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The JONATHAN EDWARDS COLLEGE PRESS proclaims, with justifiable pride, that it was "founded in 1936 by August Heckscher." In the spring of that year, Mr. Heckscher gave his 12x18 Chandler & Price press and his type to the College. Later, believing that a smaller size would be better for student printers, he arranged with his classmate, Thomas W. Hall, Jr., to trade the 12x18 for a 10x15 press. Other members of the Class of 1936 raised, as a gift to J.E., funds to cover the shipping charges and incidentals. Mr. Heckscher recalls that the press "Began working that next fall, though the announcement of the founding came a bit later, when the first printer had mastered his trade. I did a small book of verse "Noon of Summer" at the J.E. press in the early winter of 1937, a refugee from the constrictions of the Law School." A traditional leader among the college presses, and a currently a beehive of activity led by enthusiastic students. Jonathan Edwards, arguably the first and oldest of the college presses, was the beneficiary of a complete make-over in 1963 during the reconstruction of the Art Gallery. It has further benefited from equipment and type salvaged from decommissioned presses, including those of Calhoun, Silliman and the Rollins Printing Office of the Yale University Printing Service. While the Press has always been a significant factor in the life of JE, the college has been lucky during the past few years to have a skilled and enthusiastic Chief Printer, who has actively evangelized the shop within the college community. JE is the most active press on campus, with many students using the facilities to produce a wide range of projects. It is fully equipped with proof presses, treadle-powered floor presses and a powered Colts Armory, along with a substantial quantity of viable type. UpdateA supportive JE Fellow has just stepped forward with a substantial matching-grant contribution dedicated to the refurbishment of the JE Press! Greg Timko, the experienced letter-press mechanic on retainer to the HCCP, will tune up all of the presses in the JE shop during the next few weeks. We will also supply a healthy assortment of new foundry type from the warehouse, and replace one of the old wooden case racks with a new steel cabinet and cases. Master Haller, whose support with the administration was instrumental in clinching the donation from American Printing, has been extremely helpful throughout. Finally, in addition to the HCCP library of printing manuals, the JE Press is being provided with a copy of the official operating manual for its marvelous Colt's Armory platen press, which hasn't been used in several years. |