The Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking recently celebrated the opening of two new exhibits: Marvelous Marblingand Postage Required. 

The museum is housed within the Renewable Bioproducts Institute on Georgia Tech’s campus.

Marvelous Marblingfeatures a selection of marbled papers from the museum’s extensive collection. Most of the works on exhibit are from the early 20th century and were made by friends and colleagues of the museum’s founder Dard Hunter. The exhibit focuses on how marbled papers are produced. Each sample is one-of-a-kind, and different methods produced different results. 

“These marbled papers are really beautiful, and many were made to become end papers in books, or to line boxes,” said Museum Director Virginia Howell. “It’s hard to believe these are handmade, and seeing the steps to create them reveals that there was as much science as art involved in the process.” 

Postage Requiredwas a collaboration with Dr. Patrick Ellis, a Brittain Fellow in Georgia Tech’s Literature, Media and Communications Department. The exhibit includes dozens of postcards from the early 20thcentury. Rather than just simple cards, these include tabs, wheels and other features that give these postcards movable parts and animation. 

“These were the social media of a century ago … they were quick, inexpensive and available everywhere,” said Museum Coordinator Jerushia Graham. “Postage Required shows the cutting edge technology of the past. We still send postcards to document trips or a quick note, though text messages have replaced much of that communication.” 

The Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking is open Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. Groups of 10 or more must book a fee-based program in advance. For more information, including contacts and directions, please visit our website.