Sunday, August 23, 2009
Convention Picnic, Sunday Afternoon August 23
AAPA members attending the 2009 convention were guests of the Logan Elm Press for the Sunday afternoon picnic, August 23. A delicious spread was served up by our host Bob Tauber, his wife Amber, and their son Max. Max, a chef by profession, was expertly barbecuing the hamburgers, hot dogs, and sausages. The weather was perfect for such a picnic. What a fitting grand finale for an outstanding convention! Those members who had to leave prior to the banquet were really deprived of an enjoyable afternoon picnic. Our profuse thanks go out to the Taubers and the Logan Elm Press for the picnic and wonderful time!
Saturday Evening Banquet
Saturday evening was the annual banquet. We began by observing a moment of silence and prayer led by Jack Visser, in memory of Annabel Miller, and in support of our colleague Guy Miller. Following the delicious and plentiful buffet meal, Leland Hawes announced this year's Laureate Award winners, and handed out certificates to those winners who were with us at the banquet. George Hamilton then came to the podium and announced the winner of the Marge Adams Petrone Limerick contest. The winner was Bill Boys, whom we were privileged to have as a guest at the convention. Bill is the secretary-treasurer of the National Amateur Press Association. (Bob Tauber observed that we had attending this banquet the President, Official Editor, and Secretary-Treasurer of NAPA: Jack Visser, Gary Bossler, and Bill Boys, respectively. The former two are also AAPA members.)
The talk at the banquet was given by Dr. Jared Gardener. The title of his talk was "Serial Citizenship, the Amateur Printer and the Rise of Periodicals in America from Franklin to the 19th Century." I'll not include many details here, because as I understand, a condensed version of his talk will appear in the American Amateur Journalist.
After the banquet, there was further socializing in the hospitality suite until close to the witching hour. It has been a very enjoyable convention.
The talk at the banquet was given by Dr. Jared Gardener. The title of his talk was "Serial Citizenship, the Amateur Printer and the Rise of Periodicals in America from Franklin to the 19th Century." I'll not include many details here, because as I understand, a condensed version of his talk will appear in the American Amateur Journalist.
After the banquet, there was further socializing in the hospitality suite until close to the witching hour. It has been a very enjoyable convention.
Visiting the Dard Hunter Studios
Saturday, August 22, 2009: Today was the day we got to see the Dard Hunter Studios at the Mountain House in Chillicothe, Ohio. Dard Hunter III, a young man in his early 40s, met us and gave us a most gracious and hospitable welcome. Dard led one contingent of the group into his grandfather's printing area, which today is very much like when Dard Hunter I produced many of the books for which he is deservedly famous. Dard Hunter printed on paper he himself made, using ink he had made, with type he had hand-cast from matrices he had punched using punches he himself had cut! And the printing is impeccable. He was an amazingly talented man.
The next division of the tour was to an outbuilding housing the studio of Eileen Wallace's Mile Wide Press. (Eileen is the girlfriend of Dard III, and the name of her press is derived from the river near where Eileen grew up; the bridge spanning the river is one mile long.) Eileen showed us her Heidelberg platen press. There is also a Heidelberg cylinder press in the studio, which she did not demonstrate. In the upstairs of her studio is her bookbinding area. Unlike the original Dard Hunter, Eileen uses photopolymer in her printing, but her craftsmanship is indeed beautiful.
The other leg of the tour led us through the rooms of the Mountain House, the Hunter residence since the early 1900s. The wood paneling on the walls, the pottery, the furniture, colored glass panels: all was totally exquisite.
Linda's blog gives a description of our visit to the Studio and warehouse. Dard, Eileen, and others served us an amazing lunch!
The next division of the tour was to an outbuilding housing the studio of Eileen Wallace's Mile Wide Press. (Eileen is the girlfriend of Dard III, and the name of her press is derived from the river near where Eileen grew up; the bridge spanning the river is one mile long.) Eileen showed us her Heidelberg platen press. There is also a Heidelberg cylinder press in the studio, which she did not demonstrate. In the upstairs of her studio is her bookbinding area. Unlike the original Dard Hunter, Eileen uses photopolymer in her printing, but her craftsmanship is indeed beautiful.
The other leg of the tour led us through the rooms of the Mountain House, the Hunter residence since the early 1900s. The wood paneling on the walls, the pottery, the furniture, colored glass panels: all was totally exquisite.
Linda's blog gives a description of our visit to the Studio and warehouse. Dard, Eileen, and others served us an amazing lunch!
Banquet
The day in Chillicothe was wonderful. Only one slight glitch, as we arrived on time at the wrong location, but that was a minor hitch in the adventure. We found Mountain House and were warmly greeted by Dard Hunter III and his girlfriend - whose name now escapes me. He took us around to the present side of the house, and gave us an overview of the history of the house, and the business operations. We were then divided into 3 groups, one being the folks who needed the bathroom facilities sooner than later. (It was an hour drive from Columbus) The othes elected to wait for the facilities.
One group went to the printshop in the barn. The other went into the room where Dard told us more about his forefathers' works, and equipment. The other group was given a tour of the house proper.
After these tours were over, we proceeded back down the hill to the Dard Hunter Studios. Here we saw the retail side of the business, and were treated to the terribly healthy, delicious lunch, cooked in part by our host.
We could wander in the framing business set up in the studio, but I understand the papermaking equipment was temporarily packed away in the basement of the building. Ah yes, we were given a tour of the display of back-lit watermarked paper collection, and Dard gave us a lesson in watermarks.
We packed back up in our cars, and proceeded back to Columbus, bidding adieu to Rich and Lynda Hopkins - who headed west towards West Virginia.
All for now ...
Linda Donaldson
One group went to the printshop in the barn. The other went into the room where Dard told us more about his forefathers' works, and equipment. The other group was given a tour of the house proper.
After these tours were over, we proceeded back down the hill to the Dard Hunter Studios. Here we saw the retail side of the business, and were treated to the terribly healthy, delicious lunch, cooked in part by our host.
We could wander in the framing business set up in the studio, but I understand the papermaking equipment was temporarily packed away in the basement of the building. Ah yes, we were given a tour of the display of back-lit watermarked paper collection, and Dard gave us a lesson in watermarks.
We packed back up in our cars, and proceeded back to Columbus, bidding adieu to Rich and Lynda Hopkins - who headed west towards West Virginia.
All for now ...
Linda Donaldson
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Note from J Hill Hamon
J Hill Hamon was unable to attend the convention, and has asked me to post this message for him. - Linda D.
======================
Family health conditions prevented me, J. Hill Hamon from attending the convention. I have been declared a member of the Ohio Amateur Press Group, and had hoped to participate in planning sessions and in attending the convention but that was not possible. I have particularly enjoyed the photographs. It is clear that the convention is in good hands and that all are enjoying it immensely. I send my greetings to all my old friends in Columbus.
======================
Family health conditions prevented me, J. Hill Hamon from attending the convention. I have been declared a member of the Ohio Amateur Press Group, and had hoped to participate in planning sessions and in attending the convention but that was not possible. I have particularly enjoyed the photographs. It is clear that the convention is in good hands and that all are enjoying it immensely. I send my greetings to all my old friends in Columbus.
Special Announcement
There is a note of sadness amid all of the enjoyment at the convention. I regret to announce that our good friend Guy Miller lost his wife Annabel last night. Annabel did not accompany Guy to the convention, but she did insist on his coming. So Guy has the comfort of knowing that he was doing what she wanted when she went. Our thoughts and prayers are with Guy at this difficult time. We are going to miss Annabel a lot. She was a "same household" AAPA member with Guy. I'll get out an Alert as soon as I can, with Guy's address for those who want to send him a card or a note.
Friday, August 21, 2009
August 21 Activities
AAPA convention-goers spent a full and active day in various parts of Ohio State University in Columbus. Led by host Robert Tauber and library staffers Wes Boomgaarden and Eric Johnson, we took a tour of the Thompson Memorial Library, and the OSU Rare Books and Manuscripts Collection. Eric Johnson gave a presentation on "Penny Dreadful and Dime Novels," with a good many examples which he showed us to illustrate the history he was narrating. Following the talk, we were able to walk around in the OSU Cartoon Library and Museum.
Following a lunch in the Berry Café in the library building, we travelled to the Ackerman Library Tech Center, which is where Bob Tauber gets to spend his working time. Can you imagine getting paid for the kind of work people were doing in there? We saw old books--some with worn or damaged covers, some with torn and frayed pages--being lovingly restored and rebound. We were shown how dirty, moldy pages are cleaned before being rebound. There was considerable interest on the work being done.
The next visit was to the Logan Elm Press, Bob's work area. Everyone was able to get into the action there, assembling a model glider out of balsa wood--and even stamping out part of the glider on a Kelsey press! After the gliders were assembled, There was a contest to see whose glider flew the greatest distance. Taking first place in the flight was Rich Hopkins, whose glider flew 30 feet, one and one-half inches. Second place was Jiyani Lawson, with a distance of 25 feet, followed by Michael Jacobs, 21 feet.
The published novelist in our group, Susan Petrone, gave us a narrative of her experiences in getting her first novel, A Body at Rest published. Look out for Susan; this almost certainly is NOT her last novel!
While the glider assembly and testing, and Susan's talk were in progress, the "silent auction" was also in progress. There were some valuable old journals available, and some items racked up quite a few bids. And finally, the "live auction," with Sky Shipley as auctioneer and Johanna Shipley helping out.
This is a very high-level description of the fun at a typical convention. This evening is fun and socializing in the hospitality suite. Tomorrow is a visit to the Dard Hunter Studios and Mountain House Press in Chillicothe. Stay tuned.
Photos of the activities of today, August 20, are available. Click on the "AAPA 2009 Convention Photos" under "Web Links" to the lower left of this blog page.
Following a lunch in the Berry Café in the library building, we travelled to the Ackerman Library Tech Center, which is where Bob Tauber gets to spend his working time. Can you imagine getting paid for the kind of work people were doing in there? We saw old books--some with worn or damaged covers, some with torn and frayed pages--being lovingly restored and rebound. We were shown how dirty, moldy pages are cleaned before being rebound. There was considerable interest on the work being done.
The next visit was to the Logan Elm Press, Bob's work area. Everyone was able to get into the action there, assembling a model glider out of balsa wood--and even stamping out part of the glider on a Kelsey press! After the gliders were assembled, There was a contest to see whose glider flew the greatest distance. Taking first place in the flight was Rich Hopkins, whose glider flew 30 feet, one and one-half inches. Second place was Jiyani Lawson, with a distance of 25 feet, followed by Michael Jacobs, 21 feet.
The published novelist in our group, Susan Petrone, gave us a narrative of her experiences in getting her first novel, A Body at Rest published. Look out for Susan; this almost certainly is NOT her last novel!
While the glider assembly and testing, and Susan's talk were in progress, the "silent auction" was also in progress. There were some valuable old journals available, and some items racked up quite a few bids. And finally, the "live auction," with Sky Shipley as auctioneer and Johanna Shipley helping out.
This is a very high-level description of the fun at a typical convention. This evening is fun and socializing in the hospitality suite. Tomorrow is a visit to the Dard Hunter Studios and Mountain House Press in Chillicothe. Stay tuned.
Photos of the activities of today, August 20, are available. Click on the "AAPA 2009 Convention Photos" under "Web Links" to the lower left of this blog page.
Barb'd Wire Press is here
Kay and I arrived last night and enjoyed seeing many old friends plus some new folks. Bob Tauber had a great agenda for us today at Buckeye U. (aka Ohio State) as we got to touch ancient manuscripts and see collections of rare books and other artifacts. Then tonight I met with Bill Boys of NAPA to coordinate the 2010 Chicago ConCon (Concurrent Conventions) of our two groups, which should be an exciting time in our history. More on that later. I had to drink an extra beer since Fred Liddle wasn't able to make it and consume his share...
Barry and Kay Schrader
DeKalb, Illinois (The State of Corruption)
Barry and Kay Schrader
DeKalb, Illinois (The State of Corruption)
Just arrived
Getting together with Barry Schrader to start serious planning for the 2010 concurrent conventions of AAPA and the National APA is the reason for this attendee's trip here. And our preliminary conversation leads us to anticipate that the dates will be Thursday to Saturday, July 22 to 24, with a picnic on Sunday, the 25th. This is NOT official yet, but the dates seem reasonable at first glance.
-- Bill Boys
-- Bill Boys
Friday Evening
We've had a very busy, fun day. I don't always get out of bed so early any more! We visited the brand newly renovated Ohio State Library, then walked across "The Oval" to the Cartoon museum, then walked back across the Oval for a lunch sandwich. We re-loaded the cars and proceeded over to Logan Elm Press, where Dale Starr leads the work-studay students in beautiful printing efforts. Oh yeah - I forgot the visit to see the Rare Book scetion.
I'll let somoene else tell you about the Balsa Airplane Contest.
Linda Donaldson
I'll let somoene else tell you about the Balsa Airplane Contest.
Linda Donaldson
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Thursday evening
We don't get to use the hospitality room until tomorrow. Instead we have gathered in the bar/dining area for the evening's gabbing. We had to move after the Ohio State football team came in for some sort of eating event.
It's 10:00 and the bar is closing down. The crowd is diminishing too... I think I'll join them. Be back tomorrow afternoon!
Linda Donaldson
Results of the Charles Bush Chinese Dinner
There were about 36 of us show up for the traditional Chinese dinner at Hong Kong Buffet. It was pretty durned good, and the price was quite reasonable. We sat there long enough I had to go back for ice cream....
Linda Donaldson
The Convention is Underway!
You know that the AAPA convention has started when you see a bunch of us enjoying Chinese food. That convention tradition was started by the late Charlie Bush in the early 1980s, and is still popular at today's conventions.
Enjoying the tradition this evening at the Hong Kong Buffet were 23 lively AAPAers, to wit: Gary Bossler, Linda Donaldson, Sean Donnelley, George Hamilton, Leland Hawes, Michael Jacobs, Austin and Jean Jones, Bill Justice, Jiyani Lawson, Guy Miller, Susan Petrone, Jack and Maurine Scott, Sky and Johanna Shipley, Ivan Snyder, Dale and Debra Starr, Bob Tauber, Dave and Liz Tribby, and Jack Visser. I also saw Barry Schrader, but he did not join us for supper.
It has just started. Stay tuned for more reports as they happen, and we'll try to have some photos for you to see.
Enjoying the tradition this evening at the Hong Kong Buffet were 23 lively AAPAers, to wit: Gary Bossler, Linda Donaldson, Sean Donnelley, George Hamilton, Leland Hawes, Michael Jacobs, Austin and Jean Jones, Bill Justice, Jiyani Lawson, Guy Miller, Susan Petrone, Jack and Maurine Scott, Sky and Johanna Shipley, Ivan Snyder, Dale and Debra Starr, Bob Tauber, Dave and Liz Tribby, and Jack Visser. I also saw Barry Schrader, but he did not join us for supper.
It has just started. Stay tuned for more reports as they happen, and we'll try to have some photos for you to see.
In Columbus
Liz and I arrived at the University Plaza Hotel a little after 3pm, and quickly found the AAPA registration desk where we were greeted by Bob Tauber, Dale Starr, James Patterson, Guy Miller, George Hamilton, and Jiyani Lawson. On the way up to our room we saw Linda Donaldson plus Jack & Maureen Scott and their grandson.
Next event: gather in the hotel lobby at 5:30 to carpool for the Charlie Bush Chinese Dinner.
-- Dave Tribby
Next event: gather in the hotel lobby at 5:30 to carpool for the Charlie Bush Chinese Dinner.
-- Dave Tribby
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Getting Ready for 2009 AAPA Convention
Once again, members can use the AAPA Information blog to post directly from the convention. If you are planning on attending, send e-mail to Dave Tribby or Ivan Snyder for instructions on how to participate. If you plan to attend and have a Google (gmail) account, send Dave or Ivan an e-mail message requesting access. (Otherwise you can use a group account.)
-- Dave
-- Dave
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