The Way of Print

Chapter 4 discusses how, in addition to printing a newspaper, The Pennsylvania Gazette, Franklin produced books, documents, and records as part of his successful print shop. One of his most celebrated best-sellers was Poor Richard’s Almanac: one part diary for its owners, several parts trivia, and advice from the fictious Poor Richard. The chapter shows how, throughout his publications, Franklin’s understanding and sympathy for aspects of Christianity became apparent. His interest in making a profit was part of his larger effort to improve the morals of fellow colonists. Franklin’s work in an industry that was crucial to the spread of Protestantism reveals another link between his life and the world that the Reformation made.

Striving

Chapter 3 traces Benjamin Franklin’s early development—purchasing equipment to open his own print shop and editing a Philadelphia newspaper. His work provided him with an outlet for advice about living a moral life. Sometimes he wrote under pseudonyms, such as Silence Dogood, and reprinted material that reinforced his own efforts to live a good life, creating a Plan for Attaining Moral Perfection. The chapter discusses Jonathan Edwards, whose views were substantially in agreement with Franklin’s, though much of Franklin’s moralism attracted criticism from twentieth-century writers such as D. H. Lawrence. Franklin’s thoughts about virtue emerged from similar concerns that Puritans had for the Christian life as one of sanctity.

A Publishing History of A Discourse of Life and Death, Translated by the Countess of Pembroke

The short meditation, A discourse of life and death was translated by Mary (Sidney) Herbert, Countess of Pembroke in 1590 from Excellent discours de la vie et de la mort by Philippe de Mornay, seigneur du Plessis-Marly. This article presents the publishing history of Herbert’s translation and how it was adapted twice in the seventeenth century. First, it is found as an incomplete manuscript by ‘T. H. Gent.’ (BL MS Sloane 1037). The manuscript has the correct licence to print, but the wrong author, and was used as setting copy in the print shop of George Eld and Miles Flesher in early 1624. All copies of that edition are now lost. In 1697 Herbert’s translation was revised again as the ‘contemplations’ of Sir John Fenwick before his execution for treason.

The Corrector as Critic

This chapter proposes that the print shop emerges in the sixteenth century as a key site for the production of literary criticism. Of particular interest is the figure of the printer’s corrector, an expert in error and artisan of precision whose task is to discover and amend faults before a text goes into print. Taking as an exemplary case the French poet, literary critic, and orthographic reformer Jacques Peletier du Mans (1517–1582/3)—who maintained close relationships with his printers and was employed as a corrector in the workshop of Jean de Tournes in Lyon—the chapter examines how the practice of correction and the mechanical ethos of printing inform early meta-poetic work in France, including Peletier’s seminal translation of Horace’s Ars poetica and his own Art Poëtiquɇ of 1555.

The Lives of Clements Hall

Clements Hall has occupied a central place on Southern Methodist University’s campus, both physically and socially, since the campus’ inception in 1915. Initially a women’s dormitory, it was later used by men after the construction of the Virginia and Snider dormitories. It included a dining space, a kitchen, and apartments for President Hyer and his family. In its time as a residential building, it housed engineering students, the football team, and briefly members of the Navy V-12 program. After complaints in the late 1950s, plans were made to renovate the building for use as classrooms and administrative space, offering services ranging from academic counseling to a print shop. The building has been intertwined with may key moments in Southern Methodist University’s history, witnessing the end of strict limitations on the social lives of its members, early attempts at desegregation in Texas, and the infamous William P. Clements football scandal. Despite its historical significance, Clements Hall has faded from its role as a social center on campus. The data for this paper was gathered from the DeGolyer Library Archives, the primary depository for documents on the history of Southern Methodist University, comprising blueprints, personal accounts of students and professors living in Clements Hall, newspaper articles on the events in the building, and photographs of the hall. I will compile these sources into a holistic view of life in the building through its history. The focus of this project was to look at the evolution of life at SMU through the lens of the various uses of Clements Hall throughout its growth.

Early Modern Oels and the Singularities of Local History*

The article explores the local history of the Silesian city of Oels as presented in selected early modern books and pamphlets published primarily in the local print shop, but also in other cities. A prominent example of such a historical event is the 1535 tempest, descriptions of which were published in its immediate aftermath. The much-later Beschreibung of 1657 is presented as an example of creating local identity through emphasizing two cultural aspects linked to the event: the alleged nefarious role of the Jewish community and the special relationship of the local citizens with the dukes of, at first, the Podebrad, and later the Württemberg families. Although natural disasters are repetitive occurrences, the 1535 tempest was understood by the people of Oels in a singular manner, which was characteristic for the local context. The thesis about the singularity of the local history is further corroborated through a number of examples from Oels. Different aspects of singularity dominate in different publications depicting local events: the singularity of situations, people and places.

A Heuristic Evaluation of Achik.biz Mobile Shopping App

The purpose of this study is to present the report of the evaluation of a mobile print shop and design shopping application (Achik.biz). Following a dearth of studies on the usability of mobile print shop and design shopping application, a study was conducted to evaluate the Achik.biz application. Heuristic methodology was used in the evaluation. The evaluation was conducted by 3 usability experts. The study reveals quite a number of usability issues related to the application.

Apprenticeship in the Renaissance University: Student authorship and craft knowledge

ArgumentStudents entered Renaissance universities as apprentices in the craft of books. In the decades around 1500, such university training began to involve not only manuscript circulation, but also the production and the use of books in the new medium of print. Through their role in the crafting of books, I show how a circle of students around Jacques Lefèvre d’Étaples gained the experience needed to become bookmen. Students took classroom manuscripts and brought them into print – the new print shop offered students a place in which to exchange labor for credibility as joint authors.

“Written by the Hand of Mormon”

In June 1829, Joseph Smith and Martin Harris began contacting printers, including Thurlow Weed, who declined a contract, and Egbert B. Grandin, who eventually agreed to publish the Book of Mormon. Oliver Cowdery prepared a printer’s copy of the manuscript, and printing began in late August or early September. Employees of the print shop, including Pomeroy Tucker, Albert Chandler, and John H. Gilbert, later described the process in detail. During this same period, Cornelius Blatchly published an early newspaper article about the Book of Mormon, Abner Cole began illegally publishing extracts from the Book of Mormon, and a controversial revelation dealing with the Canadian copyright was dictated. In March 1830, the Wayne Sentinel announced the publication of the Book of Mormon.