Regional Chapters > New England

The New England Chapter
APHA's New England Chapter sponsors lectures, fields trips and other opportunities to meet fellow members on an informal basis. New upcoming events are usually listed in letters from the president and officers of the chapter. A list of past events follows.

Current Officers
Alice Beckwith, President
Phil Weimerskirch, Vice President
Lydia Vivante, Secretary
Bob Soorian, Treasurer

Upcoming Events

Sunday, June 23, 2013 at 1:00 pm
Watkinson Library Tour at Trinity College
Hartford CT

Rick Ring, the dynamic Head Curator and Librarian of the Watkinson Librarywill lead us on a private behind the scenes tour of highlights of his collections, including the Nuremberg Chronicle (1493), texts by John Baskerville and important nineteenth and twentieth century private press imprints.

Before the tour we plan to gather for an 11:30 Dutch Treat brunch at The Firebox Restaurant, 539 Broad Street, Hartford 06106. View their menu at www.firebox.com. We will remind you about this event closer to the date, but mark your calendars now and let us know if you plan to join us by replying to us at aphanewengland@gmail.com.

Upcoming events are in the planning stages for September 7.

November 16, 2013 Annual meeting 1:00 pm
Celebrating J. Ben Lieberman’s 99th birthday
Providence Public Library, 150 Empire Street, Providence R.I.

Following our meeting Jordan Goffin, the dashing Rare Books Librarian will give a short talk. We will gather for a Dutch treat lunch at 12 noon in the Trinity Brewhouse, 186 Fountain Street across the street from the Providence Public Library.

Past Events

September 22, 2012 at 2:00 pm
Aldrich House Museum of the Rhode Island Historical Society
110 Benevolent Street, Providence, R.I.

APHA New England member, Phoebe Simpson Bean spoke
about broadsides printed in Rhode Island. Phoebe Bean is the Printed Collection Librarian at the Rhode Island Historical Society, and she just completed cataloging their extensive collection of broadsides. Ms. Bean's talk relates to a statewide series of exhibitions and events organized by the R.I. Center for the Book entitled "R.I. Broadsides Rule!" See the attached file for a list of exhibitions and events and note the credit to APHA New England as a sponsor.

Before Phoebe’s talk, APHA NE members enjoyed a Dutch Treat lunch at the Rue De L’Espoire a brunch/lunch spot near the site of the talk.

March 31, 2012
The Printing Office of Edes & Gill
21 Unity Street, Boston

Our next scheduled event is a field trip to The Printing Office of Edes & Gill, an 18th Century Print Shop on Boston's Historic Freedom Trail at 2:00 pm.

April 9, 2011
Historic New England's Otis House &
Edward Gorey at the Boston Athenæum
141 Cambridge Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02114

On Saturday, April 9, the New England Chapter of APHA journeyed to Historic New England's Otis House in Boston, at the foot of Beacon Hill, for a tour of the house and a visit to their vast archive of New England related materials. There was a guided tour of the house and then spend some time in the adjoining archives. Of particular interest to chapter members was Historic New England's vast collection of ephemera, historic bookplates and correspondence from Daniel Berkeley Updike.

After lunch, members visited the nearby Boston Athenæum for a look at the Athenaeum exhibit of works by Edward Gorey.

March 12, 2011
Art of the Book Lunch
Historic Deerfield
Deerfield, MA

Spring sprung and we held a gathering at the Lunch
part of the Art of the Book symposium in Deerfield, MA.

October 22, 2010
Fritz Eichenberg : Spirit : Life : Art
Sterling Memorial Library
Yale University, New Haven, CT

We joined lithographer Jeffrey Bertwell and University of Rhode Island Special Collections Librarian, Sarina Rodrigues Wyant for late afternoon talk about the life of virtuoso wood engraver Fritz Eichenberg (1901–1990).

After the talk, a short walk took us to The Robert B. Haas Family Arts Library to view select examples Eichenberg’s work in the new Special Collections reading room of the Robert B. Haas Family Arts Library. While we waited to see the selections, library staff gave tours of the Robert B. Haas Family Arts Library.

September 12, 2010
APHANE Annual Meeting
Amherst & Northampton, Massachusetts

Trips to The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Yiddish Book Center, and The Veatchs Arts of the Book.

April 20, 2010
Stephen O. Saxe:
Turning Lead into Gold: Nineteenth-Century American Type Foundries and Their Specimen Books
The Philip and Frances Hofer Lecture
Edison and Newman Room, Houghton Library
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

From a shaky beginning in the new American republic, the type founding industry grew with westward expansion, economic development, and mechanization. In the process it produced some of the most fanciful, exuberant types ever seen. This lecture reviews the development of type-founding technologies and surveys the type specimen books the type foundries produced to promote their wares.

Following the lecture APHA New England members were invited to gather just out side the front door of the Houghton Library for a Dutch Treat meal in the area.

January 23, 2010
January Meeting
Providence Public Library, Providence, RI

APHA New England will meet Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010 at 1:00 in the Trustee's Room of the Providence Public Library, 225 Washington St. Providence, R.I. 02903, for a buffet lunch and our Annual Meeting, followed by a tour, by Rick Ring (PPL Curator 0f Special Collections) of the Updike Printing collections and we will also hear Rick's news about the new Art Space 220 Public Letterpress Print Shop.

June 24, 2008
Dear APHA New England Member,

Our next meeting will be a site visit to the Museum of International Paper History (8 Evans Road in Brookline, Massachusetts) on Sunday, July 13, from 2 to 4 pm. The director of the museum, Elaine Koretsky will give us a tour of the facilities and collections focusing on relationships between paper and printing history. Elaine is a renowned expert who directs papermaking workshops, leads tours to Asia and collects papers and related tools and texts from all over the world.

The museum’s website gives an enlightening overview and will surely entice your presence. www.papermakinghistory.org 

Following our tour we will adjourn to a local venue to enjoy refreshments and conversation. Our new president, Bob Soorian, is researching the area for an air conditioned charming place. We look forward to renewing old friendships and welcoming new members.

Tiny State. Tiny Books: Miniature Books in Rhode Island

Anne Bromer,
“Miniature Books: 4000 Years of Tiny Treasures”
An illustrated lecture on the history and design of miniature books by Anne Bromer. Saturday, April 26, 2008 2 pm – 4 pm Providence Public Library Barnard Room- 3rd floor 150 Empire Street, Providence, RI. Free and open to the public.

Rhode Island exhibits of miniature books
North Kingstown Free Library, April 1-30
Providence Public Library Special Collections, April 17 – May 31
Rhode Island School of Design, April 22 - 30
University of Rhode Island Library Special Collections, March 1 – April 30.

In addition, a workshop, A Taste of Tiny Books, is available.
Spend the morning making miniature books with book artist and RISD graduate Suzi Cozzens, and the afternoon listening to author Anne Bromer speak about the history and design of these “tiny treasures”.
Saturday, April 26, 2008 9 am – noon
Location: Rhode Island School of Design Bindery Studio 48 Waterman Street. Providence, RI
Instructor: Suzi Cozzens, Graphic Design Dept., Rhode Island School of Design
Fee: $40.00 ( includes materials fee )
Class size: 12 students
Class size is limited, so be sure to register early. Once the workshop is filled, there will be a wait list kept in case of cancellations. Please register by April 19 at the latest. Payment will be non-refundable after April 22.
To register: First contact Susan Newkirk at susanewkirk(at)hotmail.com or call 401.861.9342 , Rhode Island Center for the Book at PPL Program Chairperson
When confirmed, please make your check out to “Providence Public Library” and note that it is for Rhode Island Center for the Book miniature book workshop.
Send check to Susan Newkirk, 242 Morris Avenue, Providence, RI 02906

October 19, 2006
Dear APHA New England Members,

APHA New England is going to have our annual meeting and Wayzgoose November 19 at 2:00 at David Wall's Applecart Press, 14 Maine Street, Brunswick Maine. We will hear the reports of officers, catch up on David Wall's progress with polymer plates and letter press. and while swilling cider and devouring doughnuts discuss plans for next year's events including our planned lecture in Rhode Island May 19 on the paper making career of Dard Hunter by Cathleen A. Baker, proprietor of The Legacy Press and Senior Paper Conservator, University of Michigan Libraries.

We are thinking of making 2007 the year of paper and going to the Crane paper mill in Dalton Massachusetts and possibly the Parsons Mill in Holyoak MA., plus Ilse Buchert Nesbitt is in discussions with us on a workshop for making mulberry paper.

However, we are always open to suggestions from membership for programs so join us Nov. 19 and give us your thoughts or email ideas to ahrhbeckwith(at)aol.com  or dwall(at)applecartpress.com. APHA NE members will receive directions on how to get to the Applecart Press in their annual meeting announcement letters, but as always any APHA member is welcome.

Hope you can make it to some of these events.

All the best,

Alice Beckwith, President

April 16, 2006
Dear APHA New England Member,

Our next event will be Sunday June 11, 2006 at 2:30 PM when we visit John Kristensen’s Firefly Press in his new location, at 119 Braintree Street, Boston, MA 02134. Many of you will know of John’s wonderful letterpress works and might have visited his former location in Somerville, but the fabled press has moved and John agreed to give us a special tour on his open house weekend.

To reach John’s new location:

• Take route 95 to exit 25 at I-90 Mass Turnpike toward Boston.
• Exit 18 on the Left toward Allston/Brighton
• Merge into Cambridge Street (going under rt 90)
• Turn Right onto Franklin Street (just like John to call  Ben Franklin to mind)
• Turn Left onto Braintree Street and follow it to 119.

(617 987 0599).

Please contact David Wall our Secretary if you will be joining us at Firefly Press.

All the best for a delightful Spring,

Alice Beckwith, President

May 20, 2007
“Third & Elm Handmade: Japanese Paper Made in Newport”
Newport Museum’s Coleman Center, 76 Bellevue Avenue, Newport, Rhode Island

A papermaking demonstration by Ilse Buchert Nesbitt, printer and proprietor of the Third & Elm Press and an expert in the creation of mulberry paper. Held at the Newport Museum’s Coleman Center, 76 Bellevue Avenue, Newport, Rhode Island

May 19, 2007
“The Legacy of Dard Hunter”
John Hay Library, Brown University, 20 Prospect Street, Providence, Rhode Island

A lecture by Cathleen Baker, proprietor of The Legacy Press and Senior Paper Conservator at the University of Michigan Libraries. Held at the John Hay Library, Brown University, 20 Prospect Street, Providence, Rhode Island. The talk will be complemented by an exhibition of the John Hay collection of Dard Hunter materials, and an exhibition at the nearby Providence Athenaeum titled “Ilse Nesbitt, Paper and Tools.”

March 5, 2005
"The Brilliance of Cloth Book Covers: 19th Century Decorated Bindings"
Providence Athenaeum Reading Room, 251 Benefit Street, Providence, Rhode Island

Sue Allen will speak about the history of decorated American cloth bindings produced from the early 1830’s to the end of the 19th century. The Providence Athenaeum will have on exhibit examples of decorated bindings from their collection. Co-sponsored by the Rhode Island Center for the Book, the Providence Athenaeum, the John Russell Bartlett Society, the Friends of the Library, Brown University, and the American Printing History Association, New England Chapter. Free and open to the public.

Fall 2004
APHA New England held the annual meeting on Saturday, September 18, 2004 at the Moore Hall of Providence College in Providence, Rhode Island. Our featured speaker was Jenni Matz, who screened her video biography /oral history of Abe Lerner.

We heard the Officers Reports for the past year and elected the following slate of new officers: Secretary: David P. Wall, Printer Publisher, Apple Cart Press; Treasurer: Robert Soorian, Accountant;  Vice President: Paul Albert Cyr, Curator of Special Collections, New Bedford Free Public Library. The only reelected officer is the President: Alice Beckwith, Professor of Art History, Providence College.

June 29, 2002
From Pen to Press: Creative Process in Book Design
Manuscripts and Books in the North East Children’s Literature Collection
Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, 405 Babbidge Road Unit 1205, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 860 486 3646

Saturday, June 29, 1:30-3:00PM, Assemble at the main lobby of the Dodd Center for a tour with Curator, Terri Goldich, through collections of book dummies, sketches, illustrations, drafts, revisions and related materials. We will see "the nature of the creative process from conception to completion" in the works of such author illustrators as Richard Scarry, Barry Moser, Tommie dePaola and others.

Directions: From RI, take Rte. 44 to the intersection of Rte.195 south Storrs Road, turn left or South, pass Mirror Lake and turn right or north into Mansfield Road, turn left again at Whitney Road, the Dodd Center is one block ahead at the corner of Babbidge Road. From the north take rt 84 south to Rte. 195 south and follow as above. From the south take rt. 95 to Rte. 195 north to Rte. 84 north to Rte.195 south and follow as above.

October 7, 2001
John Randle, The Whittington Press
"Papers and Prospectuses"
Moore Hall, Room III, Providence College, Providence, Rhode Island (401 865- 2401 or 2354) 2:00 PM. Sunday.

The witty and charming Englishman, John Randle --founder, with his wife Rose, of the Whittington Press and the internationally acclaimed annual review for printers & bibliophiles, Matrix-- will regale us with tales of letters and papers. We shall learn about and see examples of British hand-papermaking, and discover the ways book prospectuses give a unique insight into printers' attitudes and aspirations. (The lecture will also be given in New York City on October 11.)

ANNUAL MEETING. Following John's talk, we will hold the Annual Meeting and hear the officers reports and any other business to come before the membership, then we will vote on the following slate of officers:

• President: Alice Beckwith
• Vice-President: Philip Weimerskirch
• Treasurer: Paul Cyr
• Secretary: Walker Rumble

Directions to Providence College. Call 401 865 1011 for directions to the College from all points. These directions will bring you to the corner of Eton Street and Smith Street. Follow Eton Street East to Huxley Avenue and turn Left (North) enter the campus at the blinking traffic light in the middle of the block. Park your car in the guest lot indicated by the officer at the gate and follow his directions to Moore Hall.

August 17, 2001
Tours of Smith College and Parsons Paper Company 
Friday, 12:00 noon, Northampton, MA., join us at Fresh Pasta, 249 Main Street 413 586 5875 for lunch.

A Day of Paper & Letters in Western Massachusetts
Parsons Paper Mill, 84 Sargent Street, Holyoke, MA (800 842 9029) 

10:00 am, Assemble at the main entrance to the paper mill for a tour of about an hour. Parsons Paper Company was founded in 1853 in Holyoke, Massachusetts. By 1890, they were the world's largest producer of fine papers. Today, Parsons makes numerous kinds of excellent papers including a high grade artists' paper for which they employ 19th century machinery.

Treasuries of the Smith College Library
Neilson Library, Mortimer Rare Book Room 413 585 2907

2:00-4:30, Assemble at the Mortimer Rare Book Room for an overview of the Smith College collection with special emphasis on paper-related items including paper molds, Dard Hunter papers and paper by the 20th century paper maker Douglas Howell. The Curator, Martin Antonetti and Barbara Blumenthal, Mortimer Rare Book Room Assistant will guide us through their fascinating holdings.

July 26, 2001
Boston Calligraphy Discovery Tour
Boston Public Library Rare Books and Manuscripts
700 Boylston Street, Copley Square

Assemble at the entrance to the department of Rare Books and Manuscripts. Margaret Shepherd, calligrapher and author of Learn Calligraphy will lead us on a tour of 26 alphabet treasures inside the Boston Public Library and in the surrounding neighborhood. Shepherd is well known for her texts commemorating members of the First and Second Church at 66 Marlboro Street. You may view Margaret's work at http://www.margaretshepherd.com.

Late comers can catch up with the tour at 66 Marlboro Street where we will be trying out our skills with parallel strokes and basic letter shapes, under Margaret's direction. We will end the day at Rugg Road Paper, 105 Charles Street and then go out for dinner when Rugg Road closes at 8 PM. If members cannot make the earlier calligraphy tour they can still join us for the paper adventure and we will have additional copies of the self guided map of Margaret's calligraphy tour for you to follow on your own.

February 22, 2001
Ellen Cohn "Franklin in France: The Passy Press"
Providence College, Slavin Center (Student Union), Room 100
Providence, R.I. (401 865 1011) 4:30 p.m.

APHA's New England Chapter will hold a joint meeting with the John Russell Bartlett Society and the Art and Art History Department of Providence College on Thursday, February 22 at 4:30 PM in room 100 of the Slavin Center (Student Union) at Providence College. Our speaker will be Ellen Cohn, Editor of the Papers of Benjamin Franklin, at Yale University. Her topic will be Franklin in France, the Passy Press. Call 401 865 1011 for directions to Providence College.

October 28, 2000
Greer Allen "Carl Rollins: First 'University Printer'"
John Hay Library, Providence, R.I. (401 863 2146), 2:30 p.m.

The dynamic Greer Allen will give us a slide illustrated analysis of Carl Rollins's career as University Printer at Yale and probe the human dimensions of Rollins work and personality. If you have ever heard Greer lecture you know what a treat you have in store, and if you have not heard him before then take advantage of this opportunity jointly sponsored by APHANE, The John Russell Bartlett Society and Sam Streit Director of the John Hay Rare Books Library.

August 12, 2000
Annual Meeting and Lunch
Franklin Spa, 229 Spring Street, Newport, R.I. (401 847 3540) 11:30 a.m.

Assemble at the long table at the west end of the restaurant. During lunch, we will hear the officers reports and any other business to come before the membership, then we will vote on the following slate of officers:

President, Alice Beckwith 
Vice President, Philip Weimerskirch 
Treasurer, Paul Cyr 
Secretary, Walker Rumble 

Franklin Spa is an informal lunchroom on the corner of Franklin and Spring Streets and of course the street evokes the history of the press at which Benjamin Franklin learned to print. After the lunch meeting we will view James Franklin's press in its restored splendor at the Museum of Newport History and then go to the Third and Elm Press. Third and Elm Press, run by Ilse Buchert Nesbitt, is one of the best- known fine printing establishments in New England today, and Ilse has a new gallery on her second floor.

June 3, 2000
Sneak preview of the new Museum of Printing, North Andover
The New England Chapter of the American Printing History Association will meet in North Andover, MA on Saturday, 3 June at 1:00 p.m. for a sneak preview of the new Museum of Printing.
Soon to celebrate its grand opening, the Museum of Printing is "the world's largest collection of historic and rare letterpress and offset printing equipment." It "includes at least one of most of the important letter presses made in the 19th and 20th centuries, both platen and cylinder. Other technologies such as etching and offset lithography are also represented. The museum has a wide variety of typesetting machines from the hot-metal and phototype eras, including some peculiar ones as well as case upon rack upon stand of foundry type. The Museum's Library has catalogues, maintenance manuals, and influential books relevant to the various printerly arts." See www.museumofprinting.org for more information on the Museum and its support group, the Friends of the Museum of Printing.

Non-members are welcome to attend the meeting and tour. If you plan to attend, please notify APHA New England Chapter President Alice Beckwith at: ahrhbeckwith(at)fastmail.fm

The tour and meeting are free. If you plan to attend, please notify APHA New England Chapter President Alice Beckwith at: ahrhbeckwith(at)fastmail.fm

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The APHA board has agreed to move forward with a redesign of the APHA website. The front page will feature articles, news and a calendar, and will replace the pdf newsletter. While a Summer launch is expected, the editor is now seeking short articles of 200-400 words in length, plus images. Please write to website@printinghistory.org.

The 2013 Winter Newsletter, featuring a summary of the Annual Meeting in New York is now available. Download or read online.

Individual and Institutional Awards for distinguished achievement in printing history were presented at our Annual membership Saturday, January 26. Details.

Back issues of Printing History are now on sale at a deep discount at Rochester Institute of Technology Press

The complete listing of Printing History's contents have been put back online. See the contents (and a few select articles) from the Original Series, or a complete listing of the New Series. See something you like? Order Directly from RIT Press.

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