An Ancient Art Lives on at GPO: Today’s Bookbinders Carry on a Long-Standing and Beloved Agency Function

“It’s like you know them Federal agency customers, through their work, even Congress, and the White though you never met them,” House. The custom products says GPO Head Forwarder they create include details Joshua Crotty of the GPO like leather binding, marbled craftsmen who came before edges, and gold stamping him. “We know who the and are presented to some of Head Forwarder was before our Nation’s most prominent me and who did it before figures, including Senators, him. The work of somebody Representatives, Agency who was in my shoes Directors, and the President decades ago is often the of the United States. example I’m working from. Crotty and Hurtt are I get to see into the mind of currently working on a job the craftsperson who came of 200 for the National Bookbinder Sarah Hurtt and Head Forwarder Joshua Crotty marble before me and be a part of a Science Foundation’s 70th edges of Science the Endless Frontier for the National Science continuum.” anniversary. The publications Foundation’s 70th Anniversary. Crotty points out a are primarily being worked frame that hangs over the on by hand. Few other marbling station on the binderies around the world third floor of GPO. In the could pull off a project of frame are different marbling this . patterns, each one with its The origins of marbling own unique combination are not exactly known. of bright, swirling colors. However, it is believed It was done by Head that Japanese aristocrats Forwarder Steve Rye at GPO practiced a similar technique in the 1980s. Crotty and to enhance the look of GPO Bookbinder Sarah Hurtt and haiku as say they tape up their own early as the 12th century. In marbling patterns directly the 1600s, wealthy European beside each of Rye’s patterns travelers could purchase GPO Bookbinders use all sorts of patterns and colors when marbling to demonstrate that they are marbled from Turkey notepads, which are a favorite takeaway for customers and other GPO able to match exactly what and Persia. Throughout guests touring the agency. he did all those years ago. history, marbling has had its Matching marbling share of practical purposes Though marbling is GPO’s marbling. They’ve also patterns of the past is an as well. In the past, it was an ancient art, Crotty and invested in new combs so it’s important part of what Crotty used as a security measure Hurtt have done quite a easier to match past patterns, and Hurtt do. They are often in accountant’s ledger books. bit to make the process as well as provide consistent asked to recreate designs If a page had been ripped more efficient. Some of patterns from to book. so that routine publications out of the books, the missing the changes they’ve made Hurtt and Crotty say these such as the Jefferson Manual part of the pattern gave since joining GPO in 2015 advances have come as a look consistent from year away the transgression. In (Crotty and Hurtt started result of Hurtt’s to year. But their jobs offer addition, the harsh chemicals at GPO on the exact same to troubleshooting and opportunities for plenty of of paint were used to kill day) include marbling with experimenting with her craft creativity as well. off any pests that could a different type of paint than and Crotty’s self-described On any given day, potentially ruin publications. their predecessors did and “incessant nit-picking.” Crotty and Hurtt are hand- Today, GPO uses marbling adjusting the paint to water “When I mess up, I take it crafting special editions of for decorative purposes, ratio. These improvements personally,” says Crotty. “You publications, boxes, display giving Federal publications a have made for more vibrant have to have an internal stands, and more for GPO’s statelier look. and consistent colors in ability to identify with the

1 Winter 2020 | Typeline A marbling pattern is made thicker or thinner depending on the width of the comb used. work you’re creating, be self- on Inaugural Ceremonies critical, and push yourself to knew they were going to put do better.” stationary, a pen, and a letter Hurtt adds that problem- opener in the box,” said solving is a necessary skill Hurtt. “Beyond that, they just for anyone who wants to wanted some of box.” become a Bookbinder. Hurtt originally made “You might mess up, but three prototypes for the you need to be able to have boxes. Once a design was a clear head in the moment chosen, the team worked and decide if what you have together to figure out the is still salvageable, or if you most efficient way to hand- need to start over.” make that many boxes in Another necessary time for the event. skill for any prospective “I liked the whole Bookbinder is patience. process,” says Hurtt. “From “If you try to work too talking to the clients about quickly, it won’t turn out,” what they wanted to helping says Crotty. “You have to be wrap them up in gift boxes, patient and deliberate.” we saw it through from Hurtt says her favorite beginning to end.” project to work on was the Crotty and Hurtt reflect design and execution of on how they’ve seen their 350 gift boxes they made change throughout GPO hand-made 350 of these boxes, designed by Bookbinder Sarah for President Trump’s the years. According to Hurtt, Hurtt, for guests of President Trump’s inauguration luncheon. inauguration luncheon. Bookbinding students are “The Joint Committee turning to conserving rare

Typeline | Winter 2020 2 books as a career, rather than small shop, it’s undeniable producing them, which might that their talents are rare— How Is Marbling Done? prove as a challenge to GPO nobody is crafting decorative in the future. publications on the scale that Once books are sewn and trimmed with smooth edges, Crotty, who attended Crotty and Hurtt do. These the publications of our Nation are ready to take a North Bennett Street School, two literally have a hand in marbling bath! This bath is made of a mixture of water America’s very first trade creating some of our Nation’s and Carrageenan, a natural ingredient that comes from school, has worked as a most important publications Irish seaweed. The mixture sits overnight to thicken. Bookbinder the majority of that will be around for years Bookbinders either splash colors on the surface of the his adult life. He says every to come. bath to create a stone pattern or precisely drop colors place he’s worked prior to “There is a sense of pride to create a combed pattern. The paints used are thinned GPO is now non-existent. in knowing the products acrylic paint. They use tools like combs, rakes, and pins Hurtt, who attended I make are going to be to draw patterns in the bath, adding more tools as they the School of the Art archived and preserved long go to build upon the pattern and make it more intricate. Institute of Chicago for her after I’m gone,” says Crotty. Next, starting with the top or bottom corners, they gently undergraduate degree and Thanks to them, this kiss the surface of the book to the bath. Let it dry and the University of Wisconsin, agency tradition is still going voila, a book has come to life with the magic of marbling! Madison for a masters in strong. fine arts, has also seen shifts in the industry. Prior to working at GPO, she taught bookbinding-related art, including box making, Japanese binding, and printmaking at the Corcoran School of Arts & Design in the school’s Art of the Book Graduate Program. The program has since been disbanded. And though they both humbly note that there are people all over the world who marble as a hobby or marble professionally for a

Head Forwarder Joshua Crotty (above) points to an old frame made by a Head Forwarder in the 1980s. Today, he and Bookbinder Sarah Hurtt can match the patterns made decades ago.

Roll Call visits GPO to interview Head Forwarder Joshua Crotty and Bookbinder Sarah Hurtt on their marbling work for the agency.

Typeline | Fall 2019 3 Bookbinding at GPO: A Historic Timeline 1914–1918 GPO began marbling paper as a wartime expedient during World War I.

1939 A bindery apprentice marbles the edge of a large volume.

1939 Members of the class of 1940 Apprentice School at work finishing fine leather bindings.

1960s A GPO Bookbinder demonstrates edge marbling, where a decorative pattern is applied to the edges of a bound book.

1979 A Bookbinder works to marble edges of publications.

1990s Bookbinder Edmond Davidson gives a marbling demonstration.

1991–1993 A Bookbinder works on a book for the 102nd Congress.

2003 GPO Bookbinder Peter James greets President George W. Bush during the presentation of the first volume of the President’s Public in the oval office.

2016 Joshua Crotty gives a marbling demo for employees of the of Congress.

2018 Sarah Hurtt and Joshua Crotty show kids how marbling works at the 2018 USA Science and Festival in Washington DC.

2020 Bookbinder Sarah Hurtt dips a National Science Foundation publication in the marbling bath with an Italian vein pattern, a pattern most often used for high volume projects.

4 Fall 2019 | Typeline