The American Printing History Association encourages the study of printing history and its related arts and skills, including calligraphy, typefounding, typography, papermaking, bookbinding, illustration, and publishing. APHA is especially, but by no means exclusively, interested in American printing history. Founded in 1974, APHA encourages the preservation of printing artifacts and source materials for printing history; APHA promotes research and scholarship through its annual conference and Lieberman lectures on a selected theme in printing history and through its oral history project and fellowship program; APHA publishes research in its scholarly journal Printing History as well as its Newsletter and special publications; and APHA recognizes distinguished achievement in the field of printing history through its annual individual and institutional awards. APHA's regional chapters sponsor active programs of lectures, field trips, and other opportunities to meet fellow APHA members on an informal basis. APHA now boasts over 700 members worldwide.


The American Printing History Association has the following scholarly, educational and charitable objectives:

1) To encourage the study of printing history, especially American printing history, in all its facets from a world context to national, regional, state and local interests, and including all the arts and technologies relevant to printing, book arts and letter forms;

2) To produce and promote publications, exhibitions, conferences, lectures and other functions, at both national and local levels, by which information and ideas relating to printing history may be exchanged;

3) To foster the development and maintenance of libraries and museums for the preservation of materials bearing on printing history, including specimens of printing and the equipment and materials used in printing; and

4) To cooperate with other organizations, institutions and individuals to recognize the central importance of printing to humanity.

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