Quenian Press, 1901-1975
File — Box: 7, Folder: 8
Scope and Content
From the Collection:
The items in this collection are extremely varied, and exhibit the wry humor of their printers and exemplify the social side of printing. The earliest item in the collection is from 1901, printed by the Tomoy? Press. There are many items from the 1930s through the 1950s, but the bulk of the collection dates from the 1960s and 1970s.
The subject matter of the printed products is broad, and includes type samples, poetry, woodcuts or linoleum block prints, recipes, cards, and announcements and invitations (birth, marriage, Bar Mitzvah, etc.). There are also business cards, bookmarks, wine and other labels, and announcements, engraved napkins, and calendars. These items reflect the "keepsakes" made by members of the various printing societies as well as the commercial side of printing. Minutes of these clubs (often written in a humorous fashion) and rosters naming the members abound in the collection. Announcements of lectures to printing societies, libraries, and book clubs reveal the involvement of famous authors in these activities, albeit indirectly. Chapbooks containing original and reprinted stories are common among the items housed here, as are humorous proverbs and sarcastic motivational posters. While many of the printed pieces reflect the original wit of their authors, others are more serious. Numerous printed religious passages and eulogies appear in the collection as well. Also, the more professional side of these presses is evident through numerous lists of publications and catalogues of the various presses
Given that most of these small presses represented in the collection are located in California (and, specifically, the San Francisco Bay Area), lore of that region is a common topic for printed items. A lengthy series printed by various presses for the Book Club of California, titled "Coast and Valley Towns of Early California," provides portraits of various individual California cities. Other items in the collection include numerous chapbooks and printed pieces about printing, its history, and small presses, in general. Numerous magazine articles about these presses as well as correspondence to Roger Levenson are also included in the collection.
The small press collection is organized alphabetically by press, whenever possible, and by the name of the printer in other cases, though there is a great deal of overlap in printers and presses, given their collaboration with one another through the various printers' clubs. Printing societies such as the Roxburghe Club, the Zamorano Club, the Moxon Chappel, the Rounce and Coffin Club, and the Book Club of California also have entries. Some items are unidentified by press or printer, and these are filed as miscellaneous items. Most presses are from CA, but others from across the country are also represented, as are a few international small presses.
The vast majority of the documents in this collection are in English, though a few are in other languages, such as Spanish, Dutch, German, Japanese, and even Pig Latin.
The subject matter of the printed products is broad, and includes type samples, poetry, woodcuts or linoleum block prints, recipes, cards, and announcements and invitations (birth, marriage, Bar Mitzvah, etc.). There are also business cards, bookmarks, wine and other labels, and announcements, engraved napkins, and calendars. These items reflect the "keepsakes" made by members of the various printing societies as well as the commercial side of printing. Minutes of these clubs (often written in a humorous fashion) and rosters naming the members abound in the collection. Announcements of lectures to printing societies, libraries, and book clubs reveal the involvement of famous authors in these activities, albeit indirectly. Chapbooks containing original and reprinted stories are common among the items housed here, as are humorous proverbs and sarcastic motivational posters. While many of the printed pieces reflect the original wit of their authors, others are more serious. Numerous printed religious passages and eulogies appear in the collection as well. Also, the more professional side of these presses is evident through numerous lists of publications and catalogues of the various presses
Given that most of these small presses represented in the collection are located in California (and, specifically, the San Francisco Bay Area), lore of that region is a common topic for printed items. A lengthy series printed by various presses for the Book Club of California, titled "Coast and Valley Towns of Early California," provides portraits of various individual California cities. Other items in the collection include numerous chapbooks and printed pieces about printing, its history, and small presses, in general. Numerous magazine articles about these presses as well as correspondence to Roger Levenson are also included in the collection.
The small press collection is organized alphabetically by press, whenever possible, and by the name of the printer in other cases, though there is a great deal of overlap in printers and presses, given their collaboration with one another through the various printers' clubs. Printing societies such as the Roxburghe Club, the Zamorano Club, the Moxon Chappel, the Rounce and Coffin Club, and the Book Club of California also have entries. Some items are unidentified by press or printer, and these are filed as miscellaneous items. Most presses are from CA, but others from across the country are also represented, as are a few international small presses.
The vast majority of the documents in this collection are in English, though a few are in other languages, such as Spanish, Dutch, German, Japanese, and even Pig Latin.
Dates
- 1901-1975
Language of Materials
From the Collection:
English Spanish Dutch German Japanese
Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research.
Extent
From the Collection: 13 boxes (11 cu. ft.) + 1 oversize folder
Repository Details
Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository
Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451