Sesquicentennial Stories: The Promise of UK #88

The King Library Press was officially founded in 1956 by Carolyn Reading Hammer (whom later became UK Libraries’ curator of rare books).  Carolyn Hammer was influenced by the Gravesend Press of Joseph C. Graves and also Victor Hammer, to whom she was married.  Victor Hammer, a Viennese artist and typographer, designed a number of uncial form types, the best known of which remains the popular American Uncial.  

Victor Hammer began printing in Florence in the 1920s, where he had an antique-style wooden press constructed.  Victor Hammer built the press with the help of local Florentine craftsmen in 1927. Based on a press in the Laurentian Library, it was first used to print John Milton’s Samson Agonistes. The book was set in Mr. Hammer’s second uncial and christened Samson. Punches for the type were cut by Paul Koch, Rudolf Koch’s son. Samson Agonistes was issued in an edition of 103 copies. In 1933 Hammer closed his studio in Florence and the press was stored. In 1954 it was moved to the University of Kentucky where it was first used by the King Library Press in 1959. 

 

Members of the Bur Press in the mid 1940s — artist Harriett McDonald Holladay, printers Amelia Buckley and Carolyn Reading Hammer, and hand bookbinder Mary Spears Van Meter.

However, Amelia Buckley and Carolyn Hammer had been printing at their Bur Press since 1943. When they decided to close operations at the Bur Press their Chandler & Price printing press which had been located at Hammer’s studio in Bullock Place, was moved to the basement of the King Library - which then held the Acquisitions Department - together with type, equipment, and paper.

Victor Hammer and a group of friends formed the Anvil Press in 1952.  Victor designed the books for the press and Jacob Hammer was the pressman. Eventually this press was also donated to the University.

 

Library Staff Christmas Dinner; From left to right: Carolyn Reading Hammer, Catherine L. Katterjoler, Jacqueline P. Bull, Mary Jane Stallcup, Maona Shinkle Eaves, and Daisy Taylor Croft, 1940

Carolyn Hammer, Nancy Chambers Lair, Stokley Gribble, and Mary Voorhes had been printing some book-plates and small pieces on the press in the basement of the King Library but wanted to do something more substantial.  They started working at the press on their lunch breaks at noon.  The first book they printed was The Marriage of Cock Robin and Jenny Wren in 1956.  They first named the press, High Noon Press but then attributed it as the King Library Press.  At the time, they printed for the sheer pleasure of printing.

Hand-set type is set piece by piece, letter by letter, and by hand. Every piece of type for each letter is separate and it is used over and over again. After each use it is returned to a specially-designed case, which has larger compartments near the front so that the most-used type is more accessible. The paper that is used for printing is hand-made and some of the finest available.

Joe Graves’ Gravesend Press, is also a part of the King Library Press.  There are also more modern presses including a Vandercook SP15, a gift of the Harrodsburg Herald, a Vandercook Universal I, and several by Chandler & Price.

Picnic at Gethsemane; Carolyn R. Hammer, 1967

The influence of Carolyn Hammer, a founder and until 1976 the Press director, and the typographic tradition to be seen in the works of Victor Hammer provide inspiration for the work of the Press.  Over the years, the Press has printed many books, broadsides, and keepsakes.  It has also sponsored numerous lectures, seminars, and workshops that have drawn national attention.

 

Dr. Paul Holbrook, Director of the King Library Press

The King Library Press is located in Special Collections of UK Libraries and is directed by Dr. Paul E. Holbrook.  The work of the Press – hand setting type, printing on antique presses, and binding – is done by student interns and staff volunteers.  The objective of the Press is to preserve and demonstrate historical printing techniques using period equipment and methods.  

“The press gives those working with it a historical understanding of the book,” said Paul A. Willis, former director of UK Libraries. “It adds an element of distinction to the library and University which I hope we are able to maintain.”

Sesquicentennial Stories: The Promise of UK #89

Mary E. Sweeny was an internationally known authority on home economics and family relations.  Sweeny was connected with the department of home economics at UK since she earned her postgraduate degree from Columbia University in 1912.  Upon arriving at the University of Kentucky, Sweeny contributed greatly to the rapid growth of home economics and her untiring efforts were given credit for the establishment of the department of home economics to the college of home economics.  

Before become Dean of the college, Sweeny was a specialist in home economics extension for five years – this was done in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture and the college of agriculture at the University of Kentucky.  Sweeny contributed greatly to the betterment of general living conditions in rural areas, to the introduction of hot school lunches in rural schools, and to the addition of courses in cooking and sewing in elementary and high schools in the state of Kentucky.  

Mary Sweeny

 Sweeny was head of the department of home economics from 1913-1916, dean of the college from 1916-1917, and again head through 1920.  At that point she left to become director of the Merrill Palmer School in Detroit, Michigan where she worked for the next 25 years.  Sweeny spent most of her life studying, teaching, and writing about nutrition and child growth.

During World War I, Mary and her sister, Sunshine Sweeny went overseas as canteen workers with the American Army in France and the Army of Occupation in Germany.

In 1946, Sweeny went to India where she was a visiting lecturer and adviser to all women’s group in bettering child conditions.  The trip was arranged by Agriculture Mission, Inc. and Sweeny was invited by the All-Indian Women’s Conference.  Sweeny had previously spent three months in India during 1939 when she became interested in Indian customs, government and opportunities.  She spent a total of 15 months and did extensive research.  After her work in India, Sweeny went to China where she spent five months with schools that provided training for Child Welfare Workers or had home economics departments.

Mary Sweeny

In 1958, the UK Home Management House was named for Mary Sweeny.  The Mary E. Sweeny house at 644 Maxwelton Court was opened for senior students in the Home Economics School.  Students lived in each of the houses for a period of six weeks, and then rotated.  Gas or electric appliances were used in the kitchens to enable them to become acquainted with the different types of cooking facilities.  The houses were meant to represent what was typically being done in houses of the day.  

Sweeny was a past president of the American Home Economics Association and an honorary vice president of the Biochemistry Society.  She was a native of Fayette County and the daughter of Dr. W. O. Sweeny and Margaret Prewitt Sweeny.  Mary Sweeny passed away in 1968.