Challenge Met: The Origins and Early Years of the Society of Scribes

A panel discussion preceded by a presentation by Paul Shaw

Paul Shaw will present a short history of calligraphy in the United States from the beginning of the 20th century until the founding of the Society of Scribes in 1974. His presentation will be followed by a conversation about the Donald Jackson workshop that jump-started the Society and the early years of the group in the 1970s. The conversationalists will be Nancy Corbin, Marcy Robinson, and Ina Saltz. It is expected that several founding members of the Society will be present in the audience and willing to share their memories of the early days.

Certificate by Donald Jackson

Panelists

Nancy Corbin was one of the students in Donald Jackson's 1974 weekend workshop and one of the first members of the Society of Scribes. Her husband Lee was the Society's lawyer. Nancy has been designing diplomas, certificates, awards and invitations for several decades.

Marcy Robinson was part of Donald Jackson's 1975 class on Illumination. She served as the treasurer of the Society and its workshop co-chair in the early years. In 1985 she created the Society of Scribes Journal. She has since taught numerous classes for the Society. 

Ina Saltz was the first elected President of the Society of Scribes. She taught calligraphy at Cooper Union for many years. Since the early 1980s Ina has had a distinguished career as a magazine art director and consultant.  

Paul Shaw joined the Society of Scribes when he moved to New York in 1977. He served as the workshop chairman and the exhibition chairman as well as being the editor of The Calligraphy Quarterly. Paul taught calligraphy in several New York City area universities from 1980 until 2015.

Doors open at 6pm, refreshments served.
The program will be from 6:30 to 8:00pm.