As part of the Penn Libraries' America 250 programming, join the Common Press for The Typography of Independence, a year-long program celebrating the papermaking and printing techniques that created the first edition of the Declaration of Independence.
Through monthly letterpress printing sessions, typesetting workshops, a city-wide rag collection and papermaking project, and a series of public lectures, workshops, and tours, the program highlights the production processes behind this Philadelphia-made foundational document.
Join us for a drop-in Open Studio at Common Press to print a broadside that celebrates our newly acquired Caslon metal type!
Join us for a drop-in Open Studio at Common Press to print a broadside about rag collectors and papermaking in 1770s!
Join us for a drop-in Open Studio at Common Press to print a broadside on the reprinting and distribution of the Declaration of Independence!
Join us for a drop-in Open Studio at Common Press to print a broadside about artificial lighting in American history!
Join us for a drop-in Open Studio at Common Press to print a broadside about how the pace of time impacted life 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!
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!
Join us for a drop-in Open Studio at Common Press to print a broadside exploring a key ingredient used to produce ink, fabric, and paper during the Revolutionary era: flax!
Join us for a drop-in Open Studio at Common Press to print a broadside reflecting on important aspects of labor history during the early days of the United States of America.
To honor the 250th anniversary of the Declaration, Common Press will host a 12 hour, two day community typesetting event during which all are invited to hand-set metal type to help create a historically-accurate replica. The final forme of metal type will remain available for printing on our 19th-century hand press through August 2026.
A brief history of the Dunlap broadside and the Caslon type that was used to print it, for the Uncovered Narratives #1: Printing and Type in the Revolutionary era.
An introduction to The Typography of Independence and the Makers Blog
The University of Pennsylvania, located in the heart of the city, was at the center of the dramatic events of 1776 and the Revolution that followed. 250 years later, partners across the university are exploring how history can help us better understand the present and create a sustainable and inclusive future.
