A Revolution Will Not Be Tweeted

When the handwritten Declaration of Independence was delivered to the local print shop the evening of July 4, 1776, it was “mass produced” on the printing press overnight. But only after it was entirely set by hand, one l-e-t-t-e-r at a time and locked up in a press bed to be pulled by hand, one copy at a time.

All are invited to this hands on presentation from John Vincent, letterpress printer and director of A Revolutionary Press, to learn some history of printing The American Revolution. During the program, everyone will engage in a conversation around an old press, imagine what The Next Revolution could be, and have the opportunity to “pull a broadside”. Hosted by the MRV Libraries as part of our series celebrating the 250th anniversary of this country.

John Vincent is a retired police officer, poet, letterpress printer, and director of A Revolutionary Press, a 501c3 nonprofit and volunteer run collective of artists in service to the Common Good in New Haven, Vermont. John is also the co-curator of “Finding Hope Within: Healing and Transformation Through the Making of Art Within the Carceral System”, a travelling art exhibition in Vermont for 2023-2026. He presents on the historical and contemporary significance of hand setting type on the printing press in context with the past and future Revolutions in this country.