Wood Type Weekend celebrates the art of letterpress printing
The Book Arts
Workshop at the Dartmouth College Library will celebrate its growing
collection of wood type with a weekend's worth of events, beginning on Friday,
Feb. 23, with an illustrated lecture. Richard Zauft, a historian, professor,
and practitioner of the book arts, and co-editor of Hamilton Wood Type, a
History in Headlines, will speak on the history of wood type in printing
at 4 p.m. in the Treasure Room, Baker-Berry Library. A reception will follow in
the Book Arts Workshop, Baker-Berry Room 21-23. Book arts staff will be
available during the reception to help guests create a hand-printed keepsake of
Wood Type Weekend.
Stephanie Wolff, book arts instructor, sets 25 line French Clarendon wood type
(circa 1869-1870) in Baker Library's letterpress shop. (Photo by Sarah
Memmi)
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An example of wood type from the collection. (Photo by Kelly Seaman)
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A second, registration-only, event on Saturday will allow participants to
further explore the hand-crafted poster, using wood type and iron hand presses
from the College's collections.
"The Book Arts Program is sometimes jokingly called Dartmouth's
best-kept secret," notes Barbara Sagraves, head of preservation services
and book arts program coordinator. "But we love to share it with the rest
of campus." The Book Arts Program holds regular open studios in
letterpress printing and book binding, as well as a series of short classes in
various book-making techniques.
"It's really very simple," says Sagraves, "We provide
enthusiastic instructors, equipment, and supplies. All you have to do is bring
your imagination. People have made everything from greeting cards, wedding
announcements, and graduation announcements to scrapbooks, broadsides, and
hand-printed and bound books of poetry."
The winter book arts schedule is available on their Web
site.
By KELLY SEAMAN
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