Events Calendar

Iowa Bibliophiles presents

Morris at Iowa: The William Morris Archive and the Kelmscott Press

Join Florence S. Boos, a professor of English at Iowa and the general editor of the William Morris Archive, as she reflects on some of the many stages of the Morris presence at Iowa. She will explain why this pioneering nineteenth-century writer, designer, and political figure remains of contemporary relevance, demonstrate the Archive’s internal structure and use, and identify some of its unique features. She and the Project Manager, Kimberly A. Maher, will recount some of the Archive’s complicated sixteen-year history and the behind-the-scenes processes which enable its database and search features.

The University of Iowa Libraries is a fitting home for the Archive, due to the many Morris letters, Kelmscott Press books, and other related items housed in Special Collections. Florence will describe the importance of these materials, and then identify some of the natural design features of Morris’s first, widely influential fine arts press, using examples from our collection as well as the magnificent Kelmscott Chaucer.

This event is free and open to everyone. For the safety of our guests, this event will be on Zoom. It will also be recorded and added to Special Collections & Archives YouTube channel at a later date. There will be time after the talk for a Q&A, which will not be recorded. For questions, please contact Elizabeth Riordan at elizabeth-riordan@uiowa.edu