Brattleboro’s Letterpress Years was mounted as a month-long exhibit at Brooks Memorial Library, opening October 11, 2017
The exhibition will feature artifacts from this once-dominant industry, images of letterpress operations, a rogue’s gallery of key players from the times, interactive activities, and a timeline of Brattleboro’s rise to becoming one of the peak producers of books, magazines, and newspapers—and how this flood of activity affected the growth and settlement of the area.
The letterpress exhibition is curated by Stephanie Greene, a member of the Brattleboro Words Project leadership team. Greene is the daughter of the late Stephen Greene, co-owner—with his wife Janet—of the eponymous Stephen Greene Press, a prestigious, independent publishing company that operated in Brattleboro for 24 years before being sold to larger Boston publisher in 1978.
“Brattleboro is home to a rich history of publishing and printing, dating from the late 1700’s,” says Greene. “The Words Project creates an opportunity for the local historians and enthusiasts to collect and showcase this history. The collaboration between visiting scholars and residents will promote a broad and deep appreciation of our shared heritage that will serve as a model for other communities.”
The papermaking, printing, bookmaking and publishing work of Deacon John Holbrook and his son-in-law, William Fessenden, was so successful that it is believed to have doubled the population of Brattleboro in the early 1800s. Webster’s spelling book was an early success, and many copies of what became known as “Holbrook’s Bibles” were also sold.
Royall Tyler
Royall Tyler, was a jurist, poet and playwright who wrote the first American dramatic comedy, The Contrast in 1787, which was a great success. Tyler was a federalist, and served prominently in the suppression of Shay’s rebellion, which brought him to Vermont for the first time. He lived in Guilford in 1791 and later in Brattleboro, and served as the state’s attorney for Windham County. As a jurist, he wrote, “Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Judicature.” He was named the Chief Justice of Vermont’ Supreme Court in 1812. He died in Brattleboro, in 1826, and is buried in Prospect Hill cemetery.
