32: Publishers’ Bookbindings, 1830-1910 [B-90]
6-10 June 2005
1) How useful were the pre-course readings?
1: Very helpful. They set a context, especially for those without specific experience in this area. 2: Very useful; this is an excellent reading list. 3: Very useful. Some did not seem that relevant at first, but the reason for them always became clear. 4: Most were extremely useful. It would be helpful if the RBS Website mentioned that Sue Allen’s book [Decorated Cloth in America] is still available from [Oak Knoll Books], which I did not know until I arrived. Some of us (I am not alone) had to get it through ILL, but would have purchased. 5: For the most part very useful, with the possible exception of Tanselle. I would add Margaret Lock’s book to this list as it is an easily absorbed introduction to binding techniques and materials. 6: Pre-course readings were very helpful. I read or browsed all the articles and books very dutifully, and was very glad I did. I wasn’t going into the class “blind.” 7: Very useful. 8: Very, very useful. Highly recommended! Gives a background knowledge. 9: Very useful, especially the readings written by SA. 10: A few of the pre-course readings were more helpful than others. I found the Gaskell, Tanselle, and Allen books/articles most useful. 11: Extremely useful and I intend to re-read as well as purchase many for the benefit of our academic library. 12: Very useful.
2) Were the course syllabus and other materials distributed in class useful (or will they be so in the future, after you return home)?
1: No distributed syllabus. Materials distributed were useful, especially the time line of styles and characteristics. This will continue to be helpful after I return to my institution. 2: Yes. 3: Yes. Extremely! Will be used for years to come. 4: Yes. Especially the time line that we could annotate and the American Book Covers 1830-1900 foldout sheet. A folded sheet of designers monograms would be helpful during and after class. I believe most (if not all) students would have been willing to purchase one if it were available. 5: Yes. The time line and bibliography are very useful. 6: Yes. We received a wonderful detailed bibliography of materials, and several glossy printed hand-outs that will go up on the wall in my office for reference. 7: Yes. 8: Very useful. Invaluable bibliography. 9: The bibliography will be interesting to work through. SA also, gave us time lines that will be extremely helpful. 10: Very much so, although my aims in taking the class (relating bindings to literary study) were a little off the main target of the course, so I’ve got some more work to do on that. 11: Most useful and pertinent, and I will continue to refer to them. 12: Yes to all.
3) What aspects of the course content were of the greatest interest or relevance for your purposes? Was the intellectual level of the course appropriate?
1: Yes. Slides/pictures of the books were extremely useful. The ability to examine individual volumes that exemplified the discussions was terrific. 2: All aspects were relevant and of interest. The intellectual level was exactly appropriate. Sue Allen’s breadth and depth of knowledge about the bindings of this period is remarkable, and it is a privilege indeed to be able to study with her. 3: Pre-1890s bindings were most useful because I knew little about them, but I learned a great deal about more recent materials, too. The stress on the course topic as a continuum was excellent. The instructor was superb at addressing varying 4: All of it was of interest for me; the greatest relevance was the artists-designer portion. 5: I found it all very interesting. The intellectual level was appropriate. Although there were class members who may have come knowing more than others. There was spirit of collegiality, encouraged by the instructor, that was lovely to see. 6: Everything in the course was so well integrated: the social/economic/historical background, the book history, book specimens, &c. Nothing extraneous - devoured it all. 7: Learning to distinguish time periods and different styles. Level was great. 8: Slide shows. Passing around and seeing the books. 9: Nineteenth century literature and art is the area I research recreationally. This class was exactly on target. SA brought in many descriptions of design elements used on other items than books to bring the advancing 19th century technology into focus. 10: Just seeing many, many examples and practicing identifying the typical period elements. Level was appropriate. 11: My collection is 19th and 20th century American books and manuscripts, so the content is a direct list in relevance to my needs. Intellectual level very appropriate. 12: The whole course was of great interest; the intellectual level more than appropriate.
4) If your course had field trips, were they effective?
1: The visit to the Special Collections consisted of looking at volumes from the UVa collection that related to the course. Format was the same as class presentation. 2: Yes, it was wonderful for me to see the first editions in original bindings of so many famous American books. 3: Yes. 4: Yes. We went to Special Collections, and it was very worthwhile. 5: Yes. The time spent in the Rotunda and Special Collections (the new location’s lighting is far superior to that of the old) was wonderful. 6: We had a session in the new Special Collections, and viewed typical bindings on special UVA holdings; tied in beautifully with our course. Great to see the new building. 7: Yes. 8: Absolutely. Rotunda books were amazing; Special Collections books were wonderful. 9: Trip to the Rotunda allowed us to apply immediately to actual examples what we learned during the week. The RBS collection of examples were also extremely useful, allowing us to see the scale of the books discussed in SA’s excellent lectures. Lastly, Special Collections generously allowed us to view rare examples of important literary works; we could view pristine examples of 19th-century bindings. 10: Yes, essential. I especially enjoyed our hands-on work at the Rotunda. 11: Field trips not only relevant, but a welcome change of pace from a lot of sitting. 12: Yes.
5) What did you like best about the course?
1: The teacher and her generosity in sharing her expertise; her approachability; her willingness to answer questions; her ability to consult and confer with others in the class with experience; her refreshing ability to honestly say she didn’t know something, and to ask if anyone else did; and her true caring for her students! Also, the physical examples really illuminated the concepts. Fellow students shared their expertise, which enriched discussions. Sue Allen’s own collection of stamping dyes was particularly impressive. Working with my “table mate” was terrific, and made the class even better, because of his generosity in sharing his expertise. 2: I loved the way SA presented the material; it was organized, informative, and a pleasure to listen to and look at. The interaction between SA and the students was stimulating and thoroughly enjoyable. I learned a great deal, do not feel overloaded or confused, and had a thoroughly enjoyable time doing it! I also appreciated the slide lecture approach and just looking at lots of books. And, my fellow students were so smart and interesting! 3: The instructor and her skill in handling of a wealth of supporting materials; levels of familiarity with the topic and handling students from a wide variety of backgrounds. . 4: Lots of visuals: slides, passing books, visits to the Rotunda to choose books. 5: Without a doubt, the instructor. This lovely person is not only an incredible fount of knowledge, she is a wonderful teacher. She has the very rare talent of enduring such a comfortable environment of learning that none (no matter how shy) could be intimidated. 6: The instructor, SA, is a great lady and a phenomenally good teacher. She made every binding, every design, and binder seem so special, so rich, and precious. The bindings took on such importance under her teaching. I especially liked her emphases on preserving this wonderful heritage. Her training and sensibility as an artist and designer came through so clearly, and added a special dimension to her observations. 7: Listening to SA and passing around the bindings. 8: SA! Her wealth of knowledge about the subject is unbelievable. Her obvious delight and joy in both the books and her students is to be treasured. I feel blessed to have been able to be taught by her. Also, the fellow students have been great! We’ve formed a true colleagueship. 9: SA! She has an incredible memory; her knowledge is amazing! 10: SA! I don’t know how anyone else could teach this class. I can’t wait for her book to come out. 11: I feel, so very fortunate to have had the opportunity to have SA as a teacher. Her knowledge is expert, and she transmits her knowledge and passion for the material perfectly and most pleasantly. She is a joy to learn from. 12: The loving care with which SA the course, while remaining precise and on a high intellectual level at the same time.
6) How could the course have been improved?
1: The basket method of distribution did not offer the ability to examine all the features of the books that were important to observe. 2: N/A. 3: In the time allowed (five days), I can’t think of anything. I would imagine it would be just as fascinating if it were two weeks! 4: I would appreciate tying some of the materials to the specific terms used in Binding Terms: A Thesaurus for Use in Rare Book and Special Collections Cataloging (ACRL), but this may only be of interest to catalogers. 5: Can’t think of anything. 6: Perfect just the way it is. 7: Please consider expanding your bookbinding history classes to include: history of ledger and stationers’ bindings . Blank and ruled books have existed for as long as printed/manuscript works but have developed in strikingly different ways. This could be a very fascinating class. 8: More time to investigate the reference material in the classroom. 9: The course was perfect. 10: Sometimes the show-and-tell at the Rotunda went too slowly, perhaps if we did more group work, like on the last day when we re-took the test? I’m not sure.... 11: I honestly cannot think of any way in which the course could have been improved. It has been perfect. 12: Cannot say.
7) We are always concerned about the physical well-being both of the RBS teaching collections and of materials owned by UA’s Special Collections. If relevant, what suggestions do you have for the improved classroom handling of such materials used in your course this week?
1: Construct a safe method of allowing examination of all parts of the books that needed to be looked at. 2: This was well handled. 3: Very carefully done. Procedures and reasons for them were well explained. 4: N/A 5: No suggestions. 6: The baskets kept the books from being touched or handled. Also, extensive use of slides gave us access to details even handling the books wouldn’t have. 7: It would be great if the books could be handled more; perhaps a handling orientation the first day could allow RBS to assist students with the reference collection more. 9: Materials were handled sensitively. 10: Vince Golden said at the first that we shouldn’t handle the books without permission. Perhaps restating this throughout the week would keep students from thinking this rule didn’t apply to them! 11: No suggestions; good. 12: None.
8) If you attended the Sunday and/or Monday night lectures, were they worth attending?
1: Sunday: interesting to learn about Rare Book School. Monday: map talk was fine. 2: Yes, I enjoyed these and found them worth attending. 3: Yes. Informative and good speaker. 4: Yes. 5: Monday night’s lecture on Colonial American Maps was very interesting. 6: Enjoyed Terry Belanger’s update on RBS, and the map lecture by Margaret Pritchard was very good; better than many other RBS lectures I’ve heard in the past. Enjoyed the post lecture reception, too. 7: Yes. (Too bad slides were out of focus) 8: Monday’s map lecture was wonderful. A truly enlightening presentation. 9: One of the most dynamic Monday lectures I’ve experienced. 10: N/A. 11: Yes, the Pritchard map lecture was super. It was a shame the media person failed to keep the images in focus as the lecturer requested; some knowledge lost there. 12: Sunday night lecture very interesting, but on the intellectual side not always convincing.
9) If you attended Museum Night, was the time profitably spent?
1: Yes: was interesting to see the Linotype; the quirky Jane Eyre story and, in general, just to be with fellow students. 2: I didn’t attend. 3: Enjoyable. 4: I attended one, and it was enjoyable, if not relevant to my own work. 5: N/A. 6: Yes. Loved seeing the Margaret Armstrong bindings, and the Audubon prints. 7: N/A. 8: No. I felt it was confusing and superfluous. I would have much preferred the time to peruse and look at the reference books in the Rare Book School classroom space. Both nights would have been great for this. I never got to look at the reference books; a true waste of invaluable resources. 9: Yes. 10: N/A. 11: These were not so relevant for me although pleasant. I could have done something else or additional reading.
10) Did you get your money’s worth? Any final or summary thoughts, or advice for other persons considering taking this course in a future year?
1: Yes! Thank you, all of you, associated with RBS. I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to come to this class. Extra thanks to Sue Allen and Vince Golden. 2: Yes. This was a very special experience for me, that I will never forget. I feel not only that I’m taking away with me a great deal of knowledge (remarkable for five days!), but some of SA’s passion and love for these wonderful books. It was simply a privilege to be in this class. 3: Yes! Advice: sign up as soon as you can for an unforgettable course. 4: Yes. 5: Yes. One of the best RBS courses I have taken. 6: Yes. Enjoyed this course so much; learned so much. Can’t wait to go back and study my collection’s bindings. Thank you SA, and RBS! 7: Yes. History of “Eastern” bindings; while RBS covers Western European bindings beautifully, consideration of Eastern bindings -- Coptic, Byzantine, Armenian, Islamic -- would be a very rich course. There is considerable interest in these collections within our institutions, yet very little published systematic study of their development. Perhaps Nicholas Pickwoad or Guy Petherbridge would have recommendations for an instructor, or Yasmin Khan at the Library of Congress may know of someone. 8: Absolutely, way more than my money’s worth. It was fabulous. Keep up the good work. I’ll be back for another course. The advance RBS booklet mailing about RBS, housing, transportation, &c. was an excellent resource! Thank you. 9: Yes, more than my money’s worth. 10: Best course of this sort I’ve taken, although I wish it connected up with literary studies a little more. However, an unbeatable experience. SA is a real gem and I’m so grateful to have had this class from her. 11: Absolutely both I and my institution got their money’s worth. My advice: Take it as soon as possible to get SA. Thank you, RBS! 12: More than worth it; I hope to be able to take other courses.
Number of respondents: 12
Percentages
Leave Tuition Housing Travel
Institution Institution Institution Institution
gave me leave paid tuition paid housing paid travel
83% 58% 37% 42%
I took vaca- I paid tui- I paid for my I paid my own
tion time tion myself own housing travel
0% 25% 46% 42%
N/A: self- N/A: Self- N/A: stayed N/A: lived
employed, re- employed, with friends nearby
tired, or had retired, or or lived at
summers off exchange home
17% 17% 17% 16%
There were five rare book/manuscript librarians (42%), four librarians with some rare book duties (34%), one full-time student (8%), one antiquarian bookseller (8%), and one conservator/preservation librarian (8%).