Chicago Printers Guild Records
Scope and Contents
Established in 2009, the Chicago Printers Guild Records document the interactions, events and artwork of a non-profit collection of Chicago-area printmakers. The collection contains board minutes, listserv correspondence, event materials, social media posts, photographs and artwork.
Dates
- 2009 - 2022
Creator
- Chicago Printers Guild (2009-) (Organization)
Language of Materials
Materials are primarily in English, with a few items in Spanish.
Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open without restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
Please consult staff to determine ability to reuse materials from collection.
Biographical / Historical
The Chicago Printers Guild (CPG) was established in the spring of 2009. A preliminary and informal meeting to discuss the intent and benefits of such an organization was held in April at The Hungry Brain bar. “It was just a bunch of inky printers sitting around discussing how we might go about seeing more of each other and elevating our art form,” as Dan MacAdam of Crosshair put it. A follow-up meeting was held at Sonnenzimmer in May where the Guild’s logo was voted on; several print artists submitted designs including Baker Prints, Sonnenzimmer, and Letterform. The winning logo in use today was designed by Alex Fuller. $25 was then collected, not as a membership, but simply so an enamel pin could be produced. In July 2009, Dan MacAdam hosted the CPG meeting on the rooftop where the first official board for the Guild was elected.
As a nonprofit trade organization, CPG supports and fosters the work of printers and seeks to bridge the gap between commercial printing and fine art printmaking. Each month, the group holds meetings at members’ shops and studios to foster the promotion of print culture through open sharing among Chicago-area printmakers. Its members’ network functions to allow fellow printmakers to ask questions, communicate methods, announce events or share opportunities. Of historical interest is the collective creation of a printers’ family tree that tracks local printmakers and the studios they have worked under or established. In 2010, a print archive of member artworks was initiated through voluntary annual submissions and serves to document the variety print work being actively created across the Chicago area, both commissioned and self-initiated. CPG also sponsors other activities such as lectures, workshops, field trips, and art exhibits to bring awareness of print culture to the Chicago area. In 2016, CPG held its first Publishers’ Fair at Elastic Arts at 3429 W. Diversey Avenue.
Extent
9 Linear Feet (in 6 boxes and 3 oversize folders and 1 oversize roll, includes 390 photographs, 158 prints, 10 artifacts, and 2.32 GB electronic files)
Abstract
Chicago Printers Guild Records document the interactions, events and artwork of a non-profit collection of Chicago-area printmakers. The collection contains board minutes, listserv correspondence, event materials, social media posts, photographs and artwork.
Arrangement
The materials are divided into 3 Series:
Series 1: Administration, 2012-2022
Series 2: Photographs, 2011-2020
Series 3: Prints, 2009-2021
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated to the Chicago Public Library by Chicago Printers Guild, 2018. Accruals numbers: 20190530, 20200721, 20200917, 20201215, 20210302.
- Etching -- Illinois -- Chicago Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Letterpress printing -- Illinois -- Chicago Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Lithography -- Illinois -- Chicago Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Printmakers -- Illinois -- Chicago Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Serigraphy -- Illinois -- Chicago Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Source
- Chicago Printers Guild (2009-) (Organization)
Creator
- Chicago Printers Guild (2009-) (Organization)
- Chicago Printmakers Collaborative (Organization)
- Bird Machine, Inc. (Organization)
- Sonnenzimmer (Design Studio) (Organization)
- Starshaped Press (Organization)
- Title
- Guide to the Chicago Printers Guild Records
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Michelle McCoy, May 2018, November 2019, July 2020, July 2021. Updated and reformatted for ArchivesSpace by Michelle McCoy, 2022.
- Date
- 2018
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Unit at Harold Washington Library Center Repository
Harold Washington Library Center, 9th Floor
Chicago Public Library
400 S. State Street
Chicago IL 60605 United States
(312) 747-4875
specoll@chipublib.org