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Letterform Archive

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Coordinates: 37°45′36″N 122°23′18″W / 37.7601°N 122.3883°W / 37.7601; -122.3883
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Letterform Archive
Letterform Archive is located in San Francisco County
Letterform Archive
Location within San Francisco County
Established2014
Location2325 Third St Floor 4R
San Francisco, CA 94107
Coordinates37°45′36″N 122°23′18″W / 37.7601°N 122.3883°W / 37.7601; -122.3883
FounderRob Saunders
Websitehttps://letterformarchive.org

Letterform Archive is a non-profit museum and special collections library in San Francisco, California dedicated to collecting materials on the history of lettering, typography, printing, and graphic design.[1][2][3] It is curated by graphic designer Rob Saunders, who founded the museum with his private collection of "books, periodicals, maquettes, posters, and other ephemera" in 2014.[2] The museum opened in February 2015 with 15,000 items.[3][4] It moved to a larger space in 2020.[5][6] Guests can visit the gallery exhibition during regular open hours, or schedule tours or research visits by appointment.[7][8]

Collection

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As of 2020, the Archive’s collection totals over 100,000 items.[3] The Archive acquired the private collection of Dutch collector Jan Tholenaar in 2015.[2] In 2016, the Archive acquired over 200 wood type prints from local printer and typographer Jack Stauffacher. Emigre Graphics also donated a large collection of their work, including interviews, printed sheets, posters, paste ups, ephemera, and the entire collection of Emigre magazine, that year.[9]

The Archive launched their digital archive of nearly 1,500 works and 9,000 images to the general public in 2019.[10][11]

Exhibitions

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The Archive presented the “Without Type: The Dynamism of Handmade Letters” exhibit with the San Francisco Center for the Book from January 22 to April 3, 2016.[12]

In 2020, the Archive moved to the Dogpatch neighborhood of San Francisco. The custom-built, expanded space at the American Industrial Center complex provided, for the first time, an exhibition gallery where highlights from the collection are on display during regular open hours. The first three shows showcased Bauhaus typography, protest graphics, and graffiti zines.[13]

Publishing

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The Archive publishes books about the material in its collection, including: the work of W. A. Dwiggins, as a full-length biography by Bruce Kennett in 2017;[14] the work of Jennifer Morla, written and designed by Morla in 2019; the prints of Jack Stauffacher, edited and designed by Chuck Byrne in 2020; and The Complete Commercial Artist compiling the 1928–1930 Japanese design publication. Letterform Archive Books also include catalogs of exhibitions from the organization’s gallery, including Bauhaus Typography at 100 and Strikethrough: Typographic Messages of Protest. In 2023, the imprint launched a facsimile series starting with Die Fläche (Facsimile Edition): Design and Lettering of the Vienna Secession, 1902–1911.[9][15]

Education

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The Archive has an education program (previously in collaboration with Cooper Union)[16] which includes Type West, a full-year certificate program in typeface design, workshops on lettering and typography, and a lecture series.[17][18]

The Archive often hosts workshops and lectures. They have previously hosted type workshops by typeface designers Cyrus Highsmith and Sumner Stone, calligraphy workshops with Lynne Yun, and sign painting workshops by Better Letters Co.[1][19][8][20] Visiting lecturers include Irma Boom, Emory Douglas, Steve Heller, Susan Kare, and Saki Mafundikwa.[21][22]

References

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  1. ^ a b Egan, Neil. "Design Desk: A Visit to the Letterform Archive in San Francisco". Chronicle Books Blog. Chronicle Books. Archived from the original on September 18, 2014. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c Merritt, Susan. "Inside the Letterform Archive, Mecca for San Francisco Design Geeks". AIGA. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c "About Us". Letterform Archive. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  4. ^ Stone, Terri. "Saving Design | Create". create.adobe.com. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
  5. ^ "A New Home for Letterform Archive". Letterform Archive. July 3, 2019. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  6. ^ "We've Moved. Thank You!". Letterform Archive Newsletter. October 13, 2020. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  7. ^ "Visit". Letterform Archive. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Letterform Archive". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
  9. ^ a b "Letterform Archive: For the Record". Juxtapoz Magazine. April 19, 2017. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
  10. ^ "The Online Archive Is Now Open to All". letterformarchive.org. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  11. ^ Lee, Giacomo (December 10, 2018). "A trove of graphic design history is yours in the LFA's new online collection". Digital Arts. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
  12. ^ Zack, Ruskin (January 20, 2016). "By the Letter: The Letterform Archive Opens "Without Type"". SF Weekly. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
  13. ^ "Letterform Archive Exhibitions". exhibitions.letterformarchive.org. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  14. ^ Kennett, Bruce. "W.A. Dwiggins: A Life in Design (prospectus)" (PDF). Letterform Archive. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  15. ^ "Letterform Archive – Publishing". letterformarchive.org. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  16. ^ "Type@Cooper West". Cooper Union. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  17. ^ "Education". Letterform Archive. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  18. ^ "Events". Letterform Archive. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  19. ^ "Opening Digital Doors to Letterform Archive | Better Letters". betterletters.co. December 5, 2018. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
  20. ^ "Past Events". Letterform Archive. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  21. ^ "Letterform Lectures". vimeo.com. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  22. ^ "Letterform Archive Salon Series". vimeo.com. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
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