iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Ryan Cordell @ryancordell.org · 31/08/2026

We’re going to be talking about everything from psychedelic data to blank pages in our “Media Necromancy” series @skeuomorphpress.org this fall. Check out skeuomorph.ischool.illinois.edu/our-research... for more about both!

skeuomorph.ischool.illinois.edu

“Media Necromancy” Series – Skeuomorph Press

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Travis Wagner (they/them) @drtlwagner.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

If you haven’t had the fortune of seeing @jameshodges.net talk about his work it is always a good time and it is incredible to see him talk through the deeply social realities of engaging with technology in a historic way. Put simply, this talk is gonna rip!

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Skeuomorph Press & BookLab @skeuomorphpress.org · 31/08/2026

We have great talks coming up in our “Media Necromancy” speaker series this fall! On Oct. 30th @jameshodges.net will help us launch the Undead Media Lab with “Converting Consciousness into Digital Data: A Haunting History of Information Technologies” skeuomorph.ischool.illinois.edu/our-research...

Converting Consciousness into Digital Data: A Haunting History of Information Technologies
When: Friday, October 30th 12-1pm
Who: James A. Hodges, San José State University School of Information
Where: Skeuomorph Press, CU Community Fablab, 1301 S. Goodwin Ave. Urbana, IL 61801
Also: There will be snacks!
Additional note: This talk will also be part of our official launch of Skeuomorph’s Undead Media Lab!
A specter is haunting digital media— the specter of print. Presenting an overview of case studies from his forthcoming book Psychedelic Software (MIT Press, 2027), James A. Hodges will excavate the printed origins of contemporary ideographic and time-stamped writing forms in mid-1960s experiments with Xerox machines, a modified “lie detector,” and psychoactive chemicals like psilocybin and LSD. These media experiments, undertaken along the margins of MIT and Harvard by countercultural researchers heavily inspired by Marshall McLuhan, pioneered the translation of conscious experience into codified data using electronic information technologies. Although they were motivated by a quest for self-actualization, they also conjured up new forms of surveillance and alienation. Using tools like a modified polygraph or a printed checklist to track their spiritual awakenings under LSD, participants in these studies were tasked with recording their own deeply personal experiences as if they were business memos. By closely examining both the formal and political histories of these information practices, this talk will also reveal the legacies of exploited labor, prison research, mind control, and drug abuse that haunt now-ubiquitous forms of communication like social media and emoji.

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Ryan Cordell @ryancordell.org · 27/08/2026

For those wondering, Nadja was an executors of Michael Hart’s estate & has been working to place items with relevant groups—she’s coming back to school @ischoolui.bsky.social for her MSLIS & is working @skeuomorphpress.org this semester, so the timing was perfect—there will be a plaque of some kind!

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Ryan Cordell @ryancordell.org · 27/08/2026

But this one connects also to the long history of computing AND digital humanities at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign—Project Gutenberg, which gets used for so many classes in the humanities and in fields like text mining—& also for so much DH research—started on this machine in 1971

en.wikipedia.org

Michael S. Hart - Wikipedia

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Ryan Cordell @ryancordell.org · 27/08/2026

I was already excited about a teletype, which perfectly bridges the press & the UML—it’s a typewriter with a carbon-copy roll of paper for printouts, originally designed to send messages by telegraph & then adapted into an early computer interface—it even connects to BBSes using a rotary-phone dial

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Ryan Cordell @ryancordell.org · 27/08/2026

Ok I can share—today MSLIS student Nadja Robot donated a teletype machine to @skeuomorphpress.org’s Undead Media Lab But this is not just any teletype—it’s the one Michael S. Hart used to digitize the Declaration of Independence & Alice in Wonderland—the 1st texts in what became Project Gutenberg

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Ryan Cordell @ryancordell.org · 25/08/2026

A very exciting mail day for @skeuomorphpress.org today, with some beautiful borders from @bowerbox.com & including our very own cheese type, which is every bit as magnificent as I’d hoped!

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Ryan Cordell @ryancordell.org · 19/08/2026

Today is training for the new @skeuomorphpress.org GAs & practicum students. I’m thrilled at the best print we’ve ever pulled of a historical skull diagram image

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Ryan Cordell @ryancordell.org · 30/07/2026

Random fb market score today: a late 19th-century scrapbook, mostly blank but with an 1894 almanac & a *Neighborhood Gossip & Dream Book* tucked inside—going straight to the @skeuomorphpress.org teaching collection for whenever we talk about commonplace & scrapbooks

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Ryan Cordell @ryancordell.org · 18/06/2026

Pleased with this proof for a personal project I’ve been wanting to work on for awhile: a letterpress edition of a piece of settled law from @judgejohnhodgman.bsky.social that I quote pretty much daily. This is good advice for both families & community spaces like @skeuomorphpress.org!

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Skeuomorph Press & BookLab @skeuomorphpress.org · 18/06/2026

A big mail day at the press! First, some brand new type from Skyline for some upcoming student projects (& a few just for fun) Second, we finally have a Book Beetle 🪲 press from Josef Beery! We’re excited to use this for mobile print events & with school class visits! www.bookbeetlepress.com

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Skeuomorph Press & BookLab @skeuomorphpress.org · 02/05/2026

Today community from the Native American House joined us to print posters for the Red Regalia Project, which “seeks to honor the lives of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives” The posters were designed by NAH Ambassador Ashlee Shoemaker (Diné) this semester nah.illinois.edu/programs/mmir

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Skeuomorph Press & BookLab @skeuomorphpress.org · 30/04/2026

This weekend Skeuomorph is honored to host a printmaking session in collaboration with the Native American House’s Red Regalia Project—NAH Ambassador Ashlee Shoemaker has been working with our GAs during open hours to design a postcard & poster for the community print nah.illinois.edu/programs/mmir

A stack of white post cards. On the left side is printed in san serif font, up to down, “NATIVE AMERICAN HOUSE.” On the left side is “RED REGALIA PROJECT.” In the middle top is a serif bold font reading “MMIR.” In the middle is a cut in black of a woman’s head, with long braids handing down on either side of her head. In the middle of the face is a red hand print.

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Ryan Cordell @ryancordell.org · 28/04/2026

If the question is, “how long after announcing a space (like @skeuomorphpress.org's forthcoming Undead Media Lab) do folks start approaching you about donating equipment?” the answer seems to be “days, perhaps mere hours”

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Ryan Cordell @ryancordell.org · 28/04/2026

I may have gone a little overboard with the lockup for a group of elementary school students’ visit to @skeuomorphpress.org today, but I really wanted to experiment with our new wood borders. The name will get subbed out for each student. Idea borrowed (I’m pretty sure) from @jsench.bsky.social

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Skeuomorph Press & BookLab @skeuomorphpress.org · 23/04/2026

Skeuomorph practicum student Isabel Braico has been developing instructional videos for the press as her project this semester—the 1st online is a guide to help folks find us—UIUC’s campus is big & our building is a little confusing, so hopefully this helps folks find our little bookish corner!

skeuomorph.ischool.illinois.edu

Where is Skeuomorph? – Skeuomorph Press

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Michael Durrant @michaelwdurrant.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Chuffed to discover that my MRes diss student,Sophie Weinberg, has won the Women’s History Network’s 2025 MA Dissertation Prize for ‘The Matrilineal Printing House’! Here’s a project Sophie’s working on over at the Skeuomorph Press at Illinois—a letterpress poster of her diss title!

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Skeuomorph Press & BookLab @skeuomorphpress.org · 21/04/2026

Champaign-Urbana folks: one week from today will be the 2nd talk in our “Media Necromancy” series—Jess Whyte (U Toronto Libraries) will present “What the Disk Remembers: Traces, Forensics, and Care in Media Recovery” When: 4/28 10-11am Where: CU Community FabLab Also: there will be snacks!

skeuomorph.ischool.illinois.edu

“Media Necromancy” Series – Skeuomorph Press

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Ryan Cordell @ryancordell.org · 20/04/2026

Sophie is now the Assistant Director of @skeuomorphpress.org as she works on her MSLIS at the iSchool—she’s a brilliant book historian & skilled printer to boot!

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Shawn Gilmore @gipperfish.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

A little Friday pick-me-up, courtesy of the UIUC Campus Faculty Association and @skeuomorphpress.org. 🤖

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Ryan Cordell @ryancordell.org · 17/04/2026

Got a better photo. The bottom layer is “ABOLISH ICE” with an ice cube cut, in blue—the middle layer is an adapted broadside that was hung in Boston following passage of the Fugitive Slave Bill, warning of “kidnappers,” the final red layer is the dates—1851 & 2016—& 175 for the years between

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Ryan Cordell @ryancordell.org · 17/04/2026

Adding the 3rd layer of these prints today—a bit of sobering metadata Two texts separated by 175 years of American history, but they rhyme

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Ryan Cordell @ryancordell.org · 12/04/2026

Stopped by @skeuomorphpress.org to check on the students running our Boneyard activities & 1. The linocut poster, designed by practicum student Rosario, is *incredible*. I want cuts of these animals setting type, printing, &c.!! 2. Even the adults loved practicum student Isabel’s typewriter races

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Raechel Portelli @raportelli.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

I set our specific time today to go to 2 activities at the Boneyard Art Festival. Photo Embroidery and finally go to see the Fab Lab. Met a few grads and got to spread the word we have cartography on campus:). So much fun! @skeuomorphpress.org

Yellow embroidered photo of a black dog in yellow sun glasses

Poster print for Boneyard Arts Festival with various animals and printing tools printed.

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Ryan Cordell @ryancordell.org · 11/04/2026

Locals! Boneyard Arts Festival is this weekend! Lots to do at the FabLab tomorrow—back in @skeuomorphpress.org we'll be printing an incredible linocut poster designed by a practicum students, while another is running "typewriter races" for kids—she even made some awesome typewriter button prizes!

boneyardartsfestival.org

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Skeuomorph Press & BookLab @skeuomorphpress.org · 10/04/2026

This morning @drtlwagner.bsky.social’s “Queering Information” class @ischoolui.bsky.social is here creating a collaborative class poster. So much fun with our new Vandercook 4T!

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Ryan Cordell @ryancordell.org · 09/04/2026

Today colleagues from the College Faculty Association are @skeuomorphpress.org this afternoon printing posters for next week’s talk “AI Is Not Inevitable” by Britt Paris—come to the talk to claim one! cfaillinois.org/2026/03/31/a...

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Andrea Reyes E (she/her) @altibel.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

Package from across el charco (el Atlántico)! With books from #HalfLetterPress #ObsoletePress, @skeuomorphpress.org, #EternaCadencia & @blattyrios.bsky.social 🤩 #BookWorm

Two books on a table: "Cheap Copies!: The Obsolete Press Guide to DIY Hectography, Mimeography and Spirit Duplication" by Rich Dana and "A Rant About Technology" by Urusla K. LeGuin in a biutiful print by Skeuomorph Press.

Four books in Spanish on a rable: Avenida 10 de Julio by Nona Fernández Silanes, La paciencia del agua sobre cada piedra by Alejandra Kamiya, La libertad total by Pablo Katchadjian, and Cielos de Córdoba by Federico Falco

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Claudia (they/she) @claudiaeberger.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

I'm always thinking about @halperta.bsky.social's lineage activity and ways we can set visible reminders at work. I'm thrilled to have @skeuomorphpress.org and @wolfproofpress.com prints hanging in my cubicle. Love having the words of @megsmith.bsky.social and Le Guin on display with my books!

A green cubicle wall with two letterpress prints pinned to it. One is a trans gradient that says Infrastructure is something we owe to one another. The other is fiery and says in black Technology is the active human interface with the material world.

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Ryan Cordell @ryancordell.org · 31/03/2026

I’m excited about this upcoming talk sponsored by the Campus Faculty Association: "AI Is Not Inevitable" with Britt Paris We’ll be making some talk-related posters @skeuomorphpress.org with CFA members & they’ll be available at the event! cfaillinois.org/2026/03/31/a...

cfaillinois.org

AI Is Not Inevitable

17April2026AI Is Not InevitableA Talk with Britt Paris Rutgers Associate Professor and chair of the AAUP committee on AI4:00pmiSchool Building Room 4045614 E. Daniel St. RSVP Here Review Meeting Ag…

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Ryan Cordell @ryancordell.org · 26/03/2026

Vandercook guru @paulmoxon.bsky.social is @skeuomorphpress.org today to get our new (to us) 4T humming. So excited to have this machine running for our community!

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Skeuomorph Press & BookLab @skeuomorphpress.org · 03/03/2026

So many goodies coming tomorrow to Skeuomorph!!

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Skeuomorph Press & BookLab @skeuomorphpress.org · 02/03/2026

Announcing the 2nd talk in our new "Media Necromancy" speaker series! Tue 4/28 10-11am Jess Whyte—University of Toronto Libraries—will present "What the Disk Remembers: Traces, Forensics, & Care in Media Recovery" "the disk remembers things its donor may not have known they were donating" More at:

skeuomorph.ischool.illinois.edu

“Media Necromancy” Series – Skeuomorph Press

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Ryan Cordell @ryancordell.org · 19/02/2026

Ok, here’s a proof of the 2nd layer, which adapts a broadside published in April of 1854 to warn Black residents of Boston about slave-catchers in the city, following the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act www.nps.gov/articles/000...

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Ryan Cordell @ryancordell.org · 20/02/2026

The most wonderfully chaotic day in BookLab is printing day @skeuomorphpress.org, but we did it! We printed an octavo on the hand press & a half-sheet quarto on the jobbing press—every student got to ink, manage paper, pull the hand press, & run the jobber—made 1 copy for everyone plus a few extras

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Ryan Cordell @ryancordell.org · 17/02/2026

In the inaugural “Media Necromancy” talk @skeuomorphpress.org, @drtlwagner.bsky.social asks “what does it mean to take seriously obsolescence as a fundamental part of queer archival work?”

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Travis Wagner (they/them) @drtlwagner.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

I working on my slides for this and oscillating between the format of a media studies presentation and an information science presentation. The jury is still out on which side will win 👾📼🏳️‍🌈

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Skeuomorph Press & BookLab @skeuomorphpress.org · 10/02/2026

In 1 week @drtlwagner.bsky.social will kick off our new "Media Necromancy" speaker series with “’As Usual You Have Produced Yet Another Installment Worthy of Archiving’: The Persistence of Obsolescence in Queer Information & Media Technologies" more at skeuomorph.ischool.illinois.edu/our-research...

skeuomorph.ischool.illinois.edu

“Media Necromancy” Series – Skeuomorph Press

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Skeuomorph Press & BookLab @skeuomorphpress.org · 09/02/2026

Our workshop with @blountben.bsky.social last week was a blast—we still can’t believe everyone made 3 books in just one two hour workshop!

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Skeuomorph Press & BookLab @skeuomorphpress.org · 09/02/2026

New internet sorts from Skylinr Type Foundry arrived, for all your URL/social media letterpress printing needs!

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Skeuomorph Press & BookLab @skeuomorphpress.org · 20/01/2026

Skeuomorph’s spring semester 2026 public hours are set! We’ll be open Sundays 1-5, & Tuesdays & Wednesdays 5-9. If you have a project in mind or just want to experiment with our equipment and collections, come by during community hours to chat with our student assistants & get your hands inky!

In the foreground are trays of wooden type, and blurry in the background is a group of students in a circle working

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Fiona Hartley-Kroeger @fhartleykroeger.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

Very happy to add this Le Guin quotation print from @skeuomorphpress.org to my prints about print collection!

Two prints with orange and black ink on white paper

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Catherine Frieman @cjfrieman.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

My @skeuomorphpress.org copy of LeGuin's On Technology finally arrived yesterday and it's so beautiful. Going to be a centrepiece on my office bookshelves for sure

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Ryan Cordell @ryancordell.org · 16/01/2026

Then later in February @drtlwagner.bsky.social will kick off a new "Media Necromancy" speaker series—we’re still chatting with folks about ideas, but are hoping for 1-2 more talks in this series over the spring semester, with more next year skeuomorph.ischool.illinois.edu/our-research...

A poster for a talk reading:

“As Usual You Have Produced Yet Another Installment Worthy of Archiving”: The Persistence of Obsolescence in Queer Information & Media Technologies
Travis Wagner, Assisant Professor, School of Information Sciences
Queer communities are early adopters of emergent
technologies, whether video cameras to document the
HIV/AIDS epidemic or microblogging platforms like Tumblr to
explore new identity categories. Yet the same technologies
queer communities foster are subject to the most rampant
obsolescence, making the formats of these objects difficult to
preserve & make accessible. As a question of archival
materials, queer history seems inextricably linked to
obsolescence. In this talk, Dr. Travis Wagner (they/them) asks,
what might it mean to take this question of queer archival
obsolescence seriously? Through a series of archival object
case studies, Wagner will call attention to how data exists
within the objects of queer history, how they represent the
circulation and use of information within queer communities in their historical moments, & how they pose challenges to ensuring their long-term preservation. Wagner will interrogate the sociotechnical nature of queerness & obsolescence as co-constitutive forces & argue that obsolescence can serve as a generative tool to think about the past, present, & future of queer archives in an age where the promises of technology seem limitless, yet prove deeply biased & exclusionary.

WHEN: WHERE:
Also:
Tuesday, February 17th 2026, 1-2pm SKEUOMORPH PRESS, CU Community Fablab 1301 S. GoodWin AVE. Urbana, IL 61801 SNACKS!

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Ryan Cordell @ryancordell.org · 16/01/2026

In a few weeks Ben Blount will be leading a public workshop "Making an Artist’s Book"—& a private workshop to develop exhibit materials with the "Virality of Racial Terror" research group—more info & a registration link for the public workshop here: skeuomorph.ischool.illinois.edu/making-an-ar...

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Ryan Cordell @ryancordell.org · 16/01/2026

Planning a semester @skeuomorphpress.org with adequate staffing & an actual budget is wild, after 3 years at Huskiana & 4 here of cobbling infrastructure together on the fly—we’ll have more community hours, some public workshops, & a new speaker series—I truly hope we can be an oasis in this moment

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Skeuomorph Press & BookLab @skeuomorphpress.org · 14/01/2026

Register for our 1st event of the spring semester, a workshop with Ben Blount about making artist’s books—no experience required! skeuomorph.ischool.illinois.edu/making-an-ar...

skeuomorph.ischool.illinois.edu

Making an Artist’s Book Workshop with Ben Blount – Skeuomorph Press

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