I wanted to look more at the history of typography at CSM, to link with the legacy of the school and contextualise teaching of typography today. So I revisited Edward Johnston (who taught calligraphy at the Central School in the early 20th century). Some guiding quotes from Writing & Illuminating, and Lettering (1906).
“one must begin at the beginning, and that, in an honest attempt to achieve a simple end, one may
lawfully follow a method 1 without imitating a style.”
(Johnston, 1906:xx)
“Developing, or rather redeveloping, an art involves the tracing in one’s own experience of a process resembling its past development. And it is by such a course that we, who wish to revive Writing & Illuminating, may renew them, evolving new methods and traditions for ourselves, till at length we attain a modern and beautiful technique.”
(Johnston, 1906:xvi)
“We have almost as much or as little to be afraid of in Originality as in imitation, and our best attitude towards this problem is that of the Irishman with a difficulty “to look it boldly in the face and pass on” – making an honest attempt to achieve a simple end. Perhaps we trouble too much about what we “ought to do” & “do”: it is of greater moment to know what we are doing & trying to do.”
“In so far as tradition fails to bound or guide us we must think for ourselves and in practice make methods and rules for ourselves: endeavouring that our work should be effective rather than have “a fine effect” or he, rather than appear, good and following our craft rather than making it follow us. For all things materials, tools, methods are waiting to serve us and we have only to find the “spell” that will set the whole universe a-making for us.”
References
Johnston, E. (1906) Writing & Illuminating, and Lettering. London: John Hogg