Object ID
2008.37.31
Object Name
Block, Printing
Date Created
1973 – 1975
Material
Lead; Wood
Object Entities
Damianos, John (is related to)
Object Description
Wood and cast lead rectangular-shaped printing block. The print image is of a flaming torch styled like a Corinthian capital.
Origin
Donated by John Damianos. The printing block was used in a linotype printing machine. Linotype presses allowed for the casting of entire lines to be printed at a time. Linotype printing was eventually succeeded by lithograph printing and computer typesetting during the 1960's and 1970's. This printing block was used by the Chicago-based, The Greek Art Printing Company. The torch most likely represents the eternal flame, which symbolizes commitment to a common goal. The placement of the flame atop a Corinthian capital creates a tie to ancient Greece. The Corinthian-style capital is the third of the three ancient orders of Greek and Roman architecture. This particular print block was used in the printing of a event program for the 50th Anniversary celebration of the Brotherhood of Levidiotans, held on June 8, 1975. The Brotherhood of Levidiotans, now known as Chapter #8, Levidi, is a chapter of the Pan-Arcadian Federation of America. The Pan-Arcadian Federation of America is a national fraternal organization of Greek-Americans decending from the region of Arcadia in the Peloponesse. The Federation promotes the ideals of Hellenism and the principles of Democracy, the preservation of the Greek language and cultural heritage, as well as the Greek Orthodox Church and the support of Arcadian and Arcadian-American philanthropic, cultural and educational institutions. The Federation was formed in 1931. The image is also used in the printing of the program for the 1972 Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois' Twenty-Second Annual Installation Dinner Dance. The Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois was founded in February of 1951 by a group of Greek attorneys, most of whom had immigrated to the United States and worked to pay thier way through university and law school. The Association seeks to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the administration of justice in the State of Illinois; increase members' effectiveness and efficiency in the practice of law; ensure that bench and bar adhere to acceptable professional and ethical standards; improve public understanding of the functions and importance of our Legal and Constitutional System and encourage respect therefor; increase public understanding and respect for the legal profession; and increase public understanding of the role of Hellenism in the law. The image is also used in an advertisement for Mid-City Dairy in a program for a dinner and fashion show hosted by the Philoptohos Society of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. Mid-City Dairy was located at 2828 W. North Avenue, Chicago. The image is also used in the printing of the cover for the Dinner-Dance programs of the Philanthropic Society "Neo Skopos."
Rights and Reproduction
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Citation
Block, Printing, 1973 – 1975, Greek Art Printing Company Artifact Collection, National Hellenic Museum, https://collections.nationalhellenicmuseum.org/Detail/objects/9829. Accessed 04/23/24.