The Rare Books Department at the University of Utah’s J. Willard Marriott Library announced that registration is open for the Designing Deseret Symposium. The event aims to examine the Deseret Alphabet, described as one of the most ambitious printing experiments in American history.
The symposium is a collaborative effort involving the Utah Bibliographical Society, Church History Library, Brigham Young University, Utah State University, and the University of Utah. Participants including scholars, printers, artists, and enthusiasts will examine the origins and cultural significance of the alphabet, as well as its impact on the history of the book.
The program includes a morning of guest speakers and breakfast, followed by lunch. The event will conclude with rotating 45-minute hands-on workshops. These sessions allow participants to engage with historical materials and practices, such as learning printing techniques in the Book Arts Studio, examining primary sources in the Rare Books Classroom, and practicing Deseret reading and writing using period primers.
Registration for the symposium costs $50, though student scholarships are available. Space for the event is limited.
