Michael LeRoy Chrisman, Bookbinder
Michael LeRoy Chrisman with "The First Five Gutenberg's"
In the over 15,000 visitors (and literally countless wonderful comments) we've had to this blog just since January '09, a great many folks have asked me where I studied bookbinding, and many have asked more about my life and experiences, etc. So I thought it might be a good idea to post here a short background sketch of myself, and my career.
- Born 1963, Homer, Ohio (Burlington Township / Licking County).
- Authored the First published history of Burlington Township in 1979. Second Edition/1981.
- Received gift of the Holwick Historical Ohio Photographs Collection, 1980.
- Began text-book study in bookbinding in 1980 to repair books from my grandfathers collection, who was a Justice. My first text-book was: Rebinding & Repairing Books By Hand, by David Muir.
- Founded the Homer, Ohio Historical Society 1981. Served as President from 1981 to 1989.
- Presented with the Henry Howe Family Award by the Granville, Ohio Historical Society, 1981.
- Conducted lengthy historical research on Ohio Indian Tribes and their hieroglyphics, and Ohio Grist Mills, as well as continued research in local and personal family histories, 1981-1987.
- Joined the Old Order Amish Church in NE Ohio, 1987.
- Took up bookbinding as a full-time profession, 1987. But also doubled one year as an Amish School Teacher.
- I have worked full-time as a bookbinder/book restorer ever since.
- In 1981, I acquired and began to study, in great depth, The Restoration of Leather Bindings, by Bernard C. Middleton.
- In 1994, I made my first journey to England to visit Mr. Middleton in London, England. Following is a run-down of only a small portion of that experience;
Between 1994 and 1999 I was fortunate to receive some very kind and personal teaching, guidance and mentoring from Mr. Bernard C. Middleton, MBE, FSA, London, England. The personal (one-on-one) teaching was received both at his home in London, and mine in Ohio.
On one particular teaching session at Bernard's home in 1996, he demonstrated for me the following;
- His (period-style) re-backing and spine label technique on a mid-18th century Philadelphia printing of Barclay's Apology.
- His (period-style) outer hinge repair technique on Offenbarung Johannis, Stuttgart, 1857. (This book is in my personal collection).
- His (period-style) Full Gilt Back on Essai Sur L'Origine De La Gravure, Paris, 1808. (This book is in my personal collection). NOTE: Bernard & I actually re-backed this book prior to he doing the full-gilt-back. It was originally a smooth spine, so false bands were pasted onto the back, creating spine compartments, then the new lather applied. It wasn't until after the gilt work was all done that we noticed the book had been re-backed and tooled UPSIDE DOWN! All I can say is, I wasn't the one who pasted on the false bands! I received the book in the mail from Bernard a few weeks later. It takes a proud place in my personal library, where it has now been for 13 years!
Also on this same visit a very important and honorable gentleman called on Mr. Middleton. This was Lord Robert Crawford, The Right Honorable 29th Earl of Crawford, of Balcarres Castle, Scotland. I was humbled that Bernard liked my period-style reverse calf binding on a 1777 printing of Taylor & Skinners Maps of Ireland so well that (standing in his den) he picked it up and handed it to Lord Crawford. He was equally pleased, and invited me to visit him at Balcarres Castle on my next trip to England, and when I did that the following year, I was astounded by the beauty as Lord Crawford gave me a tour of their home...Balcarres (a 16th century Scottish castle). Balcarres is also home of the largest private library in all Scotland, The Bibliotech Lindsiana. I have a photograph of myself in the library with one of his original Nuremberg Chronicles. It was a time I will never forget! Lord Crawford was Lord Chamberlain to the Queen Mother, and also Britain's Minister of Defense during the cold war. Here's a fabulous link to more information about Earl Crawford:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Lindsay,_29th_Earl_of_Crawford
Before returning to America, Bernard presented me with the gift of probably his most famous period-style Cambridge binding ever, the one that is illustrated in the back of Restoration book, Kennet's Antiquities of Rome (a 17th century book). On the inside front fly-leaf he wrote: For Leroy, from Bernard, June 1996. Bernard made great "kippers and bread" for lunch.
I am also very fortunate to have a huge archive of written correspondence (primarily fax communications) wherein Bernard made many notes regarding my book, The Restoration of Cloth Bindings (1996. To be published).
The experience of life thus far has been amazing! However, the best thing that has ever happened to me is my wonderful wife, Chongmin (Minnie). There's a picture of her & I on this BLOG under the "Lost Gutenbergs" category. She has been my rock. The way she cares for me and our home and business is super-human! I thank God for her every day of my life.
As I'm writing all of this I'm ever more aware just how much there is to write. So very much! Therefore, I'll add more later, as well as some photo's of work that I have done over the years, and many other unique photo's of interest.
I'LL OUTLINE MY WORK AT THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS (1999-2000), AND OTHER INTERESTING TIDBITS IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
Michael
Posted by Michael Chrisman at 5/14/2009 9:05 AM 
Categories: Welcome to BBWS!,Lost Gutenbergs,Michael LeRoy Chrisman
Categories: Welcome to BBWS!,Lost Gutenbergs,Michael LeRoy Chrisman
Comments