Biscuit City Press Archives

University Archives and Special Collections
15 Lippitt Road
Kingston, RI 02881-2011
Tel: 401-874-4632

email: archives@etal.uri.edu

Published in 2009

Collection Overview

Title:	Biscuit City Press Archives
Date range:	1970-1992
Creator:	Gutchen, Robert M
Extent:	3 linear feet 3 box(es)
Abstract:	This collection contains the complete records of the Biscuit City Press including the works of the press and a diary of press activities.
Language of materials:	English
Repository:	University Archives and Special Collections
Collection number:	Mss. Gr. 177

Scope & content

The records of the Biscuit City Press are divided into three series.

Series 1, Works of the Press consists of four, three-ring binders (1970-1983) that contain samples of all the items printed by the Press. Items included vary from business cards, reprints of historic tracks, booklets, books and samples of marbled paper made by the Gutchens.

Series 2, Printed Works consists of four three-ring binders (1971-1983) that contain duplicates of items printed on the press. There are also copies of drafts, working copies of press work and proofs. One notebook contains printing ephemera and prospectus from domestic and foreign presses.

Series 3, the General File consists of records created or used by Professor Gutchen in the operation of the Press. There is a two volume diary (1975-1980) of press activates and a sales journal for items printed on the press. Professor Gutchen’s involvement with the University of Rhode Island Theatre is amply documented in a three-ring binder (1974-1990) containing flyers, programs and news clippings about theatrical productions.

Arrangement

The records of the Biscuit City Press are divided into three series.

• 1. Works of the press
• 2. Printed works
• 3. General file

Historical note

“The Biscuit City Press exists because of the delight I derive from its product. I seek to print a page that is not only pleasant to the eye but also to the touch, so that the choice of paper and the bite of the letterpress into the sheet are as important as the design of the printed matter. But, above all, the Biscuit City Press exists because of the sheer pleasure I derive from setting type by hand and from printing with my old Albion Press."-Robert M. Gutchen

The Biscuit City Press had its inception after Professor Robert Gutchen, a professor of English History at the University of Rhode Island, purchased a Kelsey five by eight hand platen press in 1969. The printing establishment was named after the street on which he resided in Kingston, Rhode Island. His first production, printed on January 31, 1970, was the program for the New England Historical Association annual meeting . He and members of his family used the Kelsey press until 1972.

While Professor Gutchen and his family were in England, in 1971, he purchased from the Excelsior Printers’ Supply Co. a Harrild & Sons Albion, 16" by 11" press, No. 2521 dated 1870. “The very first pull taken on the new Albion Press of the Biscuit City Press; done at 3:10 p.m. on Sunday March 19, 1972 at 7 Benford Rd, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire in the presence of the entire Gutchen family” (Notebook, Vol.1). After this, the Albion became the principal hand press for creating ephemera and book productions. He would later go on to purchase a Vandercook SP15 proof press, an engraving press, book binding presses and paper making equipment. His wife, Sylvia, was involved in many of the productions of the press. He also collaborated with University Professors Paul Petrie (a poet) and Fritz Eichenberg (a wood engraver) in printing their works.

Professor Robert Gutchen was as meticulous in keeping records of his printing as he was in the pieces he printed. Samples of all his printing from the mundane to the exquisite were kept in a series of notebooks (see Series I and II). Each piece is identified by at least the hand press used, date, paper and type face. Sometimes quantity or other anecdotal information is included with the pieces.

In 1976, Bob joined Professor David Maslyn in establishing the New Leaves Press in the University Library, Special Collections Unit. To celebrate the Bicentennial, the library purchased an 1841 Albion hand press, 33” x 32”, from the same dealer in London, England. Professors’ Masyln and Gutcher team-taught a library graduate credit course in fine letter/press printing for three years. The New Leaves Press still functions with the addition of an Adams Acorn and Washington (circa 1830’s) hand presses.

The Biscuit City Press ceased production of major works by 1983, a victim of the computer age. The last publication was in 1990. Professor Gutchen started devoting his spare time to computer designed type faces and other facets of computer printing. His Albion and the Press archives were given to the Library’s Special Collections Unit in 2004.

Access & Use

Access to the collection:	Open for research.
Use of the materials:	Terms governing use and reproduction: Photocopying and scanning of materials is a fee based service available in the repository and is allowed at the discretion of the Archivist when in compliance to the Unit's policy on copyright and publication.
Preferred citation:	Biscuit City Press Archives, 1970-1992, Ms. 177, University of Rhode Island Library.
Contact information:	University Archives and Special Collections 15 Lippitt Road Kingston, RI 02881-2011 Tel: 401-874-4632 email: archives@etal.uri.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Author:	Finding aid prepared by David C. Maslyn.
Encoding:	Finding aid encoded by Hailie D. Posey 2009 June 01, updated by Mark Dionne on 2020 April 9
Descriptive rules:	Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Additional Information

Inventory

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Inventory