Docent Spotlight

June-September 2008

Having joined IPM only in May as the new Director of our Book Arts Institute, Rachelle Chuang (shown here with Leather Apron Guild Director, Dr. Leland Whitson) has already breathed new life into Museum activities. The debut last month of Family Pop Up Day earned her accolades from Museum Curator Mark Barbour and participants of all ages.

Born and raised in Southern California by parents who emigrated from Hong Kong, Rachelle is a fine artist, graphic designer and educator who has exhibited nationally. She holds a BA in Graphic Design from Biola University and an MFA in Book Arts from University of the Arts in Philadelphia. She also has a Masters from a local seminary.

She has taught book arts, papermaking and letterpress to people of all ages both here and on the East Coast. Her own letterpress studio is housed at the Irvine Fine Arts Center. Rachelle lives in Orange County with her husband and son. She belongs to San Diego Book Arts and is an adjunct instructor at local colleges. Her work was recently published in “500 Handmade Books.”

Rachelle recalls  first  visiting the Museum in 1989 in Buena Park as an undergraduate graphic design student. She remembers then thinking, “printing is magic!”  She is excited to contribute her skills to developing the Museum and joining the letterpress and book arts community. Welcome back, Rachelle!

January-March 2008

Dwight Antioch first visited the Museum a couple of years ago. After a tour with Peter Small, Dwight told us how “jazzed” he was about the Museum. He said he could identify a lot with the beauty of letterpress. Dwight went on to say he’d be back and would bring some of his work to share with us. He did just that. The 3 ring binder contained striking examples of photography as well as some computer graphics.

Dwight is a talented guy, for sure. He has worked in films and TV serving as a cameraman, producer as well as doing complicated computer graphics of all sorts. As a teenager he even played in a musical group. He also enjoys reading, golfing, and fishing.

He has been a “regular” docent attending almost every Saturday and when available has come in on week days to help with special projects. An example of this was helping to decorate for the Dickens Days. In fact, Dwight is happy to step in wherever help is needed around the museum.

Recently Dwight has served as our photographer, a position for which he is well suited.

October-December 2007

Luis Garcia and his wife Elizabeth came to the Museum for a tour a couple of years ago. I happened to be giving the tour that day and when we came to the area of Linotypes, Elizabeth tugged on my sleeve saying, “You know my husband is a Linotype operator and used to own four!” I immediately invited Luis to “set a few lines.” We became instant special friends.

I explained our Leather Apron Docent Guild and invited him to join us. Luis has been at the Museum almost every Saturday since!! He has even come in on weekdays when needed.

Luis’ father and uncle were both Linotype operators and as a teenager Luis started his apprenticeship in the daily newspaper “El Universal” where his father worked in Mexico City. (For more photos and information on Luis and his experiences in Mexico City see the Web site Metal Type.) Sadly his father died within a few months and Luis had to find another location to train in a two Linotype shop called “GarLez”.

Others recognized his proficiency and Luis found a position in Chicago with a wonderful man named Berth Carniol at Reliance Typesetting, who sponsored his move and even set him up with a house.

Luis tells a cute story about riding a streetcar in Chicago when he did not speak English. He pulled the cord to get off at the next stop and stood by the back door of the car. It stopped and the motorman yelled something Luis didn’t understand. A fellow standing next to him, gently nudged Luis to step down on the treadle which opened the door. Luis later learned the motorman was saying, “Step down to open the door!”

Luis’ boss arranged for a position where he could do more English than Spanish typesetting and thus he was able to learn English.

After 17 years in Chicago, Luis returned to Mexico City in 1968 where he had a Linotype shop of his own. As offset printing started to cut into the hot metal business, Luis’ company would continue to set type on the Linotype and would make “perfect proofs” which would then be photo engraved and printed offset. As he put it, “we were put out of business by computerized typesetting.” Luis and his family then returned to the States in 1996.

After 10 years, Luis retired and today lives in Redondo Beach with his wonderful wife Elizabeth. They celebrated their 50th anniversary last year with a romantic trip sailing around the Hawaiian Islands. They have two children and two grandchildren. It was a specal treat to have many of his family come to the Museum and see, for the first time, Luis operate the Linotype.

One of his first projects at the Museum has been to do corrections and complete the typesetting on a book project of mine which Bill Berkuta and I had been working on for about one year. The project is now completed in over 180 galleys awaiting printing.

At special events, like the Dicken’s Days, the Ben Franklin Banquet, and my 65/25 birthday party, Luis always sets visitors names making slugs to take home as a keepsake. These have proven to be a popular keepsake with all.

Another task he willingly accepts is trying to keep our Model 5 Linotype in the Main Gallery operational. Phil Soinski, our Ben Franklin, refers this machine as the “Lemontype.”

Over the past weeks, Luis has been very busy with a special book project of Gary Miller’s, which has required setting in both English and Latin. The book is on the two letters of Pliny the Younger about the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in the year 79. The letters are newly translated from the Latin by Kenneth Martin with illustrations by Adare McAllister. The book has been set by Luis in 12, 14 and 18 point Kenntonian, which was Intertype’s version of Kennerly.

Personally I feel very close to Luis and look forward to seeing him each week. I particularly enjoy our times together when he sets visitors’ names on the Linotype and they bring the slugs to me to print on the Vandercook proof press. The visitors appreciate his demonstration of the machine and enjoy taking home their proof along with the slug which I present to them.

Each week as he leaves his post at the machine, Luis always says some thing like, “Thank you Leland. Operating the machine makes me feel young again!”

I speak for all of us at the Museum in saying how much we appreciate and love you, Luis! Thank you for all you do and congratulations on being our Docent of the Month.

—Dr. Leland Whitson, Trustee & Docent Director

August-September 2007

John and Peggy Beth learned of the IPM from a highlight about the Museum on National Public Radio. They visited and thoroughly enjoyed a tour given by Peter Small. They have both become active Docents and are now the Docents of the Month.

Peggy has a master’s degree in Art History with an interest in 13th century English illuminated manuscripts. At Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, she teaches Art History. Peggy expressed a much needed interest in the Museum’s Library. It was a great fit. Our library had recently been moved to the Book Art Institute with much of the collection still in boxes and many not even cataloged. Simply put, it was a mess in need of attention. With Peggy’s regular volunteering, not only on Docent Saturdays but numerous times a month, the library is in such good order, an item can be found in the computer listing and then located in the shelves.

The recent Book Arts Institute expansion has necessitated moving the library contents to yet another location. Peggy played a pivotal roll in planning and executing the floor plan for the new library space as well as the adjoining reading room. Her woodworking husband John, was able to direct the reassembly of the book shelving. John also repaired, moved and replaced, when needed, the ceiling lights in the library’s new space.

John is a “Service Brat” and was raised through out the world. He is a very talented chap owning John Beth Fine Woodwork specializing in hand-hewn wood furniture. He has been most helpful taking on numerous projects throughout the Museum be they wood, electrical or plumbing related.

This couple feels that the mutual aid and comradeship offered by all the members of the Leather Apron Docent Guild make the Museum a most positive place to volunteer! John and Peggy have recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with a romantic trip up the coast to San Francisco and are planning a trip to Europe in January as an extension of their Silver Anniversary celebration.

The Beth’s live in Costa Mesa and we appreciate all they do for the International Printing Museum.

May 2007

On April 2, 2005, the first Docent Saturday at the IPM, Marjorie Wilser was on of the first to arrive and had come from her home in Goleta, California, just outside of Santa Barbara. She also regularly volunteers at the History Park Print Shop in San Jose.

She is an active docent at IPM, having assisted in recent conventions held in 2006. Marjorie is a talented printer and has her own print shop, The 3 Toad Press. Her website: the3toads.googlepages.com/home demonstrates Marjorie's many talents and interests; costuming, sewing, tatting, quilt making as well as other memberships. Her willingness to participate and her energy are much appreciated.

April 2007

Tim is a Carson resident who discovered the Museum driving by one day. He stopped in and literally has been volunteering each Saturday since. Tim has a background in legal proof reading. This skill has been put to good use proofing an ongoing book project. He is a personable, enthusiastic, well read chap who has been bitten by the letterpess bug and we love having him here.