Well it's a treasure but not a secret. Maybe it's the name. "Georgia Tech's Robert C. Williams Paper Museum" doesn't sound like a gallery. Maybe it's the bankers hours, 9-5 on weekdays. Maybe it's just because you haven't been there yet. My daughter #1 took classes in the building but never went to the museum. I can assure you that she's embarrassed about it. You can start by liking the Robert C. Williams Paper Museum Facbook page and joining their mailing list.
It was love a first sight for me. It's convenient. It's at the corner of 10th and Hemphill with free parking at the door. There is a gallery for paper technology, a gallery for history, a gallery for people, and a gallery room with rotating exhibits. It's small enough that it's not intimidating but there is depth.
I've been just twice, first to the opening of "Twinrocker: Forty Years of Hand Papermaking" and on Thursday to the opening of "A Paper Trail - The Travels of Dard Hunter."
Who is William Joseph "Dard" Hunter? "...he joined Elbert Hubbard's Roycrofters ... (he was) a leading proponent of America's Arts and Crafts Movement." "... in 1919 Hunter decided to devote his life to researching, collecting, writing, and publishing the world's history of hand papermaking and printing."
In fact he created his own paper museum at MIT which is now part of Georgia Tech's collection. And he knew how to wear a cravat.
He collected from all over the world. This woodblock made wallpaper.
Did I mention the Roycrofters.
Dard illustrated books.
Dard wrote, illustrated, designed typefaces, made paper, and printed books.
This is a paper mold. Imagine the watermark.
The artist died before completing this woodblock.
This is a "bookcover."
Another bookcover.
Another bookcover.
Dard commissioned this model of a German paper factory.
The Dard Hinter exhibit is the class project for History, Technology, & Society 3823 taught by Carla Gerona and Teri Williams.
That made it particularly special because there was cake and the class was over and they'd done something beautiful.
There were class pictures and a video.
Congratulations to all.
How is it that I get to do this, to be "in" on a secret treasure? Well it's not a secret but it is a treasure.