The Cuala Press

In celebration of Women’s History Month, we’re highlighting the work of one of the first female fine press printers, Elizabeth Corbet Yeats (1868-1940). Elizabeth was the sister of poet William Butler Yeats.

Elizabeth, known as “Lolly,” and her sister Susan, called “Lily,” were both involved in the Arts & Crafts movement in England and Ireland. Lily trained with May Morris at Morris & Co. and Lolly trained at the Women’s Printing Society in London. They were involved in a Dublin-area crafts guild, Dun Emer, Lolly overseeing a small press (Dun Emer Press) and Lily overseeing an embroidery workshop. In 1908 the Yeats sisters established their own enterprise, Cuala Industries, and Lolly changed her imprint to the Cuala Press. The press issued the work of many Irish Literary Revival authors, including William Butler Yeats.

Special Collections owns about two dozen examples of works from the Dun Emer and Cuala Presses as part of our Edwardian Literature Collection.

 

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