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004. Updike Collection on the History of Printing

 Collecting Area
Identifier: 004
Providence Public Library’s collection of books on printing was begun in 1910 with the purchase of over a thousand duplicate books from the St. Bride Library in London. The purchase was made at the suggestion of Mr. Daniel Berkeley Updike of Boston, and he contributed generously to the fund drive that enabled the Library to make the purchase. Mr. Updike, who died in 1941, was the proprietor of the Merrymount Press and the author of the classic work Printing Types: Their History, Forms, and Use, first published in 1922. He bequeathed his personal collection of books on printing to the Library, and later several other gifts and purchases strengthened the collection. Today the collection contains over 7,500 volumes, 600 letters and other manuscripts, hundreds of prints (mostly portraits of printers, typefounders, booksellers and publishers), much printed ephemera and some artifacts including three printing presses, a wooden type case, a set of punches and two sets of matrices for the Montallegro and Merrymount types which Mr. Updike commissioned for his own use. The collection is particularly strong in early type specimen books. They date from the 16th century, and about 400 of them were printed before the 20th century. The collection is also strong in Mr. Updike’s own Merrymount Press, in books designed by Bruce Rogers, and in books printed by Giambattista Bodoni. Current collecting is focused on typography of Asia, India and Eastern Europe. Learn more about the collection on the library website.

Found in 11 Collections and/or Records:

Alfred June Burgess penmanship practice book

 Item — Box Multi-Collection Box: [Barcode: 31116022115262]
Identifier: 004-02-03
Scope and Contents

The collection includes one volume containing penmanship exercises and calligraphic alphabets created by Alfred June Burgess beginning in February 20, 1829.

Dates: 20 February 1829
Found in: Providence Public Library / Alfred June Burgess penmanship practice book

Calligraphic alphabet writing book

 Item — Box Multi-Collection Box: [Barcode: 31116022115262]
Identifier: 004-02-04
Scope and Contents

The collection includes one volume of an early 19th century writing book, possibly an exercise book or as an example of penmanship. Each leaf has a rendition of two letters of the alphabet, decorated and shaded, with another version of the same letter and the lower case version below.

Dates: 1820
Found in: Providence Public Library / Calligraphic alphabet writing book

Collection of Soviet Design Scrapbooks

 Item — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 004-04-04
Scope and Contents The Collection of Soviet Design Scrapbooks contains scrapbooks almost entirely filled with collages of newspaper clippings, labels, and other ephemera and photographic prints of type specimens glued to rectos and versos. Though the scrapbooks themselves were likely created between c.1965 and c.1990, the material within the scrapbooks largely ranges from the 1950s to approximately 1990, with some material of the early 20th century represented as well. The scrapbooks are largely composed of...
Dates: 1965-1990
Found in: Providence Public Library / Collection of Soviet Design Scrapbooks

Daniel Berkeley Updike correspondence

 File — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 004-02-01
Scope and Contents

The collection consists of correspondence with Daniel Berkeley Updike, correspondence between others related to Updike’s work as well as essays and manuscripts by Updike. The bulk of the collection includes correspondence between Updike and others related to his printing work and book collecting. While some of the letters are with his close peers and friends, the letters are not personal in nature.

Dates: 1878-1959
Found in: Providence Public Library / Daniel Berkeley Updike correspondence

Linotype Letter Drawings

 Collection
Identifier: 004-03-02
Scope and Contents

The collection includes thousands of drawings of letterforms as well as a selection of keyboard maps for use with the fonts.

Dates: circa 1900-1970
Found in: Providence Public Library / Linotype Letter Drawings

Palm leaf manuscript, Kammavācā

 Item — Box custom palm leaf ms box: [Barcode: 31116022116336]
Identifier: 004-02-006
Scope and Contents Southeast Asian Studies scholar Trent Walker identified the Palm leaf manuscript as written in Pali, the liturgical language of Theravāda Buddhism, using Tham Lanna script from Northern Thailand. Known as Kammavācā, the manuscript is a set of related texts taken from the Theravāda Buddhist canon, the Tipitaka. Texts in Kammavācā provide scripts for conducting monastic rituals that include confession, ordination, and bestowal of robes. Some palm leaves are fragmented due to...
Dates: c. 1800-1900
Found in: Providence Public Library / Palm leaf manuscript, Kammavācā

Joseph and Elizabeth Pennell correspondence

 Collection — Box 1: [Barcode: 31116021978199]
Identifier: 020-02
Scope and Contents

The collection consists of 33 letters, primarily written by Joseph and Elizabeth Pennell, and one receipt. The correspondence includes suggestions for topics for new publications, references to editorial suggestions, travel plans, and interest in artwork by Whistler.

Dates: 1782; Majority of material found within 1881 - 1934
Found in: Providence Public Library / Joseph and Elizabeth Pennell correspondence

Collection of Portraits of Printers and Book Sellers

 File — 004-03-01
Identifier: 004-03-01
Scope and Contents

The collection includes portraits of over 400 printed images of printers, booksellers and other members of the book trades. The entire collection has been digitized and descriptions of each item are available on www.provlibdigital.org.

Dates: 1700 - 1899
Found in: Providence Public Library / Collection of Portraits of Printers and Book Sellers

Updike Collection on the History of Printing - Books

 Collection
Identifier: 004-01-01
Dates: 1450 - 2022
Found in: Providence Public Library / Updike Collection on the History of Printing - Books

Collection of Updike Printing Ephemera

 Collection
Identifier: 004-04-01
Scope and Contents

This collection contains printed ephemera and manuscripts relating primarily to the printing trade. The materials described here constitute only a portion of the printing ephemera in the collection. The organization and description of the materials are ongoing, and researchers are advised to consult Special Collections staff.

Dates: 1732-2017
Found in: Providence Public Library / Collection of Updike Printing Ephemera

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