Making Paper: Japanese papermaking in book history and conservation

Japanese paper, or washi, may look delicate. However, its long fibers make a strong paper that's often used in art making, conservation, and can even be made into clothing. This method of papermaking uses fiber from the mulberry tree and, influenced by Chinese and Korean methods, was first developed in Japan in the 7th century. At this workshop we'll make paper using the traditional method of Japanese papermaking from start to finish, and you'll have a sheet of your own to take home. We'll then review historical selections of books from the East Asian Library that are made of these materials and describe traditional papermaking techniques.

This workshop will be led by Eli Boyne, Preventive Conservator, PUL, and Setsuko Noguchi, Japanese Studies Librarian, East Asian Library.

Meet the Facilitator
Eli Boyne serves as the Preventive Conservator for the Princeton University Library, where she works with all library collections to ensure their long-term preservation. She studied papermaking when earning her MFA in Book Arts at the University of Iowa’s Center for the Book.

Setsuko Noguchi is the Japanese Studies Librarian at the East Asian Library since 2012. She holds a BA in Japanese Literature and a Master's in Library and Information Science. In addition to acquiring standard materials such as monographs, journals, and films for the library, she has been actively working on developing the Japanese rare books collection at Princeton University.

What to Expect
Single workshop (3 hours total)

To request accommodations for this event, please contact the workshop or event facilitator at least 3 working days prior to the event.

Wintersession | View More Events

Contact the organizers