San Francisco Center for the Book

Scaleboard is thin wood that was used in some American bindings (particularly around Boston) as early as the 1680s through the 1840s. It was used even as paste- or pulp-board materials became widely available in America.

In this two-day workshop, students will learn the variations found in these wonderfully simple American bindings through examination of historical examples and discussion. We will also consider current theories regarding the use and manufacture of scaleboard as a material.

The workshop will culminate in the hands-on creation of two models: a full leather binding and a quarter leather binding with paper-covered boards.

SFCB's Windgate Scholarship Fund is dedicated to providing need-based financial support to individuals interested in learning bookbinding, letterpress printing, and related book arts. Click here to apply.

Prerequisite: Students should be comfortable sewing multi-section textblocks; Bookbinding Core 2 or equivalent

Materials to bring: All tools and materials will be provided. Students are also welcome to bring any of their own favorite bookbinding tools.

About the Instructor: Bill Hanscom (they/them) is a library conservation professional, educator, and author. Since 2009, they have worked as a conservation technician for special collections at Harvard Library’s Weissman Preservation Center. They taught undergraduate courses in bookbinding, letterpress printing, book art theory, and independent publishing for the Book Arts BFA program at Montserrat College of Art from 2010 to 2023, serving as its coordinator for seven years. For more than a decade, Bill has regularly taught workshops on historical bookbinding structures and other book arts and preservation topics for North Bennet Street School, the Guild of Bookworkers, and other organizations. Bill lives in Rockport, Massachusetts with their wife and three children.