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Typography and Graphic Design

A guide to resources for Word and Image 1 projects, for finding a range of image reproductions across time period, geography, printing and production technologies.

Rare Books in Olin Special Collections

Visit Special Collections (by appointment) in Olin Library for examples of typography.

spec@wumail.wustl.edu | p: 314-935-5495 | t: 314-309-3411

Typography print books

History of Graphic Design
Manual of Typography
Type
The Evolution of Type

Helpful Call Number Ranges

 

NC845-1850: Graphic design 

 

TR: Photography 

 

Z116 - 265.5: Printing, Typography 

 

Full LC Classification Outline

Browsing the Collection

A shelf of Zs in the Kranzberg Art & Architecture Library 

PRINT COLLECTIONS: Researching Letter-forms Across Time and Space

PRINT COLLECTIONS IN THE LIBRARY

Search for books using Washington University Libraries' catalog.


Advanced Search


FINDING LETTERFORMS ACROSS TIME AND PLACE:


FINDING IMAGES OF OBJECTS:

  • IMAGE-RICH TERMS - Add one of the following terms to your topic:
    • pictorial
    • exhibitions
    • "in art"
  • BROADEN SEARCH TERMS if there are few or no results. Start with specific terms and go broader for more results:

Still no luck?

  • BRAINSTORM SIMILAR TERMS -  It's always a good idea to think of similar terms describing your topic. Catalog records do not search the full text of the books and you can't always be certain what terms are used to describe your topic.

           For example, try: 

           minerals pictorial | crystals pictorial


SUBJECTS - controlled vocabulary, assigned by catalogers to bring topics under one term resulting in an efficient, time-saving way to find books. Subjects are very specific. The best way to find them is by using keywords and looking at the subjects listed in relevant catalog records. 

Graphic design (Typography)  | Graphic design (Typography) -- History.

Printing -- History.

Type and type-founding. | Type and type-founding -- History

Advertising layout and typography | Alphabets | Lettering