After nearly a decade at the Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum, the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s historic Silver Buckle Press is returning to campus, under the ownership of the Art Department within the School of Education, and will serve as a hands-on teaching resource for students and faculty.

The return marks the next chapter in the press’s more than 50-year history at the university as ownership transitions from UW–Madison Libraries to the Art Department. The press, which supports instruction in letterpress printing, typography, book arts, and related disciplines, will be transported back to campus before the spring 2027 semester.

Silver Buckle Press was acquired by the UW–Madison Libraries in 1973 from the estate of hobby printer and Ford Motor Company art director Robert Shaftoe at the urging of art professor Walter Hamady. For decades, the press served as a working letterpress resource, producing fine press books, broadsides, exhibitions, and educational programs while introducing generations of students to the history and craft of printing.

In 2016, the UW–Madison Libraries partnered with the Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum in Two Rivers, Wis., to ensure continued public accessibility of the collection. Over the past 10 years, Hamilton has provided exceptional stewardship of the press, integrating it into its nationally recognized educational programming and preserving its legacy for visitors, scholars, and printing enthusiasts from around the world.

“Silver Buckle Press is an extraordinary addition to the Department of Art’s teaching resources,” says Leslie Smith III, Art Department chair and professor of art. “Having students learn by working with a historic printing collection gives them a rare opportunity to connect craft, design, history, and contemporary artistic practice in meaningful ways. We’re excited to welcome this remarkable resource back to campus, integrate it into existing curriculum, and work with campus partners to build support for the press as an experiential resource for cross-campus research, teaching, and collaboration across the UW community. We are deeply grateful to Hamilton for its outstanding care of the press and for the collaborative partnership that has helped preserve this treasured resource while expanding access to the history of letterpress printing.”

The return reflects UW–Madison’s continued commitment to preserving cultural heritage while ensuring that historic collections remain active resources for teaching, research, and creative practice. By bringing Silver Buckle Press back to campus, the university expands opportunities for faculty and students to engage directly with the art, history, and techniques of letterpress printing in an instructional setting.

“Silver Buckle Press has always been far more than a collection of historic printing artifacts — it is a treasured asset for immersive learning and practice,” says Tracy Honn, board president of Hamilton. “It is heartening to have the collection return to campus, where a new generation of students at Madison will have the chance to experience the pleasures of Silver Buckle Press first hand.”

Additional information about the press’s instructional programming and opportunities for student engagement will be shared as the Department of Art prepares for its return.