Revolving doors in the preservation of graphic communication

Two very loosely related news items to report.

Firstly the availability of a digitised archive of PS, the Preventative Maintenance Monthly, which was art directed by Will Eisner. The magazine, issued by the US army, is a fascinating and accomplished example of the use of comic book techniques in instructional materials. It is now available in digitised form through Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries. It’s not the only example of the use of this approach, but there are monthly issues over twenty years in the archive, giving a pretty big body of material. A gift for researchers and enthusiasts. Thanks to José de Souza, Infodesign-Café email list

Secondly the loss of the the Printing House Museum in Cockermouth, Cumbria, which has closed following the death of its founder David Winkworth about six months ago. The Printing House was an example of the kind of museum that you discover almost by accident; a private and fairly haphazard enthusiast’s collection rather than something put together along lines tramelled by formal collecting policies. Such museums can transform a rainy afternoon with a wealth of unexpected treasures. Perhaps because of the association with drizzly weather we like to think of these eclectic emporia as a very British institution, but of course they’re found all over the world.

When I visited about five years ago, the Printing House was run with timed tours throughout the day, so that the general public could learn (from David or one of his team, which I think included at least one member of the family) exactly what the selection of brooding machinery in the back of the stationery shop in the high street represented. The tour was concise and extremely well-informed.

It’s impossible to keep museums like this one going without the kind of determination and commitment that their founders possess, so naturally they perish in time. See them while you can; there are still hundreds around. And who knows when this kind of enterprise, which I think of as the preserve of a generation who grew up in the middle of the twentieth century, will be resurgent? The instinct to collect is strong, as eBay shows us. Matching this with the flair, creativity, enthusiasm and knowledge to display private collections is a much more rarified ability. Thanks to Paul Nash, Letpress email list

This kind of warning shouldn’t be needed on a web site

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Really, that’ s not good enough. Never mind the typo.

I love this title

The draft conference programme for ATypI 2008 has just been posted. It looks like a good one, and my favourite title has to be “...mean bastards, even though Matthew did some cool stuff for them...”. Matthew being type designer Matthew Carter – about whom attendees may learn more – while the chief subject of the talk is everybody’s favourite bête noir, Microsoft Corporation. Si Daniels (of Microsoft Typography) will not disappoint, I am sure.