Correspondence for a Cause: Humanitarian Letter-writing Campaigns in Paul Standard's Archive

Описание: Paul Standard (1896-1992) was a prolific American author and proponent of teaching chancery italic handwriting based on Renaissance-era calligraphic traditions. Well-connected in bustling mid-20th century New York City, he carried on correspondences with hundreds of people engaged in the graphic arts. His extensive archive at RIT Cary Graphic Arts Collection in Rochester, New York demonstrates his consistent efforts to rally donations and support for colleagues suffering from ill-health, war-time persecution, and oppressive political regimes. This presentation focuses on three relationships where his typescript and hand-written messages made a profound impact. Standard’s archives chronicle a funding campaign for British calligrapher Edward Johnston (1872-1944) who was impoverished in old age. He also was a lifeline for German-British designer Berthold Wolpe (1905-1989) in trying to secure employment in America to escape a WWII internment camp. And finally, Standard’s longtime friendship with Czech type designer, Oldrich Menhart (1897–1962), is documented through heartfelt letters that provided intellectual sustenance under the Iron Curtain. Paul Standard harnessed the humanitarian power of snail-mail, sometimes with gorgeous calligraphic gusto as evidenced in the archive. “Correspondence for a Cause…” provides perspective on persuasive writing for charity—a counterpoint to the 21st century custom of gofundme appeals delivered to an inbox.­­ Presented by Amelia Hugill-Fontanel for SHARP 2024, "Global Book Cultures: Materialities, Collaborations,
Access."