The collection consists of over 8000 specimens of decorative paper, printing paper, leathers and other bookbinding materials that were collected by S. Gale Herrick during the latter half of the twentieth century.

Stephen Gale Herrick (1909-2001) was born in San Francisco and moved to Oakland in 1922. Herrick graduated from UC Berkeley in 1931 with a degree in civil engineering and immediately started working for the family company Herrick Iron Works. He retired as CEO of the company in 1960. In his retirement years, Herrick dedicated his time to the arts. He worked as a business manager for the Actor's Workshop, briefly relocating to New York. He returned to San Francisco in the 1970s where he started a book binding studio in his office and began collecting specimens. Additionally, he served as president of the Book Club of California, Master of the Press of the Roxburghe Society, and was a member of the Old Guard at the Bohemian Club.

8.5 Linear Feet (16 boxes)

While Special Collections is the owner of the physical and digital items, permission to examine collection materials is not an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns.

Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use.