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.
