77	Sales and returns (incomplete)	1995-1997
4	78	Store mortgage	1999
4	79	Wage list	2006
		Subseries 3: Publicity and events	1984-2006
Box	Folder
4	80	Advertising	undated
4	81	Events	1994, 1997
4	82	Harry Potter party photos (physical and CD)	2005
4	83	Mailing list	1991, 1997
4	84	Newsletter	1984-2008
4	85	Newsletter	1988-1989
4	86	Newsletter back issues	1988-1998
4	87	Newsletter originals	1990-1992
4	88	Newsletter	1994-1996
4	89	Newsletter graphics	undated
6		Radio advertisements	2000
5	90	Josh Ritter book signing and performance	2006
5	91-93	Scrapbook	1998-2001
5	95	Scrapbook	1982-2002
5	95	Scrapbook: clippings, events, newsletters	2003-2004
5	96	"Twenty Years of Renaissance"	1993

Series 3: Bookpeople 40th Anniversary, 2014Return to Top

This series contains a video recording on DVD of the Bookpeople's 40th anniversary celebration, as well as photographs and an interview of Bookpeople founder Ivar Nelson. This series also contains two CDs containing interviews, photographs, and scanned documents. These materials have been copied to the WSU Libraries' Archival Storage for digital materials.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
6		CDs and DVDs	2014

Archives West Finding Aid

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