Scope and Contents: The Soybean Press records contain materials printed by Soybean Press, a teaching press that operated at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign from 2006-2011.
Soybean Press was supported by the collaboration between the Rare Book & Manuscript Library (RBML), the Graduate School of Library and Information Science (GSLIS, now the School of Information Sciences), the University of Illinois Press, the University Printing Department, and the School of Art & Design. The Press worked to "expand the awareness and knowledge of fine press books and the book arts" and "craft beautifully printed texts... to inspire an appreciation of the book and print arts." Operators of the Press accomplished this goal by "offer[ing] workshops related to letterpress printing, book binding and conservation" and "host[ing] guest artists in the print and book arts."
This collection includes eight series that document the work of Soybean Press and the "Compositors" who operated it. These include I. Publications; II. Paper-Making; III. Instructional Materials; IV. Press Equipment & Type; V. Business Records; VI. Research; VII. Events, Artists, & the Press; and VIII. Soybean Press Library.