Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections

Summary Information

Repository

Washington State University Libraries, Manuscripts, Archives and Special Collections

Creator

Bookpeople of Moscow

Title

Bookpeople of Moscow records

ID

Cage 832

Date [inclusive]

1971-2014

Extent

3.75 linear feet of shelf space, 8 containers

Language

Collection materials are in English.

Abstract

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.

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Historical Note

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.

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Scope and Content

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.

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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.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections  © 2015

http://www.libraries.wsu.edu/masc/

Terrell Library

P.O. Box 645610

Pullman, WA, 99164-5610 USA

509-335-6691

mascref@wsu.edu

Restrictions on Access

This collection is open and available for research use.

Restrictions on Use

Copyright restrictions may apply.

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 Information

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

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Names and Subjects

Corporate Name(s)

Subject(s) :

• Bookpeople of Moscow, Inc.--Archives.

Subject(s)

• Booksellers and bookselling--Northwest, Pacific--20th century.
• Bookstores.
• Businesses and Corporations
• City and Town Life
• Literature
• Idaho

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Detailed Description of Collection

Series 1  Ivar Nelson files   1971-1982
Subseries 1 Administrative files 1974-1982
			box	folder
Bookpeople stock certificates and sale documents   1979-1981			5	99
Employment contract, bylaws and articles of incorporation   1977			5	100
Insurance policies   1978-1980			8	101
Invoices   1974-1975			8	102
Monthly sales   1975-1978			8	103
Bylaws and contract   1977-1980			8	104
Financial statements   1977-1980			8	105
Lease   1979			8	106
Leases   1979-1980			8	107
Sale to Bob Greene   1978-1982			8	108-109
Subseries 2 Subject files 1971-1980
			box	folder
Advertisement   undated			5	98
Advertising information   1975			1	1
Agricultural manuals   1974			1	2
American Booksellers Association   1971-1974			1	3
American Booksellers Association School   1974			1	4
Articles on bookselling   1973			1	5
Artistry Ink   1974			1	6
Association of American+C31 Publishers   1973			1	7
Book Place   1974			1	8
Book reviews   1972-1973			1	9
Book reviews for newspapers   undated			1	10
Book Shop Boise newsletter   1974			1	11
Budget   1972-1974			1	12
Bulk mailer   undated			1	13
Categories in store   undated			1	14
Center for Creative Educational Services   1974-1975			1	15
Chamber of Commerce   1976-1977			1	16
Children's lists   1973			1	17
Clearwater Public Library   1975			1	18
Co-op advertising   1974-1975			1	19
Co-ops   1974			1	20
Courses   undated			1	21
Customer letters   1975-1976			1	22
Customer list   undated			1	23
Dynamite   1974			1	24
Carla Emery   1975			1	25
The 5¢ Cup   1974			1	26
Functions   1975			1	27
General Telephone   1975			1	28
Idaho   1974-1975			1	29
Jani   1975			1	30
Lawyer   1977			1	31
Lease   1973			1	32
Letters to publishers   1973			1	33
Libraries   1974			2	34
Lidoff and Benson consignments   1977			2	35
Local authors   1974-1976			2	35
Logo   1974			2	37
Minutes and notes   1977-1980			2	38
Photos   1975			2	39
Planners   1979-1980			2	40-43
Plans   undated			2	44
Publicity photos   1974-1981			2	45
Pullman store   1976			2	46
Quilting in America   1973-1977			2	47
Rural resources and information   undated			2	48
Shirt and book bag   undated			6
Shopping center   1975			2	49
Signs   undated			Map Drawer
Special orders   1974-1976			2	50
Staff meetings   1976			2	51
Store plans   undated			Map Drawer
Store systems   1976			2	52
Store through   undated			2	53
Tales of the Primitive Area   1976			2	54
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Series 2 Bob Green files 1982-2011
Subseries 1 Administrative files and correspondence 1982-2011
			box	folder
Author correspondence, event information, and misc.   1982-1985			3	55
Autograph book   1984-2004			6
Business plan   1999			3	56
Business plan   1998			3	57
Calligraphy hours sign   undated			3	58
Checklists   1986-2002			3	59
Correspondence   2006-2008			3	97
Hard drive backup   2008			3	60
Miscellaneous items from American Express appointment book   2000			3	61
Postcards, incoming   2001, 2008-2010			3	62
Store procedures   1986, 2003			3	63-64
Video list   1989-1991			3	65
Video scrapbook   circa 1995			7
Website   2010			3	66
Subseries 2 Financial resources 1981-2006
			box	folder
Bookpeople sale contract   1981			3	67
Café Libre   1982-1984			3	68
Check register summary report   1996			3	69
Donations receipts   1996			3	70
Financial records   2003			3	71
Financial statements   1995-1999			3	72
Lease and miscellaneous   1984-1999			3	73
Monthly sales records   1990-1991			3	74
Retail audit   1997			3	75
Sales and returns (incomplete)   1995-1997			3	76
Sales and returns (incomplete)   1995-1997			4	77
Store mortgage   1999			4	78
Wage list   2006			4	79
Subseries 3 Publicity and events 1984-2006
			box	folder
Advertising   undated			4	80
Events   1994, 1997			4	81
Harry Potter party photos (physical and CD)   2005			4	82
Mailing list   1991, 1997			4	83
Newsletter   1984-2008			4	84
Newsletter   1988-1989			4	85
Newsletter back issues   1988-1998			4	86
Newsletter originals   1990-1992			4	87
Newsletter   1994-1996			4	88
Newsletter graphics   undated			4	89
Radio advertisements   2000			6
Josh Ritter book signing and performance   2006			5	90
Scrapbook   1998-2001			5	91-93
Scrapbook   1982-2002			5	95
Scrapbook: clippings, events, newsletters   2003-2004			5	95
"Twenty Years of Renaissance"   1993			5	96
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Series 3 Bookpeople 40th Anniversary 2014  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.
			box	folder
CDs and DVDs   2014			6
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