Leo Hart Printing Co., Inc. papers

Collection

Identifier: BB.H32

Staff Only

Biographical / Historical note

The Leo Hart Printing Company was founded in 1905 by Leo Hart. He served as its president until his death in 1935 when he was succeeded by his son, Horace, who was president for over twenty years. In 1955, the company merged with John P. Smith Co., to form the Smith-Hart Printing Corp. Since then the company has undergone further changes and currently (1964) functions as the Robert Hart Printing Co. under the leadership of Robert Hart, the younger son of Leo Hart.

Scope and Contents

The Hart Collection includes samples of books and materials relating to the printing of books by the Leo Hart Printing Company and its successors. The material includes advertisements, information concerning the graphic arts, business papers, items relating to the development and activities of the Hart Company and its personnel, and personal papers of the Leo Hart family. Also included are some papers of Horace Hart, the elder son of Leo, from his years of service in the Printing and Publishing Industries Division of the U. S. Department of Commerce in Washington, D.C

Of primary interest in the Hart collection is the Printers' Valhalla series of books concerning great printers. Many plates and photographs of the works of famous printers and the copy, galleys, proofs, page paste-ups, publicity plans, and reviews directly concerned with the printing of each book are part of the collection. These materials illustrate the various steps involved in the writing, design, printing, and publication of a single book. Other fine books printed by Hart which account for many items of interest in the collection are: Venus and Adonis, Marco Polo, Poe's Murders in the Rue Morgue, Bibliotheca Typographica, Burke's Speech on Conciliation, The Christian Jewish Tragedy, Roast Pig, and various editions. Book illustrations by Rockwell Kent, W. A. Dwiggins, Erik Hans Krause, and Wilfred Jones and type and book designs by Will Ransom disclose the artistry possible in the production of books.

The main divisions of the collection are: records pertaining to books printed by Hart Co., the various printers in the Valhalla series, company advertising and samples, Hart Co. business records, Hart Co. general records, Hart family papers, and three sections of additional material donated by Mr. Hart. Also included is a list of book samples printed by Hart Co. These have been catalogued and shelved with the book collection; their call number is listed.

Many examples of fine advertising design, engraving, and printing are also to be found in the Hart collection.

Creator

Leo Hart Printing Company (Organization)
Hart, Leo (Person)
Hart, Horace, 1910- (Person)

Dates

Creation: 1905-1965

Language of Materials

English

Extent

33 box(es) (33 boxes, 26 volumes, 16 oversized items)

Access

The Leo Hart Printing Co., Inc. Papers is open for research use. Researchers are advised to contact the Rare Books, Special Collections & Preservation Department prior to visiting. Upon arrival, researchers will also be asked to fill out a registration form and provide photo identification.

Use

In consultation with a curator, reproductions may be made upon request. Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from a curator. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Presented to the University of Rochester Library by Horace Hart, at various times, 1956 - 1977.

Preferred Citation

[Item title, item date], Leo Hart Printing Co., Inc. Papers, BB.H32, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester