“It is hoped that this humble attempt to bring to the knowledge of American readers, a quaint wad. beautiful little treatise upon a subject so interesting, written so many centuries ago, and by a man who played so distinguished a part in his time, as prelate, a statesman, and a scholar, will commend itself to [...]

James Conner, one of the important typefounders of the 19th century, died this day in 1861. Born near Hyde Park in New York’s Dutchess County, Conner became apprenticed to a printer at the age of thirteen. His indentures were interrupted the following year when he ran off to fight in the War of 1812. He [...]

In the year 1861 on this day, just three weeks before the guns sounded at Fort Sumter, the Kentucky-born publisher of the Indianapolis Journal, John D. Defrees, took office as the first Superintendent of Public Printing. In 1869 this title was changed to Congressional Printer, and in 1876 an Act of Congress decreed the office [...]

“The rush of office-seekers upon the departments exceeds anything of the kind ever before known. From all morning till late in the evening, Uncle Abe and each of the members of the cabinet are beset by men, women and children.” So said the Baltimore Sun of this date in 1861. It was describing Washington where [...]