Oh For The Loves Of Letters!

Collecting and Caring for Personal Correspondence

Oh, For the Love of Letters!

_________________________________Brad WestwoodCollection Development LDS Church History [email protected] October 29, 2009

Oh For the Love of Letters!

This hands-on seminar for collecting and caring for personal correspondence.

Littera Scripta Manet, Latin for “The Written Word Remains,” taken from the motto of the Worshipful Company of Scriveners (scribes) of the City of London.

* INCITE PERSONAL COLLECTING

* SERVE AS A PRIMER FOR COLLECTING

* NURTURE A COMMUNITY OF COLLECTORS

* ENCOURAGE HANDWRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE

Purpose of this Presentation


Examples of Correspondence –Printed Emails

(examples of correspondence are passed around)


1 - LINGO & ORGANIZATIONS (a handout is passed out)

•A Beginner’s Basic Glossary•General Terms and Concepts•Condition Descriptive Terms•Terms Related to Printing, Illustrations & Writing•Terms About Paper/Stationery•Professional Organizations


2 - Correspondence Accessories

* Stationery Wardrobes (differentfor men and women) * Letters & Envelopes Development * Pens * Postage

STATIONERY WARDROBE (LATE 19TH - MID 20TH CENTURY)

*A STATIONER KEPT ON FILE A CLIENT’S INDIVIDUAL SPECIFICATIONS -- WITH DIFFERING PAPER SIZES AND WEIGHTS, FINISHES AND INK COLOR, TYPESTYLE AND PRINTING.

* WARDROBE INCLUDES DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MALE OR FEMALE, FORMAL AND INFORMAL, FOR INTIMATE OR FOR A STRANGER, ALSO BUSINESS FORMAL AND INFORMAL

Correspondence Accessories


Examples of Correspondence –Stationery Wardrobe

(examples of wardrobes are passed around)

FERN LETTER FOLD, THANKS TOWWW.GHH.COM/ELF/INDEX.HTML



WRITING TOOLS - QUILLS, FOUNTAIN PENS (SEE BELOW), BALL POINT PENS, TYPEWRITERS AND PENCILS

POSTAGE -- POST MARKS, SEALS OR ADHESIVE STAMPS

PICTORIAL LETTERHEADS (CREATED WITH THE ADVENT

OF LITHOGRAPHY) FLOURISHED BETWEEN 1880S-1940S



3 - 19th and 20th Century Material Culture of Correspondence:furniture, writing utensils, storage and stationery

ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S CAPITAL BLDG. SPRINGFIELD ILLINOIS

Furniture of Correspondence

CIVIL WAR ERA SECRETARY DESK AND CHAIR,WITH SOFT RETRACTABLE WRITING SLOPE WITH CORRESPONDENCE AND LEDGER SLOTS


DESK INTERIOR WITH SLOTS/PIGEON HOLES FOR FOLDED LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS, LEDGER OR PORTFOLIO SLOTS , QUILL PENS IN A STAND, AN INK WELL AND LEATHER WRITING SURFACE .


SECRETARY DESK WITH BOOK CASE AND DOCUMENT BUREAU


NATURAL, CANDLE & LAMP LIGHT


CIRCA 1860S DOCUMENT CABINET FOR FOLDED PAPER TIED WITH TAPE (RED TAPE)


FELT COVERED TABLE, CORRESPONDENCE BOX, OIL LAMP, PEN BOX AND PAPER


CABINET LETTER FILE 1898 (FROM WWW.OFFICEMUSEUM.COM/)


VERTICAL LETTER FILE AND FOLDERS 1902 FROM WWW.OFFICEMUSEUM.COM/



Examples of Correspondence (examples are passed out)


4 - Penmanship Styles 1840s -2000

Spencerian Script (1840-1890s) Palmer Script (1890s – 1960s)Zaner – Blazer Script (1900 –

present)Manuscript Script (block) leading to Basic Cursive Script (1920s –

1970s)Typewriting (1900 – present)

Freeform and Modern

SPENCERIAN SCRIPT (1840-1890S) PROMOTER: PLATT ROGERS

SPENCER

Penmanship Styles

SPENCERIAN SCRIPT (1840-1890S)

Penmanship Styles

TRADE MARK SPENCERIAN SCRIPT AND A FLOURISH BIRD

(ORNAMENTAL PENMANSHIP)

Penmanship Styles

Penmanship Styles

PALMER SCRIPT (1890S -1960S)PROMOTER: AUSTIN PALMER

(1860-1927) AND SONS

Penmanship Styles

Penmanship Styles

ZANER AND BLOSER SCRIPTS (CA. 1904 TO THE PRESENT)

Penmanship Styles

ZANER AND BLOSER BUSINESS EDUCATOR FEB 1911

Penmanship Styles

ZANER AND BLOSER SCRIPT

Penmanship Styles

MANUSCRIPT WRITING (BLOCK) (PRECURSOR TO CURSIVE

WRITING)INTRODUCED IN 1920S

Penmanship Styles

ZANER AND BLOSER MANUSCRIPT SCRIPT ON A PORCH OF

ST. FRANCIS SCHOOL (PROVO, UTAH)

Penmanship Styles

http://www.iampeth.com/

IAMPETH is an international, non-profit association dedicated to practicing and preserving the beautiful arts of calligraphy, engrossing and fine penmanship.


Examples of Correspondence

19th and 20th century pieces


5 - Physical Care & Preservation

ELIMINATE OR LESSEN FLUCTUATING TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY.

CARE AND PRESERVATION

STORE MATERIALS AS FAR AWAY AS POSSIBLE FROM WATER SOURCES.


ELIMINATE OR LESSEN LIGHT LEVELS (NATURAL OR ARTIFICIAL).


USE FOLDERS, INTERLEAVING PAPER OR MYLAR INSERTS FOR ENCLOSED OBJECTS, ETC.


KEEP MATERIALS FLAT OR UPRIGHT, HELD UP ERECT, SO THE MATERIALS WILL NOT BEND OR FOLD.


KEEP EVERYTHING INCLUDED WITH A LETTER TOGETHER, AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE TO THE ORIGINAL ORDER.

RESPECT AND PROTECT WHAT IS EVIDENTIARY.


IF YOU WANT TO SCRAPBOOK YOUR CORRESPONDENCE …..


ABOVE ALL ELSE “DO NOT HARM.”



Examples of Correspondence

(handed out and described)


6 - Recommended Supplies:

Folders (regular, acid free, Mylar, archival plastics), containers,presentation folders, portfolios and binders.


6 - Recommended Supplies:

Metal Edge West (Los Angeles, CA) http://www.metaledgeinc.com/

Light Impressions, Inc., (Santa Fe Springs, CA) http://www.lightimpressionsdirect.com/servlet/OnlineShopping


THANK YOU FOR

COMING

Oh For The Loves Of Letters!

Entertainment & Humor

Transcript of Oh For The Loves Of Letters!