Object Loans & Traveling Exhibitions
Letterform Archive is pleased to offer loans and exhibitions from our unique, 100,000-item collection chronicling the history of written communication.
Loan Objects from Letterform Archive’s Collection
We loan works to various institutions in the U.S. and abroad. Items from the Archive have appeared in exhibitions at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Museum of Sex, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, University of California Santa Barbara, and many others.
Timeline
Requests for loans must be submitted at least six months prior to the opening date of the exhibition.
Fees
Letterform Archive charges a fee per loan to borrowers with whom it does not have a reciprocal relationship.
| Nonprofit Institutions | Other Institutions | |
|---|---|---|
| Category A: Standard Object Loans | $100 per item | $150 per item |
| Category B: High Value Object Loans | $200 per item | $250 per item |
Evaluation Criteria
In reviewing loan requests, Letterform Archive will consider:
- The educational value of the exhibition
- How well the exhibition enhances the research and comprehension of the requested item
- The feasibility of transporting and handling the item safely
- The Archive's exhibition schedule and requirements
- Loan restrictions set at the time of acquisition
- Existing commitments or requests from other institutions for the item
- The environmental and security measures at the requesting institution
Please be advised that not all requests can be approved due to the availability of the work and timing of request. Thank you for your interest in our collection!
Request a Loan
Please fill out our form or send an email to Jen Dao with the following information:
- Contact information
- Exhibition title and dates
- Project or curatorial brief
- Do you have specific objects in mind or would you like a reference call?
- Do you need high resolution images?
Host a Letterform Archive Traveling Exhibition
To further our mission of access to all, we are proud to offer traveling exhibitions to institutions in the U.S. and abroad. These shows are carefully curated to tell engaging stories about design and designers, including both objects and didactic material. Archive exhibitions have traveled to the Aspen Institute’s Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies, the Haight Street Art Center, and the San Francisco Center for the Book.
Currently Available Exhibitions
Amos Paul Kennedy Jr.: Citizen Printer is a major solo exhibition featuring the print works from notable printer Amos Kennedy, Jr. The exhibition includes a wide variety of printed artifacts that contain church fans, state maps, postcards and oversized posters that demonstrate his fight for civil rights.
Space Requirement: 600 sq. ft.
Item Count: 201
| Rental Period | Fee |
|---|---|
| Up to 1 month | $3,000 |
| 2–4 months | $6,000–$12,000 |
| 5–6 months | $15,000–$18,000 |
Sista Said is a vibrant limited edition set of letterpress prints featuring powerful words from Black women. This freshly commissioned, hand-pressed set of 20 postcards from Amos Paul Kennedy, Jr., highlight the wisdom of Black women across generations—from Sojourner Truth to Rosa Parks, from Harriet Tubman to Nina Simone. Printed on chipboard in an array of vibrant inks, no two cards are alike.
Space Requirement: 47 in. high × 49 in. wide
- five rows of 20 items
- 1.5-inch spacing around each handbill
- installed with four L-pins, one in each corner
Item Count: 100
| Rental Period | Fee |
|---|---|
| Up to 1 month | $300 |
| 2–4 months | $600–$1,200 |
| 5–6 months | $1,500–$1,800 |