The Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking's mission is to collect, preserve, increase, and disseminate knowledge about papermaking - past, present and future.

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Chinese Hand Carved Stamps

Black and white photo of a 30 year old Caucasian male in a white dress shirt with his sleeves rolled to the elbow sitting in a personal libraryDard Hunter, Paper Museum Founder

Introduction

The Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking melds art, history, technology and industry from historical and global perspectives. Museum visitors follow the path of paper from the earliest examples of writing materials, to the Chinese discovery of how to make paper, to the paper mills of Europe, and the high-tech machinery of today’s modern paper industry.

The Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking's mission is to collect, preserve, increase, and disseminate knowledge about papermaking - past, present and future.

The museum cares for the most comprehensive collection of paper and paper-related artifacts in the world, comprised of over 100,000 artifacts including manuscripts, rare books, prints, hand and industrial papermaking tools and equipment, and crafted and manufactured objects, as well as paper samples.

The museum was first established in 1939 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology by renowned paper historian Dard Hunter. In 1954, its founder relocated the museum to the Institute of Paper Chemistry in Appleton, Wisconsin, where it remained until 1989. At that time, the Institute of Paper Chemistry and museum moved to Atlanta, and the Institute was renamed the Institute of Paper Science and Technology (IPST). The museum became the Robert C. Williams American Museum of Papermaking in 1996 when the James River Corporation established an endowment in honor of its founder. In 2003, IPST merged with the Georgia Institute of Technology, and the museum became part of the larger organization. Today, the museum is part of the Renewable Bioproducts Institute, an Interdisciplinary Research Institute at Georgia Tech.

Permanent exhibitions trace the development of papermaking. Temporary exhibitions feature additional artifacts from the collections, artwork by leading contemporary paper artists, and national traveling exhibits.

The Paper Museum offers a variety of programs for audiences ranging from lectures for the general public to field trips for schools to hands-on workshops for all ages. Fee-based, hands-on workshops meeting Georgia Tech’s COVID-19 guidelines are offered in-person, and virtual programs are available as well.

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Programming

The museum provides tour options for varying audiences, including Pre-K-12 students, scouts, college students, and adults. The museum also offers fee-based hands-on workshops and artists’ lectures on a variety of topics for artists, educators, and the general public.

School programs are age-appropriate and linked to Georgia Performance Standards. Tours and programs can be modified to meet the needs of specific classes.

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Exhibits

The museum hosts both permanent exhibitions and changing galleries. The permanent exhibits trace the fascinating history of papermaking from its earliest antecedents through the advanced technology of today. There is also an exhibit that outlines the life works of Dard Hunter, the museum's founder as well as galleries whose exhibits change covering topics as varied as art, history, and science. 

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Contact Us

Send mail to:

Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking
Renewable Bioproducts Institute
Mail code 0620, Georgia Tech
Atlanta, GA 30332-0620

NOTE: Please use zip code 30318 if sending via courier service (FedEx, UPS, etc)

Fax: 404-894-4778

Renewable Bioproducts Institute Main Line: 404-894-5700

 

Museum Director

Virginia Howell
Phone: 404-894-5726
Emailvirginia.howell@rbi.gatech.edu

Museum Coordinator
Jerushia Graham
Phone: 404-894-7821
Emailjerushia@gatech.edu

Education Curator

Anna Doll
Phone: 404-894-7840
Emailanna.doll@rbi.gatech.edu