Main (Thompson) Library location: North wing -- Fourth window. Jean Guyart (c.14-- – c. 15--) was documented working in Bordeaux beginning in 1520, when his name appeared in the colophon of a book written by Guillaume Piellée. During this time he was probably apprenticed to Parisian printer Gaspard
Main (Thompson) Library location: South wing -- End window. Born in a region near the village of Offwiller, France, Johann Albrecht (c. 14-- – 1539) moved to Hagenau, where he pursued a career as a printer beginning in 1500. In 1516, he printed alongside the notable printer Thomas Anshelm, and
Main (Thompson) Library location: South wing -- End window. Johann Besicken (c.14-- – c.1509) was born in Besingheim, Germany and, by 1483, he matriculated at the University of Basel. A decade later, he established a printing press in Rome with Sigismundus Mayr; the two printed together, especially
Main (Thompson) Library location:North wing -- Second window. Johann Weissenburger (c.1465 – c.1531) was born in Nuremberg circa 1465 and matriculated at the University of Ingolstadt in 1480. In 1500, Weissenburger was ordained a priest in the parish of St. Lorenz in Bamberg and began printing two
Main (Thompson) Library location: South wing -- Fifth window. Johannes Prüss, (c.1490 – 1555) son of Johannes Prüss the Elder, was born in approximately 1490 and quickly learned the trade of printing. Following his father's death in 1511, he and his brother-in-law Renatus Beck assumed operation of
Main (Thompson) Library location: South wing -- Third window. Early records first locate Johannes Veldener (v) in the diocese of Würzburg. By 1473 he moved to Louvain, where he matriculated at the University to study medicine. Scholars believe that he studied printing in Cologne, but the timeline
Main (Thompson) Library location: North wing -- Third window. The earliest records concerning the career of John Skot (alternatively spelled Scott; c. 15-- – 1537) place him in the Parish of St. Sepulchre in 1521. In this same year, the first dated books attributed to him were published: The Body of
Main (Thompson) Library location: South wing -- First window. Juan Rosembach of Heidelberg (c. 14-- – c. 1530) was first documented in Valencia in 1490, where he was contracted to print breviaries for neighboring dioceses with Jaume de Vila. He established a printing press in Barcelona by 1492
Main (Thompson) Library location: North wing -- Third window. Julian Notary (1455 - 1523) spent the early part of his career in a partnership with Jean Barbier and a printer whose initials are alleged to stand for J. Huvin. Together they established their first firm in London, where they published
Main (Thompson) Library location: End window -- North wing. Léon Cavellat (c.15-- – c. 1610) belonged to a prominent family of printers; he and his brothers Pierre and Jean were the sons of printer Guillaume Cavellat. Beginning in 1577, Léon Cavellat worked in Paris at the Sign of the Silver Griffin
Main (Thompson) Library location: Second Floor - Southeast wing. Brothers Leonhard (c.14-- – 1518) and Lukas Alantsee (c.14-- – c.1521) originated in Augsburg, and later moved to Vienna, where they became known as the first printers in the city in 1498. Shortly after, they became involved in editing
Main (Thompson) Library location: North wing -- Fourth window. Louis Olivelli (c.14-- – c. 15--) was a printer and bookseller who began his career during the early 16th century in Valence, located in Drôme, a region in southeast France. Around 1510, Olivelli entered a partnership with printer Jean
Main (Thompson) Library location: South wing -- Fifth window. Lucantonio Giunta (c.14 - c.1538) originated in Florence, but by 1480 he moved to Venice, where he became one of the first printers in the city. Together with his brother Filippo, Giunta prospered and quickly established a network of
Main (Thompson) Library location: North wing -- Fifth window. Macé Panthoul (c.14-- – c. 15--) worked primarily as a bookseller and bookbinder in Troyes, France. In 1501, his device appeared in the colophon of a book entitled Statuts synodaulx à l'usaige de Troyes. This book caused a great deal of
Main (Thompson) Library location: End window -- North wing. Marc Locqueneulx (15-- – 1589) worked as a bookseller and printer in Paris during the late sixteenth century. Due to similarities in printer's mark and engravings, it is possible that he was the successor of the firm of Philippe Gaultier de
Main (Thompson) Library location: South wing -- End window. Martin Flach (c.14-- – 1539) was the son of Strasbourg printer Martin Flach the Elder; it was from him that he learned to print. Following his father's death, Flach began to operate their family printing press and published his first book
Main (Thompson) Library location: North wing -- Sixth window. Mathieu Vivan (c.14-- – c. 15--) is believed to be one of the first printers in Orléans, and it is possible that he began his career in Poitiers several years earlier. The only known work attributed to Vivian is Manipulus curatorum
Main (Thompson) Library location: North wing -- Second window. Melchior Lotter (c.1470 – c.1549) was born in Aue, in the Ore Mountains, around 1470. He began to work with Leipzig printer Konrad Kachelofen, and in 1495, he printed his first book, Orationes legatorum Francorum ad Venetos. He married
Main (Thompson) Library location: North wing -- Fifth window. Originally from Strasbourg, Michael Wenssler (c.14-- – c.1499) moved to Basel at an early age and quickly became a prominent typographer and printer. His earliest work, De modo perveniendi ad veram Dei et proximi dilectionem by Henricus
Main (Thompson) Library location: North wing -- Sixth window. Before becoming a printer and bookseller, Nicole de la Barre (c.14-- – c. 15--) received his Master of Arts at the University of Paris, where he later worked as a professor. In 1496, de la Barre became associated with printer Antoine
Here you will find digitized archival collections, oral histories, and more. We are continually expanding the collections and improving access. You may find additional digital resources that reside outside the digital library here, and a selection of Online Exhibitions here.
Collections Overview
The Archives & Special Collections Library is part of the Vassar College Libraries system. It holds the rare book, manuscript, and archival collections of the college. It collects, preserves, and makes available rare and unique collections, and also engages in teaching and outreach activities. This collection of finding aids describe items in both the Virginia B. Smith Memorial Manuscript Collection and the College Archives.
The Vassar College herbarium holds over 8,000 specimens of vascular plants, bryophytes, and algae. Holdings are primarily from northeastern North America, and include collections made by several notable 19th century botanists. To learn more about this project visit the website here.
Vassar College's institutional repository reflects the research and scholarly output of the Vassar College community. It provides access to senior theses, peer reviewed open access articles, and projects from a wide range of disciplines.