Printers on the Move:
Migration, Identity and Printing Skills Transfer Across the English Speaking World, 1840-1914
A major research initiative coordinated between Professor David Finkelstein, Queen Margaret University, Dr Mary Hammond, the University of Southampton and Dr Sydney Shep, Victoria University of Wellington, aims to document the manner in which printing personnel, trade skills and trade information circulated across the English speaking world in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and the manner in which social identities were forged and maintained in such print trade arenas. An initial symposium on the subject, supported by the Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation will be held 1-2 October 2010 in Edinburgh. A follow on symposium, sponsored by the University of Southampton's International Fund, will be held 9 October 2010.
Migration, Identity and Scots-New Zealand Print Culture Traditions, 1860-1980
A British Academy funded pilot study is evaluating to what extent Scots migration over the last 150 years has contributed to the skills base and infrastructure of the print trade in New Zealand. Working in collaboration with Victoria University of Wellington, SAPPHIRE is studying how Scots were involved in New Zealand print culture, what were some of the results, whether the skills and knowledge gained in New Zealand were fed back to Scotland, and what primary research material exists to develop further studies on the subject.
Scottish Typographical Association
Preliminary research, funded by the Carnegie Trust and the Bibliographical Society, is underway investigating aspects related to circulation of personnel and knowledge across Scottish printing union networks in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Subjects being researched include membership data, STA journal publications and communication networks, regional, national and international migration and the 'tramping typographer' phenomena.
Typographical Journals
Key factors in shaping transnational communication links and print union identity were typographical journals, usually produced under the auspices of local or national printing trade unions. Projects and initiatives linked to this aspect of print and typographical activity and social networks form part of the Printers on the Move initiative.
Paper Mill Diasporas
Scots input has been instrumental in establishing industrial centres of paper making activity on both the North and South Island of New Zealand. Some initial results of our British Academy funded evaluation of past and contemporary paper making history and practice in New Zealand are represented in this section.
