Rollo G. Silver (1909–1989) was an American book collector and historian of American printing, typography, and publishing as created by white people in the European printing tradition. Rollo and Alice (Gindin) Silver also created a major collection of books and manuscripts relating to the poet Walt Whitman and the history of printing and typography.
Rollo Gabriel Silver was born on June 27, 1909 in New York. He graduated from Brown University in 1931 and received a Master's degree in English from Boston University in 1941 and a Bachelor's degree in Library Science from Simmons College in 1948. During the Depression, Mr. Silver was an assistant buyer at the B. Altman Company on Fifth Avenue in New York City. He left New York for Boston in 1934 where he managed the Better Service Garage in Brockton, MA. He entered the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps in 1943 where he was assigned to the Climatic Research Laboratory in Lawrence, MA. He participated in tests designed to simulate all climatic conditions to which soldiers and their clothing and equipment would be exposed. After the war, he continued to work with the Laboratory as the assistant director until 1947. Rollo Silver settled into his career as an educator and historian of printing history by 1950 when he became a professor of Library Science at Simmons College in Boston. He worked there until 1965 when he retired to pursue research on printing history.
His research interests in literature and printing began with Walt Whitman. He owned an extensive collection of Walt Whitman's poetry and began publishing essays about Whitman as early as 1930. His book collection and research interests also focused on the history of printing and typography. He was the author of numerous historical works on American printing and publishing including:
He was a member of the Grolier Club, the Society of Printers, a founding member of the American Printing Historical Association (APHA), a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and an honorary member of the Bibliographical Society of America among other affiliations. He served as a trustee of Boston University and was awarded an honorary doctor of letters degree by Brown in 1986.
He died on September 20, 1989.
The Rollo G. Silver papers contain the correspondence, research files, and objects that he and his wife Alice (Gindin) Silver collected during their careers as bibliophiles and historians of printing and typography as created by white people in the European printing tradition.
Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.
Rollo G. Silver papers, Ms.2013.001, Brown University Library.
This collection is arranged in 6 series.
Gift of Alice (Gindin) Silver in 1989 and the Estate of Alice (Gindin) Silver in 2003.
The extensive book collection, "Rollo G. Silver Collection of Printing and
Publishing History," created by Rollo G. Silver and Alice Silver was donated by
Alice Silver to Brown University in 1989. The materials can be located by
searching the Brown University Library catalog for the term
Registration in International Register of Private Press Names
Includes photographs of Royce performing and a letter from Royce.
William Morris' grave, Gutenberg museum, London
Includes research correspondence
Includes correspondence
Includes photographic slides
Poster
Correspondence from descendents of Simeon Ide gathered as part of research on this pioneer printer.
Original printed in 1620. Inscription along bottom: "Petro Venio LCto CLmo Hagiensis Opidi Syndico, Elegantarum Omnium Erudito Amicissimo Q. Petrus Paulus Rubens Benivolentis Animi Tesseram Hanc Ex Animo Lubens Merito Dedit Dedicavitque. Cum privilegiss,
Wooden gavel with brass name plate
Gold medallion with "RS" inscribed on one side and "TiTC" inscribed on the other
Plastic and metal model of a printing press.
Reproduction of original printed in 1838
Four (4) printing blocks containing portions of texts in Japanese and Chinese. Three are black and one red.
Grey t-shirt with black lettering
Gold colored plastic bust of Johannes Gutenberg. 6.25 inches tall
Metal (brass?) stencil for letters H, I, J, K (5 inches x 14 inches) and O, P Q (5 inches x 11.5 inches)
Includes The Kemble Occasional, No. 2, January 1966 with history of this item.
Title at top of page: Eidyllion Encomiasticum. Amplissimis ac Prudentissimis Viris Dn. Consulibus, Syndico, Camerariis, Caeterisque Celeberimæ Goslariensis Reipulicæ senatoribus, Mœcenatibus suis unice colendis scriptum a Ioachimo Gericio Goslariensi
A Specimen of Types Attributable to Peter de Walpergen cut for the University of Oxford, 1676-1702
Program printed in color on white silk with fringed border
Program and menu printed on white silk by Commercial Printing Office, 272 Montgomery Street, San Franciso, CA
Printing on red silk of 10 pages of the text.
Printing on white silk with image of a Tuft's Press
W.A. Dwiggins woodcut
Poster of Knopf trademark image of dog from Nina Bourne
Autobiography of an Early American Wood Engraver, Trader Press, 1968
John Bell Type: Its Loss and Rediscovery
Walt Whitman poem "To Him That Was Crucified" and engraved portrait
Includes slides of bindings
Contents: 19th century manuscript on the history of printing
Valentine's Day posters
Examples of book jackets
six (6) 35mm color slides
Examples of book plates from personal, private, and academic libraries
Dedication of the Richards-Frost Room
Worked for Alfred A. Knopf. See also: Alfred, A Knopf, Inc. Borzoi Books oversize item
A.E. Housman collection at Lilly Library
Includes: "A Development and Lineage Theory for the Roman Alphabet" and "The Origin on the Serif"
3 letters from Channing to Emerson
Walt Whitman's greetings to the Russian people
Mt. Tam Press and Union Press
Cambridge University Printer
Photographs and slides of Rollo Silver in Germany
Primarily christmas cards
Lettering
Printing office of Isaiah Thomas at Sturbridge Village
Advertisement including history of printing in Boston
Printing ink
The Printed Book in Ireland
Cato Major
Photographs of the Armage printing press
The Lay of the Case
Merriam - Webster dictionary
Includes postcards depicting The Stations of the Cross publishe by Medici Society Limited.
A Benjamin Franklin keepsake
Managing Editor of American Literature published by Duke University Press
Etching of Thoreau portrait by Goldsmith
A West Point for Printers
See also "Book Plates" for examples made for Hofer
33 1/3 phonograph record conceived and recorded by Tony Schwartz for the International Typographic Composition Association. Side A: The Sound of Type; Side B: The Sound of Lettering
Advertisement for bookstore in Boston, MA
Harcourt Brace Jovanovich
Contains a type book
Model of first printing press in America - Stephen Daye hand press
Book jacket collection at the Fine Arts Library, Harvard University
"A unique fifteenth century hand colored woodcut"
Biblioteket på Drottningholm
Includes publications on pioneer printing in California
2 posters of type specimens
Includes sample of hand made paper.
Article about Samuel Griswold Goodrich and his work "Peter Parley's Tales"
Enclosing a pamphlet titled: "Leaves from My Experience as a Book Agent" by William Garretson, Philadelphia, 1874
A Specimen of Types Attributable to Peter de Walpergen cut for the University of Oxford, 1676-1702
Regarding death of Norton Peterson
Essay on "A New Hampshire Book Agent"
First known type specimen by Ratdolt reproduced on Christmas card from McCorison family
Catalogue No. 45
Broadside history of American Encyclopedia of Printing by Robert E. Runser, printed by Walter Hamady of Perishable Press
Photograph with inscription and signature by Carl Sanburg
Bound volume title Color Photography with inscription on front flyleaf "For Rollo G. Silver with best wishes from George Sas at The Marble Hill Press" and inscription on back flyleaf "A very 'limited edition' - the one and only copy."
Portland, Maine, Engravers of the 1820's
Architectural Alphabet - publication prospectus from Merrion Press
Includes the text of his lecture: 'Put a Resolute Hart to a Steep Hill': William Gowans, Antiquary and Bookseller - 1988 Sol. M. Malkin Lecture at Rare Book School
Collection of Americana - prices realized at auction
The Identification of Type Faces in Bibliographical Description
The Customs of the Chapel
Papermaking on the Neponset
The Endless Fabric of Life
Magicians' Mirror Cards
Includes photographs
The Art of Cutting, Casting, and Preparing of Letter for Printing
Minikin Arabic type specimens
The Development of Printing Types
American Bookmaking
Permanent durable book paper
Drake on the Pacific Coast
A Brief History of American Jest Books
A Typographic Quest - type to be read
The Printing Industry from Renaissance to Reformation and from Guild to Capitalism
Advertisement for William White, Printer to the State, Boston, MA
Publication announcement of new book with material collected by Rollo Silver and Thomas O. Mabbott
The Book: Its Origin and Evolution
Benjamin Franklin, Bookman
Elegant Work by a Country Bookbinder: Two Gilt-Extra Bindings of Herman Mann, Dedham, Massachusetts, ca. 1812
Pencil rubbing of engraving "Vive La Plume" after work by calligrapher W. Milns
Papers of Benjaming Franklin