Browse Exhibits (1 total)

William Morris (1834-96) was an artist, textile designer, architect, poet, novelist, and socialist activist, to name only a few of his many activities and accomplishments throughout his career. He is most well-known today for his central role in the British Arts and Crafts movement, exemplified through his enduringly famous wallpaper and textile designs.

In 1891, Morris founded the Kelmscott Press at Hammersmith in London. Morris believed that books of his day produced on the assembly line lacked both quality and beauty, and he established the Kelmscott Press in reaction to this. He intended to replicate the quality of design and production he saw in medieval manuscripts and incunabula (early printed books). Morris found his greatest inspiration in medievalism, and he strove to restore the esteem associated with the practices of printing and bookmaking. The establishment of the Kelmscott Press was a celebration of the art of bookmaking.

This exhibit considers the books of Morris's Kelmscott Press found in Special Collections through a focus on their craftsmanship and design. The exhibit also explores the medieval and early modern books that represent William Morris's historical inspiration when he was designing books at the Kelmscott Press. Finally, it concludes with a selection of books that show Morris's later impact on the contemporary fine press movement in England and the United States.