Betsy Burton papers

Collection

Identifier: ACCN 3162

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Betsy Burton papers consist of personal and professional materials. The majority of the papers deal with Burton's involvement with The King's English Bookstore which she co-founded in 1977 with Ann Berman.

The bulk of the collection focues on Burton's work with the bookstore she co-founded documentated in her memoir, The King's English: Adventures of an Independent Bookseller published by Gibbs Smith. The bookstore is both locally and nationally known for bringing nationally aclaimed authors for book signings and events. The materials filed within the Author files contains correspondence, articles and news clippings with authors including Isabel Allende, Margaret Atwood, Harriet Doerr, Tony Hillerman, Mark Strand, Terry Tempest Williams, and others. Also included in the collection are materials related to the activities of the booksote such as event annoucements, book clubs, and the newsletter, The Inkslinger.

Burton was also involved extensively with various organizations. Included int he collection are materials related to the American Booksellers Assocition (ABA) which Burton was a member. Burton was also passionate about supporting local businesses. She was a founding member of the Salt Lake Vest Pocket Business Coalition and was the co-founder and chair of Local First Utah. Materials contained in the collection regarding these organizations include correspone3ence, reports, brochures, community development plans, and presenation materials. Burton was also involved with the struggles small business experiecedi with the growth of online retailers such as Amazon. The materials within the series "Subject files" contains corrrespondence, articles, news clippings, regarding this topic.

I: Personal materials; II: Writings and speeches by Burton; III: Invisible Disabilities: The Problems of Perception with Temple Grandin, Ph.D.; IV: The King's English (TKE) Bookstore; V: Organizations A-Z; VI: Subject files; and VII: Oversize.

Dates

1896-2019

Creator

Burton, Betsy (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this Collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Conditions Governing Use

The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.

Biographical Note

Elizabeth "Betsy" M. Burton was born September 4, 1946 in Salt Lake City, Utah. She obtained a B.A. in 1968 from Oberlin College. During her early career, Burton worked at Sam Weller's Bookstore and then at Evans Advertising performing research and writing. It was in 1977 that Burton co-founded, with Ann Berman, The King's English Bookstore located at 1500 South and 1500 East in Salt Lake City, Utah. After Berman left the bookstore in 1981, Burton ran the store alone until 1988 when Barbara Hoagland became co-owner. Burton has written three books entitled The Filly, And I Work at the Reader's Trade, The King's English: Adventures of an Independent Bookseller, along with several published articles, editorials, and reviews.

As a small business owner, Burton was active in local organizations. She was a founding member of the Salt Lake Vest Pocket Business Coalition and was the co-founder and chair of Local First Utah. She was also a board member of several organizations involving booksellers and local volunteer organizations.

Extent

21 Linear Feet (36 Boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into the following seven series: I: Personal materials; II: Writings and speeches by Burton; III: Invisible Disabilities: The Problems of Perception with Temple Grandin, Ph.D.; IV: The King's English (TKE) Bookstore; V: Organizations A-Z; VI: Subject files; and VII: Oversize.