About the Event
This virtual exhibit showcases some of the outstanding design history resources held by Special Collections & University Archives (SCUA) at San Diego State University. These materials have been acquired over the years through purchases and donations, and are heavily used to teach classes in book and printing history, graphic design and media history, modernism, the book arts and printmaking. Explore important highlights from the collections through text and image in various categories, including books and printmaking specimens from the hand-press period, typography specimen books, notable design publications to emerge from the modernist and avant-garde movements, and contemporary forms of DIY and artistic publishing. But take note! Local or visiting design scholars and enthusiasts will also be pleasantly surprised to discover that this is just a small sampling of the many resources we have available for public use, right here in San Diego.
Special Collections & University Archives houses rare, fine, unique and valuable books, periodicals, manuscripts, and documents in a variety of subject areas, including history of science, literature (especially speculative fiction), comics, typography and printing, artist’s books and zines, Torah scrolls, children’s literature, cookbooks, alternative religious movements, sheet music, photographs, ephemera and much more. The department also holds archival materials that document the history of San Diego State since its founding as a Normal School in 1897, as well as local and regional history. Please visit our website for more information, including location, staff and up-to-date information regarding the COVID-19 closure.
This exhibit is brought to you by San Diego Design Week and the SDSU Library. For more information about this project, please contact Anna Culbertson, Interim Head of Special Collections, at: aculbertson [at] sdsu [dot] edu
View the exhibit here.
Have a great question? Submit questions directly to SDDW presenters here!
About SDSU Special Collections
The Department of Special Collections & University Archives (SCUA) houses rare, fine, unique, and valuable books, periodicals, manuscripts, and documents in a variety of subject areas, including history of science, literature (especially speculative fiction), typography and printing, artist’s books, zines and comics, children’s literature, cookbooks, alternative religious movements, sheet music, and more, with the oldest item - a decretal of Boniface VIII - dating back to the early 14th century. Other valuable historical items such as photographs, prints, postcards, memorabilia, scrapbooks, and oral histories are also held in Special Collections. University Archives holds materials which document the history of San Diego State since its founding as a Normal School in 1897. SCUA is open to the public and no appointment is necessary to visit and use materials.
