2017-04-19 Guide to the Sunwise Turn Bookshop Records, circa 1916-1936 SPEC.RARE.CMS.0255 Finding aid prepared by Zoe MacLeod; Mackenzie Sommers; Ashleigh Minor Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections

1858 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH, 43210

2017 April; 2018 March; 2021 June This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2026-01-08T17:33-0500 English Describing Archives: A Content Standard Sunwise Turn Bookshop Records SPEC.RARE.CMS.0255 Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections 2.493 Cubic feet circa 1916-1936 The Sunwise Turn Bookshop was a book store in New York City founded in 1916 by two female writers: Mary Horgan Mowbray-Clarke and Madge Jenison. The Sunwise Turn Bookshop Records contain volumes that served as ledgers of the Bookshop, as well as promotional ephemera such as catalogs and book lists, mailers and pamphlets, and a poster. The collection also contains correspondence concerning publication of poems and broadsides, and a sketch of a troubadour. The materials range in date from circa 1916 to 1936, including one sales ledger used by Mary Mowbray-Clarke for unrelated business activities after the store closed in 1927. (5) flat boxes; (3) oversize flat boxes; (1) 2.5" letter document box; (1) oversize folder English Sunwise Turn Bookshop Arrangement of Materials

The Sunwise Turn Bookshop Records are arranged chronologically with one undated item listed at the end of the container list.

Acquisitions Information

Accession No. RARE.2021.0004: Justin Duerr, 2021 June; Accession No. RARE.2025.0192: Purchased, 2019 September; Method of acquisition for some contents unknown

Preferred Citation

[identification of item], Sunwise Turn Bookshop Records, SPEC.RARE.CMS.0255, Rare Books and Manuscripts Library, Ohio State University

Access to Materials

Materials in this collection are available for use, but may be used in the Thompson Library Special Collections reading room only.

Use of Materials

Materials in this collection may be protected by copyright, and are made available for research and educational purposes. In general, the OSU Libraries do not own the copyright for materials from our collections and cannot grant copyright permissions for these materials. The user is responsible for making a final determination of copyright status. If copyright protection applies, permission must be obtained from the copyright holder to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exceptions to the law. Works in the public domain are not protected by copyright and do not require permission to use.

Processing Information

Processed by: Mackenzie Sommers, 2018 March; Ashleigh Minor, 2021 June; Allison McPherson, 2025 December; Finding Aid written by: Zoe MacLeod, 2017 April ; Mackenzie Sommers, 2018 March; Ashleigh Minor, 2021 June; Allison McPherson, 2025 December

Historical Note

The Sunwise Turn Bookshop was a book store in New York City founded in 1916 by two female writers: Mary Horgan Mowbray-Clarke and Madge Jenison. Together, they leased a shop at 2 East 31st Street in New York City and sold books, paintings, prints, textiles, and sculptures. They held readings and gallery showings at the shop, and published full length novels and broadsides. Writers and artists like Robert Frost, Theodore Dreiser, William Zorach, and Herbert E. Crowley frequented the establishment and gave readings or displayed their art. The store was mostly operated and run by women; at least eight unpaid women apprentices helped Mowbray-Clarke and Jenison sell books, file invoices, manage finances, run errands and sweep the floor. In 1919, the book store moved to the Yale Club building at 51 East 44th Street where it remained until the shop was sold to the Doubleday, Page publishing company in 1927 due to financial concerns.

Scope and Contents

The Sunwise Turn Bookshop Records contain volumes that served as both ledgers and account records of the Bookshop, as well as promotional ephemera such as catalogs and book lists, mailers and pamphlets, and a poster. The collection also contains correspondence concerning publication of poems and broadsides, and a sketch of a troubadour. The materials range in date from circa 1916 to 1936, including one ledger initially used by the Bookshop that was later used by Mary Mowbray-Clarke for unrelated business activities after the store closed in 1927.

Jenison, Madge, 1874-1960 Lowell, Amy, 1874-1925 Mowbray-Clarke, Mary Horgan, 1874 or 1875-1962 Sunwise Turn Bookshop Account books Artists--United States--20th century Booksellers and bookselling--New York (State)--New York--20th century Bookstores--Records and correspondence--New York (State)--New York--20th century Catalogs (documents) Correspondence Ledgers (account books) Poets, American--20th century Lowell (Amy) "Ballads for sale" broadside 3 1 circa 1916 Troubador sketch 4 1 circa 1916-1920 Promotional pamphlet and blank subscription membership forms 4 5 1916-1918 Stock book and ledger 1 1 1916-1925 Sales and returns ledger 1 3 1916 April-1926 July Lowell (Amy) correspondence to Madge Jenison regarding "Broadside" 4 2 1916 October 20-December 4 Bradley (W.A.) correspondence to Madge Jenison regarding his art 4 3 1916 November 17-23 The Dance of Siva by Dr. Ananada Coomaraswamy publication announcement 4 6 1918 General ledger 9 1 1919-1923 "Christmas greetings" newsletter 4 7 1919 December Sales ledger 7 2 1920-1921 Petty cash ledger 2 1 1920 April-1922 May "A First and Most Various Catalogue of Books Art-objects and Activities From the Sunwise Turn, INC." 4 4 1920 May Lowell (Amy) correspondence to Mrs. Houghton 4 10 1920 August 26 Sales ledger 7 1 1921-1922 Sales ledger 8 1 1922-1923 General ledger 1 2 1923-1925 "Catalogue of First Editions, Autographs, Prints, and Art Books" 4 8 1923 December Sales ledger 8 2 1924-1925 Recommended books list 4 9 1924 Fall Sales ledger 6 1 1925-1926 Sunwise Turn, Inc. preferred and common stock 3 1 1925-1928 Sales ledger 6 2 1926 Sales ledger 5 1 1926-1936 Scope and Contents

Ledger records sales of Sunwise Turn Bookshop from October 1926-July 1927. A few loose invoices, receipts and correspondence found between the pages have been removed and placed in folders on top of the ledger, labeled with the pages they were found between. This ledger was later used by co-founder Mary Mowbray-Clarke from 1930-1936, for subsequent, unrelated expenses for her home, The Brocken, and her work as a landscape designer after the book store closed.

Kuhn (Walt) artist's proof of promotional poster 1 undated Scope and Contents

Black ink on paper with text "Broad Sides"