About this collection
Penland School of Craft is one of the oldest craft schools in the U.S., founded in 1929 as a weaving school and expanding over the decades to encompass a range of methods and studios. Penland's Letterpress Studio has hosted established artists as teachers, students, resident artists, and more over multiple decades.
This project and current database build on Letterpress & Print Studios Coordinator Adam Leestma's studio leadership and work, including documentation of the wood type collection in photo and list form. Sean P. Morrisey and Jay Fox's work updating and compiling the current type inventory binders is also integral to this project.
Amanda Wyatt Visconti volunteered to help with type collection organization, documentation, and this online project starting with their Winter 2026 artist residency & fellowship at Penland. Visconti's scan and transcription of the current binder list, and photos of the type and equipment collection in the Letterpress Studio accompany their web design and database creation work.
See Leslie Noell and Eileen Wallace's project printing the backs of some of Penland's Gothic wood type—a beautiful exploration of the all-over character of well-used wood type.
Photo gallery
Collection Photos
Once the database work is complete, this will change to a labeled and organized gallery that lets you click into details about the type in each photo. For now, please enjoy this sampling of unlinked photos from the type collection:
Penland's Letterpress Studio movable type collection, photographed by Amanda Wyatt Visconti during their 2026 winter residency.
Type database
Browse the Type Collection
Once live, you will be able to search and filter by typeface, size, material, and more.
| Typeface / Face Name | Size (pt) | Material | Case / Location | Condition | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Database creation in progress — check back soon | |||||
Full browsable database interface coming soon as part of the Movable Feast project.
Credits
Credits & Thanks
- Letterpress & Print Studios Coordinator: Adam Leestma — documentation of the wood type collection in photo and list form; Letterpress Studio leadership, maintenance, innovations, culture
- Letterpress Studio Type Inventory Binder: Sean P. Morrisey and Jay Fox, updating & compiling the current type inventory binders
- Online project: Amanda Wyatt Visconti — transcription of paper type inventory photos, type & equipment collection photos, online project web design & text
- Collection home: Penland School of Craft, Letterpress Studio