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A Brief History of Printing

In-Person Lecture and Q&A

Join us at Central Library in the Indianapolis Special Collections Room (ISCR) for an engaging in-person lecture on the (abbreviated) history of printing. We’ll explore early examples of printing, delve into Gutenberg’s groundbreaking press, and discuss significant innovations throughout history.

Culture, History, and Society: Rare Books and Special Collections—The history of printing is often thought to begin and end with Johannes Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press in 1440, but this is far from the truth. The practice of transferring text onto objects dates back to 3000 BCE, and the first major innovation for printing duplicates onto paper was developed in East Asia in the 7th century BCE. While Gutenberg’s press and the resulting first printing of the Christian Bible revolutionized printing, it did not stop there. Significant improvements and innovations were made to movable-type designs, especially during key cultural events such as the Industrial Revolution of the 1800s. Even in recent decades, milestones in the world of printing have continued to emerge. Artifacts and printed objects serve as evidence of this long history, and some materials are preserved right here in Indianapolis within IndyPL's Indianapolis Special Collections Room (ISCR). 

Presenter: This lecture will be led by Emily Thomas, an IndyPL children’s librarian with a background in history and rare books/manuscripts librarianship. Registered attendees are encouraged to arrive early or stay afterward to explore various captivating artifacts from printing history in our exclusive Historic and Fine Printing collection, which will be showcased in our exhibit cases. Register now and join us. 

Pre-readings and Other Resources
Printing History

Location: Held in the Indianapolis Special Collections Room (ISCR) on the 6th floor within Central Library located at 40 E. St Clair Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204.

Parking: The Central Library has a parking garage available to patrons during their time at the Library. The garage can be accessed on Pennsylvania Street.

Contact: Special Collections Librarian Montoya Barker

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