I am doing research on Ellen Gates Starr, co-founder of Hull House in
Chicago with Jane Addams, but also an arts educator and arts and crafts
bookbinder, who studied with T.J. Cobden-Sanderson from 1897-98 and again
in 1899 at the Doves Bindery in London. She was an active bookbinder from
1897 through about 1928 (the latest dated binding I'm aware of).
I have identified about 80 books bound by her, but the current locations of
nearly half of these is unknown. I am hoping that some of these bindings
can be found. Here is a brief description of her bindings:
Most of Starr’s bookbindings are structurally and stylistically similar to
those of Cobden-Sanderson and the Doves Bindery. The bindings are full
leather, often with gilt edges. Starr used many of the same motifs as
Cobden-Sanderson and the Doves Bindery, including leaves, flowers, and
single and double lines. The panels formed by raised bands on the spine are
usually decorated/gilt, and usually the title is stamped in one of the
panels and the date stamped at the foot of the spine. Overall patterns
generally are geometrically-based and symmetrical. Some of the bindings
have multi-colored leather onlays in addition to gold tooling (unlike C-S
bindings). Many of EGS’s binding tools were designed by her sister, Mary
Blaisdell. Starr signed her bindings on the back turn-in, with her initials
and the date of binding.
I have found Starr's bindings at the following libraries and institutions:
University of Illinois, Chicago
University of Chicago
Smith College
Washington University
DePaul University
Newberry Library
Pierpont Morgan Library
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Oberlin College
Memorial Library, Historic Deerfield, MA
British Library
several private collections
Please let me know about any bindings by Ellen Gates Starr you may have
seen, or if you know of a likely place where they might be found. I would
be glad to send images of some of the bindings and/or specific titles of
"missing" books.
Thanks very much for your help. Please excuse any multiple postings.
Barbara Blumenthal
Northampton, MA
bblument@smith.edu
I am doing research on Ellen Gates Starr, co-founder of Hull House in
Chicago with Jane Addams, but also an arts educator and arts and crafts
bookbinder, who studied with T.J. Cobden-Sanderson from 1897-98 and again
in 1899 at the Doves Bindery in London. She was an active bookbinder from
1897 through about 1928 (the latest dated binding I'm aware of).
I have identified about 80 books bound by her, but the current locations of
nearly half of these is unknown. I am hoping that some of these bindings
can be found. Here is a brief description of her bindings:
Most of Starr’s bookbindings are structurally and stylistically similar to
those of Cobden-Sanderson and the Doves Bindery. The bindings are full
leather, often with gilt edges. Starr used many of the same motifs as
Cobden-Sanderson and the Doves Bindery, including leaves, flowers, and
single and double lines. The panels formed by raised bands on the spine are
usually decorated/gilt, and usually the title is stamped in one of the
panels and the date stamped at the foot of the spine. Overall patterns
generally are geometrically-based and symmetrical. Some of the bindings
have multi-colored leather onlays in addition to gold tooling (unlike C-S
bindings). Many of EGS’s binding tools were designed by her sister, Mary
Blaisdell. Starr signed her bindings on the back turn-in, with her initials
and the date of binding.
I have found Starr's bindings at the following libraries and institutions:
University of Illinois, Chicago
University of Chicago
Smith College
Washington University
DePaul University
Newberry Library
Pierpont Morgan Library
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Oberlin College
Memorial Library, Historic Deerfield, MA
British Library
several private collections
Please let me know about any bindings by Ellen Gates Starr you may have
seen, or if you know of a likely place where they might be found. I would
be glad to send images of some of the bindings and/or specific titles of
"missing" books.
Thanks very much for your help. Please excuse any multiple postings.
Barbara Blumenthal
Northampton, MA
bblument@smith.edu
