The Oriole Press on Exhibit Recognition came rather late in life for the anarchist private press printer Joseph Ishill. The first exhibit of his work was not until 1950, fully 34 years after he had published his first book, Oscar Wilde’s The Ballad of Reading Gaol. Following that first exhibit at the Rutgers University Library, however, he received a steady stream of recognition in the form of more exhibits at Rutgers and his local public library in Berkeley Heights. In 1960 Ishill sold his collection of libertarian and anarchist materials, including his library of books and pamphlets and his correspondence, to the Harvard University Library. Four years later the University of Florida Library obtained his graphic arts collection and he moved with his wife to Florida to set up his press and become the University’s printer-in-residence. The Ishills, however, were too fond of their long-time home in Berkely Heights and they returned to New Jersey after only seven months in Florida.
It was on his way home following a talk he had given at the Berkeley Heights Public Library March 14, 1966 when Ishill felt suddenly ill. In his book on the Modern School movement, the anarchist historian Paul Avrich recounted Ishill’s final hour: «With his last strength he managed to reach his house. Grasping his wife’s hand, he whispered: ‘Rose, don’t be afraid.’ Then he collapsed and died.»
Although the books on display are among the finest owned by the library, they are also among the most challenging intellectually. For a glimpse at Ishill’s own philosophy of his work, see the letter to Agnes Inglis on the following page, in which he says, «My work, if it has any significance at all, I am sure will gain the approval among those who are interested in libertarian ideas or those which are purely literary since the graphic form of my publication is purely coincidental and I mean this without feeling unduly flattered by whatever I may accomplish typographically.»
This main exhibit page contains announcements for many of Ishill’s exhibits, as well his printed announcements for the acquisition of his materials by Harvard University and the University of Florida.