Greyhounds volunteer at the world’s largest collection of type

A group of Greyhounds recently spent five days as specialized volunteers at the world’s largest collection of type, thanks to a Shaheen Service Learning/Community Engagement Grant.

The Hamilton Wood Type and Printing Museum in Two Rivers, Wisconsin is the only museum of its kind, dedicated to the preservation, study, production, and printing of wood type.

Five advanced printmaking students, along with Assistant Professor Katherine Fries and Assistant Bursar Andrea Stranak, participated in the Spring Term Trip. They helped clean, catalog and organize the massive wood type, woodcut, and printing collection.

“It was a remarkable exchange for the students that allowed them to engage a rare collection, learn about and participate with its preservation, and directly apply skills learned in class to the service of the print, letterpress, and design communities,” said Fries.

The project enabled the first of hopefully many UIndy students to take part in a transformational experience where two mottos meet and merge: UIndy’s “Education for Service” and the letterpress mantra “Preservation Through Production” – meaning that to preserve letterpress you have to actively engage the processes and physically use the equipment, Fries explained.

Hamilton, while internationally recognized by academic and print communities for their massive and one of a kind holdings of letterpress knowledge and equipment, relies heavily on volunteers.

“Our students in the four short years since the start of our program have proven themselves knowledgeable, skilled, and service-minded – making them ideal volunteers. This is an excellent example of how our programs can prepare students to not only excel in their discipline but to give back to it,” Fries added.

Learn more about the Hullabaloo Press at the University of Indianapolis