Robert Hawley Obituary

Robert Lorin Hawley

October 25, 1929 - June 10, 2017

Robert Lorin Hawley, noted antiquarian bookseller, specialist in Western Americana, and cofounder of the Oyez Press, passed away on June 10, 2017 after a brief illness.

Hawley was born in Wisconsin. He served in the U.S. Army Enlisted Reserve Corps from 1949 to 1952, achieving the rank of Master Sergeant. Hawley later studied at Black Mountain College, and by 1957, he was working as an antiquarian bookseller at the Holmes Book Company in Oakland, California.

In 1964, Hawley and Stevens van Strum founded Oyez Press by soliciting works from noteworthy poets, particularly Beat Generation poets in the San Francisco Bay Area. Oyez published works by David Meltzer, William Everson, Gary Snyder, Charles Olson, Michael McClure, and others. Its award-winning poetry editions were well regarded for the simplicity and elegance of their designs, and at its height in the late 1960s, Oyez was publishing about ten books a year.

In 1978, Hawley opened his own bookstore specializing in Western Americana, the Ross Valley Book Company, in Albany, California. Hawley's store became a focal point for Bay Area poets, historians, small press publishers, authors, and collectors of Western Americana. The store was especially known for its informal Saturday afternoon gatherings ("bull sessions") of like-minded bibliophiles.

After retiring, Hawley continued to conduct appraisals and consult with librarians, collectors, and historians.

Among other things, Hawley will be remembered for his quick wit and his fondness for bad puns.

He is survived by his wife, three siblings, five children, eight grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. He will be sorely missed.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by San Francisco Chronicle from Jun. 30 to Jul. 5, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for Robert Hawley

6 Entries

David J. Danelski

July 23, 2018

Bob Hawley was my first mentor. I regret we did not reconnect after our days together in Green Bay, We met at the Kellogg Public Library. At the time, I was 15, and he was 16. I was amazed by his mind and his knowledge of literature, philosophy, and music. He introduced me to the great works of Bach, Mozart and Beethoven. During the summer of the year we met, Bob and I hitchhiked to Chicago. We went to the Chicago Art Institute, and we heard the Chicago Symphony Orchestra play in Grant Park under the stars. After the concert, we slept in the Park on newspapers. The next day we went to Marshall Field's, where Bob examined antiquarian books. Chicago greatly impressed me. I returned there twice--in 1950 to get a law degree from DePaul University and in 1956 to get a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. Thereafter,I had an academic career mostly at Yale, Cornell. and Stanford. For a while, I was the dean of Occidental College, from which the poet Robinson Jeffers had graduated. At the celebration of his centennial, three poets--Czeslaw Milosz, Gary Snyder and William Everson--spoke. After the event, they came to a party at the dean's house. If I had known that Bob was then in California, I would have invited him to join us and to thank him for his mentorship.

David J. Danelski

July 23, 2018

Nunc dimitisl, Bob, may you rest in peace, I regret we did't reconnect after our days together in Green Bay.

Robert Hawley was my first mentor.

Robert Blesse

December 30, 2017

Dorothy, So sorry to hear about Bob. Though it has been many years since I've seen you, I often thought about both of you. I considered Bob a mentor and friend. Condolences and love to you and your family.

November 30, 2017

He was a good and decent man. He helped me greatly when I was a young bookseller. Barry Cassidy

Douglas Baker

July 5, 2017

July 5, 2017

Dorothy, Sadden to learn that Bob is gone. Shame on me for not being in touch. Dad so loved Saturdays at Ross Valley Books and his friendship with Bob. He use to display some of his Western Art, that Dad would switch out for other hangings from time to time. When visiting my parents, once bought a book sponsored by the Shamrock Oil and Gas Company written by J. Evetts Haley, America's leading author of books about politics here, with his bringing into print, "A Texan Looks at Lyndon"--that sold millions thanks to John Birch Society and other like minded "patriots" bulk purchases in their effort to have Barry Goldwater as President in the 1964 election, before returning to Midland, TX, with the check double dribbling. Bob was most gracious as I made it right as it should have been when deposited. Later in Midland at the Nita Stewart Haley Memorial Library/J. Evetts Haley History Center met and became acquainted with Haley and asked him to autograph the book. He did. Not the same book returned to my hand. Upon returning to the bay area asked Bob if the book in hand and dust jacket were the same, as the one I now held that was sun faded. Bob confirmed my suspicion it was not. Bob reminded me that before there were used car salesmen, there were horse traders. He said, "Say grace for having a genuine J. Evetts Haley signature." Later when rents on Solano Ave. went past the budget of an independent book seller to make way for an upscale restaurant, Ross Valley Books move to Telegraph Ave.near the seam of Berkeley and Oakland. Not the same, as Dad and others in the Saturday outing at Ross Valley Books were gone. Visited the new location several times--my last time seeing Bob, though we spoke on the telephone several times after wards with then a long pregnant pause not connected. Admired Bob in so many ways, still wish he were here now.

Wendy Lane

July 4, 2017

Dorothy,

Sincere condolences to you and your family on Robert's passing. We miss you and think of you often. We can't thank you enough for the important contribution you made to our son's childhood.

Take good care. You are appreciated.

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