Upcoming Events: Common Press

Jan 23

• Workshop

Open to the Public

Studio Use Training

This one-hour intensive session is focused on proper studio practices to enable participants to use Common Press independently as an advanced user.

• January 23, 2026
• 12:00pm - 1:00pm
• Common Press Space

Jan 27

• Lecture

Open to the Public

The Messiness of Independence

Dr. Emily Sneff, a leading expert on the history of the Declaration of Independence, will share some of the stories behind the first printings of the founding document of the United States.

• January 27, 2026
• 5:30pm - 7:00pm
• Class of 1978 Orrery Pavilion, Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center, sixth floor

Jan 30 - 31

• Workshop

Open to the Public

Reinterpreting the Declaration: A Creative Typesetting Workshop

In this creative typesetting workshop, the Declaration text will be split amongst registered participants, and each participant will have the freedom to choose to include, edit, or redact the words in their segment. The workshop runs January 30 & 31 from noon to 5 p.m. at Common Press.

• January 30 - 31, 12:00PM - 5:00PM
• Common Press, Fisher Fine Arts Library, Lower Level

Feb 04

Open to the Public

Studio Use Training

This one-hour intensive session is focused on proper studio practices to enable participants to use Common Press independently as an advanced user.

• February 4, 2026
• 12:00pm - 1:00pm
• Common Press Space

Feb 06

Open to the Public

Open Studio Session: Iron and Labor in the Revolutionary Era

Join us for a drop-in Open Studio at Common Press to print a broadside commemorating the important role iron played in Pennsylvanian and American history!

• February 6, 2026
• 2:00pm - 4:00pm
• Common Press Space

Feb 12

• Workshop

Open to the Public

Print Your Own Postcard: Learning how to set type and letterpress-print

Learn and practice the basics of letterpress printing and typesetting while creating your own postcard in this workshop.

• February 12, 2026
• 11:00am - 1:00pm
• Common Press Space

Feb 17

Open to the Public

Mardi Gras Printing for All!

Join the Common Press in celebrating Mardi Gras by pulling a commemorative print during this event.

• February 17, 2026
• 9:00am - 11:00am
• Common Press Space

Feb 20

Open to the Public

Papermaking Open House: Rag Preparation

See how rags from our community cloth collection are processed in preparation for papermaking. Stop by the Common Press to participate in removing buttons, tags, and zippers and cutting the fabric into tiny pieces.

• February 20, 2026
• 2:00pm - 4:00pm
• Common Press Space

Mar 06

Open to the Public

Open Studio Session: Indigenous Space

Join us for a drop-in Open Studio at Common Press to print a broadside about the Lenape, the original users of the land around the Historic Rittenhouse Town papermill!

• March 6, 2026
• 2:00pm - 4:00pm
• Common Press, Fisher Fine Arts Library, Lower Level