Art Class Visits the Archive

Not all instruction happens in the classroom.  Recently Ms. Peg Harrigan’s class on Visual Studies visited the Archive for a chance to look at the wide variety of ways a book may be constructed.

Mr. Tim Sprattler, the Archivist, began by showing the class a very simple book from the early 1800’s that was covered in plain brown paper, but decorated with wallpaper by the student owner.  He also demonstrated a book that includes an oil portrait which is bound on the inside cover, a book showing the secret marks Thomas Jefferson placed in his personal books.

Among the highlights of the demonstration were two different examples of Charles Dickens’ first editions.  One of these is a traditional book, and the other was published as a weekly serial, sold by chapter.   The class also enjoyed examining the school’s collection of books with fore-edge paintings. These are books that have a painting on the front edge of the text block, which is invisible until you fan the pages.  

The class was also intrigued by an interesting variation on the accordion book, the “one page wonder.” One-page wonders are, according to Tor.com, “an exciting new way of hiding a dozen different stories—all of which can be unlocked with a pair of scissors and a few deft folds—in a single sheet of paper.”