Primary Source Sets

If you visited Reed College in the 1950s or early 1960s, you might have noticed elegant calligraphic writing on posters, publications, and flyers across campus. Even diplomas were calligraphed. Ever since the first calligraphy classes were offered in the 1940s, the history and practice of letterforms have played an important role at Reed. Various items in this primary source set allude to the influential role played by Lloyd Reynolds, a Reed College professor who encouraged instruction in calligraphy and other graphic arts both on and off campus. Items from the Collection of Early Handwriting Examples, meanwhile, evidence distinctive writing styles from around the world, dating back to the 1700s.

Created by Isabel Lyndon