Repository:

Kent State University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives.

Title:

Costmary Press publications collection

Inclusive Date(s):

1992-2019

Author:

Finding aid prepared by Anita Clary

Creation:

Finding aid encoded by Anita Clary using the OhioLINK EAD Application in 2018

Description Rules:

Finding aid prepared using DACS 2nd Edition

Origination:

Keller, Dean H.

Extent:

.5 cubic feet (1 half-size record storage box)

Physical Location:

11th floor

Finding Aid Identifier:

OhKeUSC0201

Abstract:

This collection contains projects printed by The Costmary Press, a small private press operated as a hobby by Dean H. Keller. Represented are quotations and poems by local and nationally known poets, printed in the form of broadsides or chapbooks; keepsakes; and other small printed publications.

Language(s):

The records are in English.

History of The Costmary Press

Dean H. Keller is former Curator of Special Collections, Associate Dean, and emeritus professor at the Kent State University Libraries, where he had a long and distinguished career. He and his wife, Patricia, reside in Kent, Ohio.

A course on the history of books and printing piqued Keller's interest in printing. Printing as a Hobby, by J. Ben Lieberman provided basic information and motivated Keller to take up printing as a hobby. The book promoted the "Liberty" press kit which Keller acquired and used to print his first three items--stationery for his wife (Patricia) and her cousin--in 1965. He then purchased a used 6-inch by 10-inch Chandler & Price press from a church in Akron, Ohio and an assortment of Bodini type and a Hamilton type cabinet from Commercial Press in Kent, Ohio. The name Costmary Press came from Patricia Keller's interest in herbs; costmary, also known as Bible leaf, was used in Colonial times as a marker for the Bible or prayerbook and its pungent leaves were chewed to keep the listener awake during long sermons. A colleague made a drawing of the costmary leaf which has been used as Keller's printer's mark since it was introduced in 1969. In 2007, The Costmary Press acquired a font of 12 point Bewick Roman type. Most of the Press' projects have been printed on the Chandler and Price press.

Scope and Content

The Costmary Press publications collection spans the years from 1992 through 2019. It contains broadsides and chapbooks of poetry, quotations, and keepsakes. There are, generally, two categories of poetry: poems by poets who are closely tied to Kent State University, and non-Kent poets who may have some relationship with the University. Many of the poems were first published by The Costmary Press; several were later collected in books by their authors.

Statement of Arrangement

The collection is arranged in chronological order of The Costmary Press print date.

Separated Material

Many of The Costmary Press publications dated 1970-2012, including three catalogues and an anthology, are housed in the Special Collections & Archives book collection, and are cataloged in KentLINK.

Preferred Citation

The Costmary Press publications collection. Kent State University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Dean H. Keller

Controlled-access Headings

The following are found in this collection:

Subjects:

• Costmary Press -- Archives
• Small presses -- Ohio -- Kent
• Letterpress printing -- Ohio -- Kent
• Hand-printed books -- Ohio -- Kent
• Hand presses -- Ohio --Kent

Organizations/Corporations:

• Costmary Press

Functions:

• Letterpress printing

Occupations:

• Printers
• Typographers

Material Types:

• Poetry
• Hand-printed books
• Broadside poems
• Letterpress types
• Foundry types
• Keepsakes

Detailed Description of the Collection