The Hobart O. Skofield Printers Collection contains more than 30,000 volumes and over 80 manuscript collections related to the history of the book, printing, and book arts. The Printers Collection, as it is commonly known, was the second major area of collecting in the UCSB Library's Department of Special Collections, building upon an initial collection of 550 volumes donated to the Library in 1948 by Mr. Skofield. The emphasis of the printed collections includes California presses, fine printing, bindings, papermaking, the history of the book, writing and printing, typography, bookplates, and miniature books. Also included are significant holdings of unique, rare, single and limited editions of artist books that represent the range of movable type, letter press, printmaking in all forms including intaglio, linoleum, wood, plexiglass etchings, collage, silk screen printing and hand painted book art objects. The collection is extremely diverse, representing the premier printers and artists from UCSB College of Creative (CCS), California, the U.S. and internationally.
The subject matter is diverse and includes a range of social movements related to the environment, immigration, labor struggles, feminism, physical and mental health, and human rights. The structure of these works intersect poetry, literature, history, and politics using both simple and complex book structures and bindings, and others have unique non-classical book forms that incorporate pop-up designs, metal and glass forms, digitally designed and produced books, mail art, zines, xerox and fax machine creations.
The collections includes the archives of CCS printers and artists, including Carolee Campbell’s Ninja Press, Harry Reese and Sandra Liddell Reese’s Turkey Press, Mary Heebner’s “simplente maria press,” Trianon Press, and the works of alumna, Inge Bruggerman; as well as premier printer and artist Felicia’ Rice--Moving Parts Press, and the archive of Roseanne T. Livingston.
Collecting Priorities
We are currently actively seeking materials relating to:
- USCB collects broadly across subject areas, formats, and consults regularly with CCS faculty to identify works that promote student learning
- Works that represent the diversity of subject and the artistic process that are both distinctive and that serve as a teaching collection to advance student learning in the development of their craft.
- Works that reimagine the parameter of the book and that incorporate the intersection of technical processes with literary works and art.
- Works that document activism, social justice movements, including U.S, Mexico, Latin American and the Middle East.
- Works with diverse voices including artists of color and indigenous creators and stories
- Works from California presses
- Collect archival collections that document the creative process from inception to final production of premier California book artists and printers
- Exceptional student works produced on campus in CCS and Art departments
- Artists’ books that intersect with other collecting areas in SRC
Curator
David Gartrell
