Object ID
2008.37.72
Object Name
Block, Printing
Material
Lead; Wood
Object Entities
Damianos, John (is related to)
Damianos, Aristotle (is related to)
Object Description
Square-shaped, wood, and cast lead printing block. The print image on the block consists of a torch and an open book at the top of the image. The book is in front of the torch and has four Greek words written on its open pages that translates to: "Holding a light to pass on to others." Below the image of the torch and book, is the image of an eagle with open wings. The eagle is looking to the left and has a United States flag clutched in his right claw and a Greek flag clutched in his left claw. Below the eagle is a circle, in which there is an image of a bearded man facign to the right. Below the circle and image of the man are two laurel branches that are situated as if cupping the man's image.
Origin
Donated by John Damianos. The printing block was used in a linotype printing machine. Linotype presses allowed for the casting of entire lines to be printed at a time. Linotype printing was eventually succeeded by lithograph printing and computer typesetting during the 1960's and 1970's. This printing block was used by the Chicago-based, Greek Art Printing Company that was owned and operated by Aristotle Damianos. This printing block was used for the printing of school certificates for the Solon Greek School of both St. Demetrios and Annunciation Greek Orthodox Churches. In 1927, Annunciation Church bought land at 2727 W. Winona and opened the Solon School along with a chapel that was dedicated to St. Demetrios. The chapel eventually became St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Chruch that is still located at 2727 W. Winona, along with the Solon School. The print image is also used for the School Certificates for the Plutarch School of St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Chruch. The Plutarch School was founded prior to the establishment of the St. Spyridon Church. When Greece went to war against Turkey in 1912 and Bulgaria in 1913, in what is commonly referred to as the Balkan Wars, many Greek men in went to fight. Many returned to Chicago in early 1914 with wives and settled in the Pullman neighborhood of Chicago to raise thier families. The Plutarch School was founded so the children of the Greek neighborhood could be educated in Greek language and culture alongside thier American curriculum. The saying that is written on the book is taken from Plato's Allegory of the Cave.
Rights and Reproduction
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Citation
Block, Printing, Greek Art Printing Company Artifact Collection, National Hellenic Museum, https://hellenic.whirlihost.com/Detail/objects/10009. Accessed 03/28/24.