In 1976 the American Printing History Association established an annual award to be presented “for a distinguished contribution to the study, recording, preservation or dissemination of printing history, in any specific area or in general terms.” At first only individuals were eligible, but in 1985 a second award was established for institutional achievement. These prestigious awards are presented each January at the APHA Annual Meeting in New York City.
Often, the acceptance speeches are important statements of philosophy or accomplishment about the importance of printing history and the book arts. Speeches are normally printed subsequently in Printing History, and some are available online here.
Individual Laureate | Institutional Award | Call for Nominations
Individual Laureate
Institutional Award
| Year |
Recipient |
| 2025 |
Book/Print Artist/Scholar of Color Collective
|
| 2024 |
Self Help Graphics & Art
|
| 2023 |
Tipoteca Italiana Fondazione and The International Printing Museum
|
| 2022 |
Women’s Studio Workshop
|
| 2021 |
Mills College
|
| 2020 |
The Bixler Letterfoundry
|
| 2019 |
Minnesota Center for the Book Arts
|
| 2019 |
Black Rock Press
|
| 2017 |
U.S Government Publishing Office
|
| 2016 |
Cary Graphic Arts Collection, Rochester Institute of Technology
|
| 2015 |
Book Art Museum
|
| 2014 |
David R. Godine, Inc.
|
| 2013 |
Limited Editions Club
|
| 2012 |
CODEX Foundation
|
| 2011 |
The University of Alabama School of Library and Information Studies, MFA Program in the Book Arts
|
| 2010 |
The Center for Book Arts
|
| 2009 |
Whittington Press
|
| 2008 |
Oak Knoll Books and Oak Knoll Publishing
|
| 2007 |
The Society of Printers
|
| 2006 |
The John Carter Brown Library at Brown University
|
| 2005 |
Bibliographical Society of the University of Virginia
|
| 2004 |
American Typecasting Fellowship
|
| 2003 |
The Typophiles
|
| 2002 |
Plantin-Moretus Museum
|
| 2001 |
Society for the History of Authorship, Reading and Publishing (SHARP)
|
| 2000 |
The Gutenberg Museum (Mainz, Germany)
|
| 1999 |
Center for the Book, University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA)
|
| 1998 |
Newberry Library (Chicago, IL)
|
| 1997 |
Pierpont Morgan Library (New York, NY)
|
| 1996 |
Book Club of California (San Francisco, CA)
|
| 1995 |
Special Collections, New York Public Library (New York, NY)
|
| 1994 |
Center for the Book, Library of Congress (Washington, DC)
|
| 1993 |
Colonial Williamsburg (Williamsburg, VA)
|
| 1991 |
Bibliographical Society of America (New York, NY)
|
| 1990 |
Grolier Club (New York, NY)
|
| 1989 |
St. Bride Printing Library (London, England)
|
| 1988 |
Kemble Collections, California Historical Society (San Francisco, CA)
|
| 1987 |
American Antiquarian Society (Worcester, MA)
|
| 1986 |
School of Library Service, Columbia University (New York, NY)
|
| 1985 |
Division of Graphic Arts, Smithsonian Institution (Washington, DC)
|
