The Scripps College Press Collection contains academic records, administrative records, correspondence, financial material, and publications and printings created since the press’ inception. The collection covers the years 1941 to 2004 with the bulk of the material ranging from 1941 to 1985.

The Scripps College Press, originally named the Hartley Burr Alexander Press in honor of the Scripps philosophy professor (1927-1939), was established in 1941. The Class of 1941 instigated its establishment by donating the press as part of their class gift. They also managed to convince Frederick W. Goudy, renowned type designer, to create a unique type for exclusive use by the Press. Catherine Coffin Phillips, author, printer, and grandmother of one of the graduating seniors, Pat Morrison, agreed to underwrite the cost ($500.00) of Goudy designing a typeface for the colleges use. This was an excellent coup by the graduating class considering Goudy had previously designed a type for the University of California for which he had charged $10,000. Now the Class of 1941 needed to locate a press. In response, Los Angeles printer Ward Ritchie generously donated his Washington hand press upon which to print, and room was made in the basement of the art building. In September of 1941, Goudy returned to the campus to dedicate the first use of the type.

All requests for permission to publish must be submitted in writing to Denison Library.

This collection is open for research with permission from Ella Strong Denison Library staff.