Call for Applications: Public Fellowship with Foolscap Press, 2024-2025
Application Deadline: Sunday, May 19, 2024
The Humanities Division is excited to announce an experiential learning opportunity for Humanities undergraduates at UC Santa Cruz to work with Foolscap Press. Public Fellowships are internships that connect humanities majors and minors to projects in the community and benefit students and organizations mutually. Students gain practical experience and professional training and learn about positions outside of the university that build on their studies in the Humanities. At the same time, community organizations benefit from students’ assistance and academic expertise.
About Foolscap Press
Foolscap Press is Lawrence G. Van Velzer & Peggy Gotthold. They started Foolscap Press in 1990 after many years in the business to publish books under their imprint. Their books are designed, printed, bound at the press, and distributed directly to customers. They aim to produce finely made handcrafted books of literature and other works with which we hope to surprise and delight institutions and individuals who collect our books. They produce their books in editions of 120 to 200 copies. Foolscap Press editions are collected in England and across the United States. In May 2024, the Book Club of California is honoring Foolscap with the prestigious Oscar Lewis Award for its contribution to the Book Arts!
Position Description:
Foolscap Press, printers of limited edition letterpress printed and hand-bound books, seeks a student apprentice wishing to assist at the press in various tasks relating to the production of books.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND EXPECTATIONS
- Work with lead type and letterpress equipment and/or create computer-generated type for polymer plates. (40%).
- Work in a bookbindery on the several steps of making books by hand (40%).
- Complete a self-generated project that involves printing and binding subject to approval by Foolscap Press. (20%)
Required & Preferred Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities
- You are a declared major or minor in a department in the Humanities Division and are in good academic standing. If you are currently proposed, you can declare by the end of the next academic year in June 2025. [required]
- You are neat and detail-oriented
- You may have basic skills in hand-typesetting and some basic bookbinding skills.
- You wish to acquire experience in the noble craft of bookmaking by hand.
- Interests in design, typography, materials, literature, history, Shakespeare, and gardening are welcome.
Internship Term: September 26, 2024 – June 6, 2025
Hours: 5 hours/week
Compensation: $20/hour, depending on experience
Location: This is an in-person role located in Midtown Santa Cruz.
How To Apply
Apply by submitting:
- Your resume
- A short cover letter detailing your interest in books and their making.
- A description of the project you hope to accomplish during your fellowship.
TIP: Review these resume and cover letter resources to ensure you are a strong candidate!
Once the application window closes on Sunday, May 19 , there will be an interview process with top candidates.
Please contact Experiential Learning Coordinator Kylie Rachwalski at hum-experiential-learning@ucsc.edu with any questions.
This undergraduate internship is generously supported by Porter College.
