• Workshop

Bookbinding Workshop: Letterlocking with Jess Ortegon

This workshop offers an introduction to letterlocking, a technique used for hundreds of years before the envelope came into commercial use around the 1830s.

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September 19, 2025, 4:00pm - 6:00pm
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Fisher B Level Seminar Room, Fisher Fine Arts Library, Lower Level
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Open to Penn Students, Faculty, and Staff

Hosted by: Common Press

In this workshop we will go over a brief history of letterlocking, introduce paper-folding and cutting skills used in letterlocking techniques, and create four unique structures based on real historical examples. Participants are encouraged to try and make their own unique letterlocking style using the skills learned from this workshop, or explore the rich research surrounding the topic.

All supplies provided free of charge. No prior bookbinding experience necessary!

About the Instructor

Jess Ortegon is currently the Preventive Conservation Librarian at Penn Libraries, working to preserve collections across all library spaces through conservation treatment, housing, and collections care management. They received their MS in Art Conservation in 2022 and are a current member of the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) and the Guild of Bookworkers. 

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