Founded on December 12, 1912, in 2012 The Book Club of California celebrated its first 100 years! Festivities kicked off with a Pre-Centennial Poster Printing Party on July 25, 2011 and culminated in a 1912-themed luncheon on the Club’s actual 100th birthday, December 12, 2012.
Along the way raised our glasses at our 99th Birthday Gala and launched our beautiful Centennial Traveling Exhibition. We celebrated books, printing, and California art and history during a 3-day Symposium, WAY OUT WEST: Fine Printing and the Cultural History of the Book in California.
Click on the links below to learn more about our Centennial activities.
The Book Club of California 12-12-12 Birthday Luncheon
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Special Ticketed Event!
The Book Club of California was founded on December 12, 1912. On December 12, 2012, we commemorated our first 100 years at The Julia Morgan Ballroom in the Merchants Exchange Building with 1912 era food, music, and decor.
A celebration of writing, books, fine printing, and collecting in California and the West, set in San Francisco during its most glorious season.
More about the Symposium may be found here.
Pressing Forward: The Book Club of California at 100
A Centennial Traveling Exhibition
Ongoing
This exhibition tells the rich and colorful story of our past 100 years through Book Club publications, keepsakes, photographs, and ephemera. It opened at Santa Clara University in January, 2012, and will travel throughout California and the West in 2012 and beyond. Each venue has added its own personal touch to the exhibition, and we look forward to seeing how it unfolds as it travels.
More about the traveling exhibition, including the exhibition schedule, may be found here.
The Book Club of California’s 99th Birthday Gala!
Monday, December 12, 2011, 6-8 pm
Special Ticketed Event!
On December 12, 2011, we raised our glasses (filled with our signature cocktail, The Page Turner) to our first 99 years. Festivities included:
- Wine, Cocktails (The Page Turner), and Hors d’Oeuvres
- Live Music
- A new BCC Broadside designed, printed, and signed by Felicia Rice
- True to Type: Women Book Artists (Still) Love Letterpress (a program with Kathleen Walkup, Director, Mills College Book Arts Program, and students
- A Special Keepsake: commemorative coasters (featuring The Page Turner recipe) designed by Jennifer Garden of Bluestocking Press
Proceeds supported our Centennial Traveling Exhibition.
Pre-Centennial Poster Printing Party
Monday, July 25, 2011, 5-7 pm
Special Ticketed Event!
For this special event, the first 40 people to sign up were invited to print their own limited edition broadsides on the Club’s Columbian hand-press.
The broadside was designed and printed letterpress in wooden type by Barbara & Fred Voltmer and Li Jiang of Havilah Press.
While printing was underway, Alastair Johnston gave a talk on the history of wooden type, and guests enjoyed sparkling wine, strawberries, and a Blondie video on Guttenberg.
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