The Museum of Printing (MoP),[2] located in
Haverhill, Massachusetts, is a museum dedicated to preserving the history of
printing technologies and practices, the
graphic arts, and their role in the development of culture and literacy.[1]
The core of the collection was contributed by Romano, who spent his career in the development of the modern printing business. He contributed 6,000 books from his personal library, plus many classic machines, including early
Macintoshdesktop publishing computers contributed by
Steve Jobs.[2]
The typewriter collection has been the setting and facilitator of at least one successful
marriage proposal, in 2020.[4]
Collection
The displays include a number of historic machines and related artifacts:[5]
Early Gutenberg-style hand-powered
printing presses, progressing to small hand-operated presses used in the early 20th century
Various data storage media used with printing, such as
magnetic tape,
floppy disks, and specialized optical cartridges
Many different metal, optical, digital, and wood typefonts, including over 2500 wooden display fonts
There is an extensive library of 7,000 books, periodicals, and media related to the history of paper and printing.[6][3]
Programs
Operation of classic printing equipment is demonstrated, as well as exhibitions and hands-on workshops by artists who use printing technologies.[7][2] In 2018, the museum celebrated a "
QWERTY" Festival, featuring typewriters and their history and culture.[8]
There are art galleries, meeting spaces, and a museum store on premises. The store offers books, souvenirs, and classic printing artifacts.[1]