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APHA's regional chapters sponsor lectures, fields trips and other opportunities to meet fellow members on an informal basis. 

Past Events and Past President's Letters

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”. Registration is limited to 12 persons and costs $40.

Workshop time:
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@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 @aol.com  or dwall @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
ahrhbeckwith @aol.com

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.

You can see videos of John at work in his former location at the website http://elsa.photo.net/firefly.html.

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 at dwall@applecartpress.com/  14 Maine Street, Box 43, Brunswick, ME 04011  if you will be joining us at Firefly Press.

All the best for a delightful Spring,

Alice Beckwith, President
ahrhbeckwith@aol.com

              

May 20, 2007 at 2 p.m.-- APHA-NE
“Third & Elm Handmade: Japanese Paper Made in Newport”
Newport Museum’s Coleman Center, 76 Bellevue Avenue, Newport, Rhode Island
Sunday,  2:00 – 4:00 PM
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 at 10:30 a.m.-- APHA-NE
“The Legacy of Dard Hunter”
John Hay Library, Brown University, 20 Prospect Street, Providence, Rhode Island
Saturday, May 19, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
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 -APHA-NE

Sue Allen, Rare Book School, University of Virginia
"The Brilliance of Cloth Book Covers: 19th Century Decorated Bindings"
Providence Athenaeum Reading Room
251 Benefit Street
Providence, Rhode Island
401.421.6970 www.providenceathenaeum.org
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. More information.

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, 14 Mine Street, Box 43, Brunswick, ME. 04011, tel 207 373 1690, applecartpress@yahoo.com Treasurer: Robert Soorian, Accountant, 101 Central Avenue, Newtonville, MA 02460, and rob296@hotmail.com Vice President: Paul Albert Cyr, Curator of Special Collections, New Bedford Free Public Library, 671 County Street, New Bedford, MA. 02740 The only reelected officer is the President: President: Alice Beckwith, Professor of Art History, Providence College, Providence, RI 02918/ 35 Boston Neck Road, North Kingstown, RI 02852, ahrhbeckwith@fastmail.fm.

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.

Please RSVP to Alice Beckwith at 35 Boston Neck Rd.; North Kingstown, R.I. 02852 or e-mail ahrhbeckwith@fastmail.fm. Or Walker Rumble at 18 Beach Point Dr.; Riverside, R.I. 02915 or e-mail Rumble@IDS.NET. 

 

August 17, 2001

Tours of Smith College and Pardons 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) 

FRIDAY AUGUST 17, 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.

TREASURES OF THE SMITH COLLEGE LIBRARY NEILSON LIBRARY MORTIMER RARE BOOK ROOM 413 585 2907

FRIDAY AUGUST 17, 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 Antoinetti and Barbara Blumenthal, Mortimer Rare Book Room Assistant will guide us through their fascinating holdings.

Directions: To Parsons Paper Company: at Holyoke take the Main Street exit off 391 North, Turn Right off the exit and continue until the second set of traffic lights; Turn Left on to Sargent Street where you will see Parsons Paper on the left; pass the building and enter the driveway on the left before the canal.

To Smith College: From Boston: Take the Massachusetts Turnpike to Exit 4, Route I-91 north. From I-91 North, take Exit 18, follow Route 5 north to the center of town and turn left onto Route 9. Smith College is just past the next set of lights.

From Hartford, New York and points South: Take Route I-95 north to I-91 north (which begins in New Haven, Connecticut). Follow I-91 north into Massachusetts, then take Exit 18. Follow Route 5 north (left) to the center of town and turn left onto Route 9. Smith College is just past the next set of lights.

Again please RSVP so that we can let you know about the Smith College Parking Garage.

July 26, 2001

BOSTON CALLIGRAPHY DISCOVERY TOUR BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY RARE BOOKS AND MANUSCRIPTS 700 Boylston Street, Copley Square THURSDAY JULY 26, 4:00, 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.

THURSDAY JULY 26, 5:15, 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.

Directions: Go to the Boston Public Library website at www.bpl.org or call 617 536 5400. 

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.

CARL P. ROLLINS: FIRST "UNIVERSITY PRINTER" JOHN HAY LIBRARY, BROWN UNIVERSITY Corner of Prospect and College Streets, Providence, Rhode Island (401 863 2146)

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2:30 PM 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.

Directions: Follow route 95 to route 195 East, take the Wickenden St. exit off 195 and turn East onto Wickenden St. follow Wickenden St. to Brook St. and turn North, follow Brook St. to George St. turn left and follow George St. to Prospect St., turn right on to Prospect St and the Library is one block away at the corner of Prospect and College Sts. Park on the street or in the small parking lot at the corner of Prospect and George Sts.

August 12, 2000

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

Annual Meeting, Dutch treat networking lunch followed by a tour of printing and presses.

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.

Directions from New York, Connecticut, and points south/west: Newport is a 3 ˝ hour ride from New York City (165 miles). Follow Route 95 North to Rhode Island Exit 3A. Exit 3A connects to Route 138 East. Follow Route 138 East over the Jamestown Bridge, and then over the Newport Bridge ($2 toll one way). Take the first exit at the end of the Newport Bridge. At the bottom of the ramp, turn right onto Farewell Street. Proceed on to the second traffic light and turn right onto America's Cup Avenue. Pass the Gateway Information Center on your right. Follow America's Cup Avenue through its merge with Thames Street , follow Thames Street to Memorial Boulevard and turn left (up hill) into Memorial Boulevard. (This is a large complex intersection with a post office building on the left corner). Take the first left into Spring Street and start to look for on street parking. The Franklin Spa at 229 Spring Street is one block from Memorial Boulevard on the corner of Spring and Franklin.

Directions from Boston and points north: Newport is a 90-minute drive from metropolitan Boston (75 miles). Follow Route 24 /south towards Newport. Route 24 turns into route 114 south which becomes Broadway at the Newport town line. Follow Broadway to Marlborough Street and turn right. Turn left on America's Cup Avenue. You will see the Gateway Information Center on your right follow the directions after the Gateway Information Center in the above New York directions. Bus Service: There is regular bus service from Boston, to Newport via Bonanza Bus. All buses leave travelers at the Gateway Information Center. Follow the directions in the New York section above or get advice on shortcuts from the information desk in the Gateway Center.

June 3

Sneak preview of the new Museum of Printing
North Andover, MA.
Saturday, 3 June at 1:00 p.m.

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@fastmail.fm

The Museum of Printing is located at 800 Massachusetts Avenue (former site of the Museum of Textile History) in North Andover, MA. Driving directions: From the south, follow I-95 North around Boston to exit 37, where you join I-93 North; continue on I-93 to exit 44, where you join I-495 East; continue on I-495 to exit 43 and Massachusetts Ave.; follow Mass. Ave. to the Museum. From the north, take I-93 South to exit 44 and continue as above.

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


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