The Printing Museum (formerly Museum of Printing History)
The Printing Museum (formerly Museum of Printing History) collects and exhibits artifacts pertaining to the history of printing and printmaking as well as publications which influenced history in a significant way. We also collect and exhibit representative works by printers and print artists, both historical and contemporary.We are unique among printing museums in the US in that our collection is more than antique machinery and equipment. Although we have an extensive collection of type, books and ephemera pertaining to the commercial printing industry, and various types of presses and printing equipment, our exhibits emphasize the "democratic art" of printing (popular themes and artists) and the use of printing to preserve knowledge, influence opinion, and spread ideas. The scope of our collection is very broad, from antique playing cards and posters to important illustrated books, miniature books, private press books and fine art prints.
UPDATE MARCH 2014: In today’s world of instant messaging, the world-wide web, and a seemingly unending explosion of information, there’s a perception that printed media may be heading the way of 16mm film or 8 track recordings. In response to today’s shifting tide, and in light of its 35 year history, the Museum of Printing History is excited to announce a fresh, new look and feel by unveiling a new brand identity as The Printing Museum. This change to a more inclusive name better reflects the changing nature of printing in the 21st Century. Instead of focusing primarily on printing history, The Printing Museum celebrates the notion that printing is alive and well, showcasing not only historical artifacts, but also contemporary printed art and technologies.
Using a black and white palette, accented with process cyan and inspired by a midcentury modern aesthetic, the fresh identity breathes new life into a public image, while harkening to a vibrant past. Keeping conscious of our historical roots, the museum’s official typeface will be Benton Sans, designed by Tobias Frere-Jones. Benton Sans is based on original drawings held by the Smithsonian of News Gothic, a 20th Century standard designed for American Type Founders (ATF) by Morris Fuller Benton in 1903.
Spearheaded by Houston-based branding and design firm, Spindletop Design, this exciting new comprehensive project will unfold in phases, beginning this spring with the name changed to The Printing Museum and will continue into 2014. This project will involve logo and identity design, a new website, building graphics, and design of promotional materials.