Bookmaking History Comes to Life
By Marketing and Communications | 12-12-2025
The creaking sounds of a wooden printing press operated by ink-stained novices could have been straight from the 15th century, without modern conveniences like air conditioning.
The leap to yesteryear took place at the 2025 Book History Workshop, hosted June 1-6 by Texas A&M University Libraries.
Guided by printing experts and student assistants, 19 workshop participants burrowed into each step of the labor-intensive printing process of old. They set type by hand, made and decorated paper, used period-accurate book illustration techniques, and manually operated the Libraries’ creaking, but fully functional, English common press.
The event’s participants included librarians, archivists, faculty, students and collectors who hailed from as far away as Utah and engaged in hands-on exploration of age-old printing techniques in the Libraries’ Historic Press Room and the Preservation Lab.
“The workshop reveals the considerable amount of human intervention in every step of the bookmaking process,” said Madeline Keyser, book arts & historic press room librarian, who headed the event. “Learning about the manual labor and the number of decisions that are required in book production is important because they can have a huge impact on the final product, as well as how we interpret and interact with a printed object.”
One of the Texas A&M graduate students emerged from the workshop with new ideas about her field of study — English printers, publishers, and booksellers in the early modern period.
“Actually experiencing this and seeing how things were done made me rethink a lot of what I had understood by their work, their labor, and all the effort it took to actually get a book ready,” said Bruna Braga Fontes, a Ph.D. English student.
Preserving the knowledge of how books were made in the past also benefits society at large, said Keyser.
“Understanding the printing process can enhance people’s appreciation of books and writing,” she said. “Now, everyone is so used to being able to easily type, copy/paste, delete and print at the click of a button. Learning about the labor involved in the printing process can allow people to better appreciate the amount of work it takes to make a book.”
There’s also the tactile element of bookmaking.
“I think people just really enjoy the opportunity to do an analog craft,” she said.
Texas A&M University Libraries
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Written by: Richard Nira | Media Contact: Matthew Kennedy, matthew.kennedy@tamu.edu.
About Texas A&M University Libraries
Comprising six unique libraries, the Texas A&M University Libraries are a hub of resources, spaces and professionals supporting the success of research, learning and teaching. The Libraries advance student success and partner in innovative research, while providing a physical and digital home to all students, staff, faculty and researchers. To learn more visit library.tamu.edu.