Object ID
2008.37.26
Object Name
Block, Printing
Date Created
May 26, 1821
Material
Lead; Wood
Object Entities
Damianos, John (is related to)
Object Description
Wood and lead cast printing block. The image on the printing block is a circular seal. The seal has two circle outlines, one outer and one inner. Between the two outlines, following the curve of the circle is both Greek and English text. Along the left-hand side is English text: "Brotherhood May 26th 1821." Greek text runs up the right-hand side of the seal and translates to the same as the English text on the opposite side. At the bottom of the seal, also between the outlines and following the curve, is "Chicago" in English text. At the center of the inner circle is the image of a church. Below the image of the church is the image of both a Greek and an American flag. The Greek flag unfurls to the right, while the American flag unfurls to the left. Below the flags is the text: "U.S.A."
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. The Brotherhood of May 26th 1821 was fraternal organization formed in 1966, possibly as a chapter of the Pan-Arcadian Federation of America. The objectives of the Brotherhood was the ethical and material support between members, social, philanthropic, and educational synthesis and cooperation with other Greek organizations. The name, Brotherhood of May 26th 1821, is in honor of the assembly held on May 26, 1821 at which the Peloponnesian Senate was roganized during the Greek War of Independence. This assembly is claimed by the Brotherhood as the "first" Hellenic National Assembly. This particular print block was used in the printing of a Greek and English booklet of the Brotherhood's constitution, as well as the membership application forms for the Brotherhood.
Rights and Reproduction
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Citation
Block, Printing, May 26, 1821, Greek Art Printing Company Artifact Collection, National Hellenic Museum, https://hellenic.whirlihost.com/Detail/objects/9808. Accessed 04/20/24.