University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1911-01-30
The College World.
a COLLEGE Course in Printing.

were rated hne in strict accoroance
with the percentage of those able to
understand their technical principles
and appreciate their calculated effects,
printing would perhaps have to be
recognized as nearly the finest OF the
fine arts. For every hundred who can
intelligently' look at a painting or
listen to the performance Of a SYM
lphony, there is probably but one who
can turn the pages Of a well-made
book and pass criticism upon its
Typographical appearance. and the
quality of its paper and impression.
Printing, for most persons. and for
persons of acknowledged taste at that,
lis taken for granted, and printed mat
ter, of what sort soever. so long as 1t
/ is sufficiently legible to serve its
primary purpose as a medium of conn.,
munication, receives scarcely a mo-
ment's attention or consideration for
its own sake. Much of this same in
difference is, it must be confessed,
shown by the majority of printers
themselves.
Yet printing has splendid history
|and proud record of achievement
Even in this country It had classic
period during the middle of the last
century when the books of some
American publishers challenged not
|unfavorable comparison with those of
Pickering. who loved to style himself
"the English disciple of Aldus." To
day fine printing is largely confined
to certain very special purposes, on
the theory that well-made books ap-
peal to only a limited class, though
I'VE are inclined to think that if the
publishers were willing to do a little
pioneer work, this public might be
greatly extended. At all events. there
lis great room for improvement both
among the patrons and the practition-
Iers OF the art, and in the general taste
Iof the community. 1t is for this rea-
son that we find interesting and sig
Inificant the official details of the
course in printing at Harvard Univer-
sity.
II is the first course of the kind
offered by any higher institution Of
learning in the United States. and is.
we believe, partly the result of the
determined effort made for some
years by the Boston Society of Print
ers to procure recognition of the need
for the regular education of the men,
bers of their own craft in its technique
and in the principles of design as ap'
lplied to 1t. The plans, however. ap-
pear to have been shaped In broad
spirit to apply as well to the needs
of the ordinary student as to the spe-
cialist in printing. Thus we read OF
one course offered by the department
of fine arts. 1t consists of lectures on
the history of printing. One cannot
help thinking with regret Of what
Harvard's great professor of fine arts.
who was an ardent collector, bibliog.
rapher, and connoiseur of printing,
might have made of such course
with its infinite possibilities for sug.
gesting the relation of typography to
Jailed branches of taste. A more i'm
portant course falls within the new
Harvard Graduate School of Business,
and covers history. materials, design
and practice. The technical instruc.
ltion will offer to the student sur
lvey of the materials and processes
connected with printing-ink, paper,
TYPE. printing machinery, etc.-each
division of the general subject being
in charge of professional expert.
For the second of the two years
course-this, it may be noted, is sub
sidiary to the general business train.
3ing-there will be advanced instruc.
tion in business practice in printing,
involving visits to plants. reports,
ETC.. and probably also in the appli.
cation of the principles of design to
pr'nting-its architectonic. in other
words.
Much will depend upon the taste,
knowledge. and ability of the instruc-
tors in these several branches. But
well conducted and harmonized. the
combined courses ought to give the
student a thorough grasp on his sub
ject as whole, and fit him to under
teke the practice of his craft in an
intelligent and enlightened manner.
We regard as a good sign the EN-.
|phasis laid upon the practical aspect
of printing, and the acceptance OF
modern commercial conditions. VIII
liam Morris viewed with ill-concealed
distaste the spectacle of his pressmen
with their sticky sheets. and thought
longingly Of the medieval scribe with