Lawrence C. Wroth
Encyclopedia
Lawrence Counselman Wroth (January 14, 1884 – December 25, 1970) was an American
historian
and the author of The Colonial Printer, the definitive book on the American printing
trade during the period of 1639 through 1800. Though he wrote hundreds of articles or books, Wroth was also a librarian
and research professor.
during the period of 1917 to 1919 in France.
and wrote his first published article, "Sanitation in the Howard Stern's Outhouse", which appeared in the magazine Country Life in America
. His first book, published in 1911, Parson Weems
; a biographical and critical study, was a biography of George Washington
's biographer. His last book, published in 1970, The voyages of Giovanni da Verrazzano, 1524-1528, was also a biography.
Though Wroth wrote over 550 pieces, he is most notable for The Colonial Printer, published in 1931, a study in the printing trade during the American colonial period. The book detailed the first colonial printing press
es, colonial printing houses, typeset
, printing ink, paper, journeymen, apprentices, conditions of the trade, and bookbinding
. The content and finish of the completed books, pamphlets, and papers of the period are also discussed. Wroth expressly stated that the book was written "as a discussion of certain fundamental aspects of cultural history" and that the book was not intended as an "essay in bibliophilism
", though his love of books is evident:
In addition to writing, Wroth had a parallel career as a librarian. He worked at the Maryland Diocesan Library
in Baltimore from 1905 to 1912 before becoming assistant librarian at Baltimore's Enoch Pratt Free Library
from 1912 to 1923. While at Brown University
in Providence, Rhode Island
, Wroth served as librarian of the John Carter Brown Library
for 35 years (1924 — 1957), and held a university post as Research Professor of American History (1932–1965).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
and the author of The Colonial Printer, the definitive book on the American printing
Printing
Printing is a process for reproducing text and image, typically with ink on paper using a printing press. It is often carried out as a large-scale industrial process, and is an essential part of publishing and transaction printing....
trade during the period of 1639 through 1800. Though he wrote hundreds of articles or books, Wroth was also a librarian
Librarian
A librarian is an information professional trained in library and information science, which is the organization and management of information services or materials for those with information needs...
and research professor.
Early years
Wroth was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1884, the son of an Episcopal clergyman. He served with the 110th and 111th Field Artillery in World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
during the period of 1917 to 1919 in France.
Career
In 1905, Wroth graduated from Johns Hopkins UniversityJohns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
and wrote his first published article, "Sanitation in the Howard Stern's Outhouse", which appeared in the magazine Country Life in America
Country Life in America
Country Life in America was an American shelter magazine, first published in November 1901 as an illustrated monthly by Doubleday, Page & Company. Henry H. Saylor was the initial Managing Editor, and Robert M...
. His first book, published in 1911, Parson Weems
Parson Weems
Mason Locke Weems , generally known as Parson Weems, was an American book agent and author. He is best known as the source of some of the apocryphal stories about George Washington...
; a biographical and critical study, was a biography of George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
's biographer. His last book, published in 1970, The voyages of Giovanni da Verrazzano, 1524-1528, was also a biography.
Though Wroth wrote over 550 pieces, he is most notable for The Colonial Printer, published in 1931, a study in the printing trade during the American colonial period. The book detailed the first colonial printing press
Printing press
A printing press is a device for applying pressure to an inked surface resting upon a print medium , thereby transferring the ink...
es, colonial printing houses, typeset
Typesetting
Typesetting is the composition of text by means of types.Typesetting requires the prior process of designing a font and storing it in some manner...
, printing ink, paper, journeymen, apprentices, conditions of the trade, and bookbinding
Bookbinding
Bookbinding is the process of physically assembling a book from a number of folded or unfolded sheets of paper or other material. It usually involves attaching covers to the resulting text-block.-Origins of the book:...
. The content and finish of the completed books, pamphlets, and papers of the period are also discussed. Wroth expressly stated that the book was written "as a discussion of certain fundamental aspects of cultural history" and that the book was not intended as an "essay in bibliophilism
Bibliophilia
Bibliophilia or bibliophilism is the love of books. Accordingly a bibliophile is an individual who loves books. A bookworm is someone who loves books for their content, or who otherwise loves reading. The -ia-suffixed form "bibliophilia" is sometimes considered to be an incorrect usage; the older...
", though his love of books is evident:
"To love the contents of a book and care nothing about the volume itself, to love the treasure and to be unmindful of the earthen vessel that loyally holds and preserves it, is to be only half a lover, deaf to a whole series of notes in the gamut of emotion. The book lover, more richly endowed, broods over the hand that fashioned the volume he reads, and, like the Tramp-Royal, he goes on until he dies observing the different ways that different things are done, the materials, the processes, the how and what and why of the ancient mysteries of printing, paper making, type founding, ink making, press building, and binding."
In addition to writing, Wroth had a parallel career as a librarian. He worked at the Maryland Diocesan Library
Episcopal Diocese of Maryland
The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland forms part of Province 3 of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. It is made up of the northern and central Maryland counties of Allegany, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Howard, and Washington...
in Baltimore from 1905 to 1912 before becoming assistant librarian at Baltimore's Enoch Pratt Free Library
Enoch Pratt Free Library
The Enoch Pratt Free Library, located in Baltimore, Maryland, is one of the oldest free public libraries in the United States. Established in 1882 after a grant from philanthropist Enoch Pratt, the library now includes twenty-two branches in Baltimore, plus the Central Library...
from 1912 to 1923. While at Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
in Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
, Wroth served as librarian of the John Carter Brown Library
John Carter Brown Library
The John Carter Brown Library is an independently funded research library of history and the humanities located on the campus of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island...
for 35 years (1924 — 1957), and held a university post as Research Professor of American History (1932–1965).