Inventory of the Judith Anne Duncan Papers, 1973-1991
Author:
Jessica Schomberg
Publisher:
University of Minnesota Libraries. Special Collections and Archives
©1999.
Creation Information:
Machine-readable finding aid encoded by Jessica Schomberg
Unit title: Judith Anne Duncan Papers
Date:
1973-1991
Held at:
Special Collections and Rare Books, University of Minnesota Libraries
Origination:
Donation, 1991.
Physical Description:
5 Hollinger boxes, 1 oversized Hollinger box.
Scope and Content Note
The Judith Anne Duncan Papers (1973-1991) contains books, commissions and other samples of her calligraphic work. Other materials in the collection include papers relating to her operation of the Scrivener and Calligraphers Minnesota; a scrapbook of newspaper clippings, correspondence and miscellaneous other papers; exhibit information; and various other papers relating to her life as a professional calligrapher.
Biographical/Historical Note
Judith Anne Duncan (1942- ), daughter of Bernice and Frank H. Duncan, was born in Bessemer, MI and raised in Faribault, MN. She majored in English while attending the University of Minnesota (1960-1963), graduating with a B.A. from the College of Liberal Arts. She later earned a Master's degree in Library Science from the University of Minnesota in 1970. She worked there as a professional staff member until 1975. In 1972, she began to do calligraphic work for Macalester College. During this period, she also studied calligraphy in England, France, Germany, Hong Kong and California. Since that time, her work has appeared in many books, exhibits, and printed commissions. She taught calligraphy for several years during the 1970s and early 1980s. From 1984 to 1988, she owned and operated the Scrivener, a retail store that sold her calligraphy, with shops located in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Milwaukee, St. Louis and Miami.
Administrative Information
Restrictions on Access
Permission to examine this collection will be granted to any qualified researcher upon completion of an application form. The original documents do not circulate and can only be used in the Special Collections and Rare Books reading room.
Restrictions on Use
Physical rights are retained by the University of Minnesota Libraries. Copyright of the original materials is retained in accordance with U.S. copyright laws.
Preferred Citation
Judith Anne Duncan Papers, Special Collections and Rare Books, University of Minnesota Libraries, Minneapolis, MN.
Unit title: Series I. Books,
Date:
1974-1985
Physical Description:
(14 folders)
Scope and Content
Thirteen books calligraphed and in some cases also illuminated by Duncan.
Unit title: Book of blessings,
Date:
1980
Unit title: Book of Jonah,
Date:
1974
Unit title: Dictionary for calligraphers,
Date:
1977
Unit title: Frog & Miss Minneapolis,
Date:
1985
Unit title: Gavra's songs,
Date:
1981
Unit title: Homage to St. Cecelia,
Date:
1984
Unit title: John Donne, a portfolio of passages,
Date:
1978
Unit title: Natural world,
Date:
1977
Unit title: Regulations for the operation of a medieval library,
Date:
1980
Unit title: Sermon on the mount,
Date:
1978
Unit title: Small book of curses,
Date:
1976
Unit title: Small book of curses, 2nd ed.,
Date:
1977
Unit title: Sunday on the way to St. David's,
Date:
1981
Unit title: Valentine garden of Minnesota haiku,
Date:
1983
Unit title: Series II. Commissions,
Date:
1977-1988
Physical Description:
(22 folders)
Scope and Content
Versions of printed commissions Duncan was hired to create, ranging from beginning sketches to the completed product. Commissions include advertisements, announcements, awards certificates, programs and invitations to events. Scattered throughout this series are occassional notes to and by Duncan relating to the pieces.
Unit title: Advertisements
Unit title: Advertisements
Unit title: Hungry Point Pottery
Unit title: Laurie, Booksellers
Unit title: Letterheads, logos
Unit title: Announcements
Unit title: Babies
Unit title: Death,
Date:
1986-1987
Unit title: Bookplates,
Date:
1986
Unit title: Catalogs,
Date:
1981,1988
Unit title: Certificates
Unit title: Certificates
Unit title: Business
Unit title: Churches,
Date:
1977-1986
Unit title: Education,
Date:
1977-1982
Unit title: Government
Unit title: Macalaster College
Unit title: Churches
Unit title: Invitations
Unit title: Invitations
Unit title: Academic
Unit title: Wedding
Unit title: Programs, Academic
Unit title: Production materials
Unit title: Series III. Scrivener,
Date:
1984-1988
Physical Description:
(65 folders)
Scope and Content
This series contains samples of the calligraphic work done by Duncan during her days at the Scrivener, as well as a procedures manual that Duncan used for her employees at her Riverside store in Minneapolis. These samples are calligraphed quotes taken from various sources.
Unit title: Daily tally sheet
Unit title: Employee procedure manual
Unit title: Act right,
Date:
1984
Unit title: All star wit and wisdom
Unit title: And they shall beat their swords
Unit title: Anyone who hasn't had
Unit title: Anyone who works
Unit title: Are all the giants dead?
Unit title: Cas ruze prinasi,
Date:
1986
Unit title: Chocolate spoken here
Unit title: Dear Mom
Unit title: Do not disturb
Unit title: Everyone cannot have beautiful clothes,
Date:
1986
Unit title: Everyone has to believe in something
Unit title: Fantastic, familiar
Unit title: From ghosties & ghoulies
Unit title: Give us courage
Unit title: He dreamed he was walking
Unit title: A home without a cat
Unit title: Hugging
Unit title: I dreamed I was walking,
Date:
1986
Unit title: I have so much to do
Unit title: I thank thee, o my God
Unit title: If
Unit title: If a cluttered desk
Unit title: If money is your hope
Unit title: An immaculate house
Unit title: It takes rought seas
Unit title: It's not my place to run the train
Unit title: Just for today
Unit title: Life is so uncertain
Unit title: Living well is the best revenge
Unit title: Love is a friendship that,
Date:
1985
Unit title: May a chocolate halo
Unit title: May the road rise up to meet you
Unit title: Miracle worker
Unit title: Miscellaneous smaller items
Unit title: A mother
Unit title: My luve is like,
Date:
1985
Unit title: No great thing
Unit title: No one can make you feel inferior
Unit title: Not flesh of my flesh
Unit title: Now you will feel no rain,
Date:
1986
Unit title: O Lord, grant that in some way
Unit title: Of course, you can't unfry an egg
Unit title: Oh, I have slipped the surly
Unit title: On this day
Unit title: Please speak to me gently
Unit title: Prayer for a mother
Unit title: Satchel Paige's rules of life
Unit title: Schuti do toho,
Date:
1986
Unit title: Shall I compare thee
Unit title: She who waits for her knight
Unit title: A ship is safe
Unit title: Smoking ban
Unit title: Sometimes we love
Unit title: Thank you for not smoking
Unit title: There are parts of a boat
Unit title: To hell with criticism
Unit title: Vesela mysl pul zdravi,
Date:
1986
Unit title: We are survivors!
Unit title: We the willing
Unit title: Why don't you listen to me?
Unit title: Women has no more been domesticated
Unit title: You are a princess
Unit title: Series IV. Scrapbook,
Date:
n.d.
Physical Description:
(3 folders)
Scope and Content
Letters, newspaper clippings and various other papers that Duncan kept in a scrapbook relating to her work as a professional calligrapher.
Unit title: Correspondence
Unit title: Miscellaneous
Unit title: Newspaper clippings
Unit title: Series V. Miscellaneous,
Date:
n.d.
Physical Description:
(13 folders)
Scope and Content
This series contains business and Christmas cards done by Duncan; labels and invitations to the 1991 retrospective exhibit of Duncan's work at the University of Minnesota; a copy of William Albright's oratio using Christopher Smart's "Song to David" that she sent, along with a letter of explanation, to 'Austin'; four folders of teaching materials, including instructional materials she used when teaching for Calligraphers Minnesota and a few papers about her involvement with the Minnesota Renaissance Festival. Among her teaching materials, she also included information about illuminations and some sample scripts.
Unit title: Business cards
Unit title: Christmas cards
Unit title: Exhibit invitations
Unit title: Exhibit labels
Unit title: Open house
Unit title: Publishers
Unit title: Song to David,
Date:
1983
Unit title: Teaching
Unit title: Calligraphers Minnesota
Unit title: Illumination
Unit title: Renaissance festival
Unit title: Sample scripts
Unit title: Series VI. Oversize,
Date:
1976
Physical Description:
(1 folder)
Scope and Content
A copy of the "Christmas Story", calligraphed and illuminated by Duncan, appearing in Christmas, an American annual of Christmas literature and art as well as a brief article in Cathedral Age.
Unit title: Oversize materials
Unit title: Series VII. Oversize flat materials,
Notes
Please contact the Curator of Rare Books and Special Collections for more information on this group of items.