The Caxton Club is a private social club and bibliophilic society founded in Chicago in 1895 to promote the book arts and the history of the book. To further its goals, the club holds monthly (September through June) dinner meetings and luncheons, sponsors bibliophile events (often in collaboration with the Newberry Library and with other regional institutions) and exhibitions, and publishes books, exhibition catalogs, and a monthly journal, The Caxtonian.[3][4][5][6][7][8] The Caxton Club is a member club of the Fellowship of American Bibliophilic Societies.[9]
Formation | January 26, 1895[1] |
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Type | Social club |
Purpose | To promote the book arts and the history of the book |
Headquarters | 60 W. Walton St., Chicago, Illinois |
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President | Sarah M. Pritchard[2] |
Main organ | Caxtonian |
Website | www.caxtonclub.org |
The Caxton Club was founded in 1895 by a group of fifteen bibliophiles to support the publication of fine books in the style of the then-new Arts and Crafts Movement.[10] The club's name honors the fifteenth-century English printer William Caxton.[11] The founders included John Vance Cheney, Edward E. Ayer, Martin A. Ryerson, James Ellsworth, Charles L. Hutchinson, and Washington Irving Way and Chauncey L. Williams (of Way & Williams).[12]
The Caxton Club flourished until World War I, after which its membership declined. The club was revived, however, and began to hold regular monthly meetings. The club was exclusively for men until 1976 when the first women were elected to membership.[11]
In 1995 the Caxton Club centenary was celebrated with publication of The Caxton Club, 1895–1995: Celebrating a Century of the Book in Chicago [13] which has been characterized as a "significant addition to the history of American bibliophily."[14]
The Club published several fine editions in partnership with the Lakeside Press of Chicago.[15]
The Club awards scholarships and grants to students and researchers in the book arts.[16]
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In the course of its history, the Caxton Club has published formal publications and other printed pieces. Following is a complete listing of the club’s publications.