SOTA origins and activities

The not-for-profit Society of Typographic Aficionados was formed in 1998 by typophile Bob Colby, with the mission to increase public awareness and appreciation of the art and history of typography and its function in creating beautiful and successful communications. In keeping with these goals, SOTA is defined as a cultural (rather than a business) organization.

Colby organized SOTA’s first physical gathering, TypeCon98, which took place in Westborough, Massachussetts (a Boston suburb). The next event, held again in Westborough in 2000, was met with continued enthusiasm. Colby elected to step down from his role as conference organizer, and turned over the reins for the next event to Tony di Pietro, who had assisted in the organization of TypeCon2000.

In 2001, Di Pietro, assisted by volunteer staff (Richard Kegler, Tamye Riggs, and James Grieshaber), moved TypeCon2001 to Rochester, New York, where educational workshops and the TypeGallery exhibition were added to the program. Approximately 120 delegates attended TypeCon2001.

In 2002, TypeCon moved outside the US to Toronto, Canada, partnering with the Type Club of Toronto for the event. Conference co-chairs Kegler and Riggs worked with a local site committee consisting of Brian Maloney (now director of the Type Club of Toronto), and noted Canadian type designers and TO Type Club leaders Rod McDonald and Nick Shinn. TypeCon2002 featured more than 30 speakers, four workshops, an expanded TypeGallery, and significantly increased attendance (around 200 delegates).

TypeCon2003, the organization’s fifth annual conference, was held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, July 17-20, 2003. Organizations partnering with SOTA to produce TypeCon2003 included the Minnesota Center for Book Arts, the Hamilton Wood Type and Printing Museum, the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, the University of Minnesota Design Institute, and the Walker Art Center. Over 320 delegates were in attendance at TypeCon2003, with 70 speakers and workshop leaders participating. TypeCon2003 offered 14 hands-on workshops in digital font production, calligraphy, letterpress, and more. Special events included an evening at the Walker with Matthew Carter and Andrew Blauvelt, and a tribute to Professor Hermann Zapf, who received the inaugural SOTA Typography Award in May 2003.

The TypeGallery at TypeCon2003 grew significantly, featuring 100 new typeface designs in the unjuried SOTA showcase; the winners of the 2002 Morisawa and TDC typeface design competitions; Letras Latinas, a juried showcase of South American typography; the results of the Typeface Twin Cities project, organized by UMDI; an international graphic design poster show, and exhibits from the Hamilton and local fine artists. In the fall of 2003, the TypeGallery began traveling to venues outside of TypeCon.

TypeCon2004, SOTA’s sixth annual conference, was held in San Francisco, California, July 21-25, 2004. SOTA was awarded a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to help fund special projects at TypeCon2004. Partnering organizations in the conference were the San Francisco Center for the Book and the California College of the Arts. Approximately 500 attended the event, which featured more than 60 speakers and over 20 workshops. Professor Ed Benguiat was honored as the recipient of the second SOTA Typography Award during TypeCon2004.

TypeCon2005 was held in New York, July 20-25, 2005. SOTA’s seventh annual conference was presented with the Type Directors Club (TDC), and was hosted by Parsons School of Design. Because of SOTA’s bringing TypeCon and related activities to the city, NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg proclaimed July 18-24, 2005, to be “Type Week” in New York. Matthew Carter was honored as the recipient of the third SOTA Typography Award during TypeCon2005.

TypeCon2006 was held in Boston, August 9-13, 2006. SOTA’s eighth conference was presented in partnership with the Massachusetts College of Art and the Museum of Printing in North Andover. It was a homecoming of sorts for SOTA and TypeCon, as the first two conferences were held in the Boston suburb of Westborough. Adrian Frutiger was honored as the recipient of the fourth SOTA Typography Award during TypeCon2006. A tribute was held during the conference in Boston, and the awards presentation made to Mr. Frutiger in Berne, Switzerland, in late August.

TypeCon2007, SOTA’s ninth annual conference, will be held in Seattle, Washington, August 1-5, 2007.

In addition to producing TypeCon each year, SOTA sponsors programs offered by respected organizations such as the American Printing History Association, St Bride Printing Library, and the San Francisco Center for the Book. SOTA produces a print publication, Interrobang, which is scheduled for publication one to two times a year. The TypeGallery has evolved into a major exhibition, travel internationally each year after TypeCon. Additional publications and educational programming are in the works.

SOTA is overseen by its board of directors and its executive director. The organization was incorporated in February 2001, with 501(c)(3) not-for-profit status formally granted in early 2002 thanks to the efforts of Kegler, then chairman of the board of directors, and Robert Goods, an attorney also serving on the SOTA board. In July 2002, the SOTA board appointed Riggs executive director of SOTA and TypeCon.

SOTA relies on the support of its generous sponsors, partners, members, and volunteers in its efforts to present quality, low-cost programming and support the typographic and related communities. Please join us, volunteer your time and ideas, and help us achieve these goals!