JOIN US

The Caxton Club welcomes members of all races, ethnicities, religions, gender identities/expressions, sexual orientations, and socio-economic statuses. It is an organization of enthusiastic collectors, conservators, designers, binders, printers, librarians, archivists, editors, booksellers, publishers, and others interested in the book. Club members from these diverse backgrounds form a community of those interested in the study and promotion of the arts and technologies pertaining to the production, distribution, and reception of handwritten and printed books and related textual objects such as pamphlets, broadsides, and ephemera.

The Club meets for an evening program on the third Wednesday of the month and mid-day on the second Friday of the month from September through June. Currently, all programs are presented virtually and recorded for members to view at any time. When in-person, these events may include receptions and optional meals.

The Caxton Club offers Resident, Non-resident, and Junior categories of membership. Non-resident members are those living 50 miles or more from the city of Chicago. Those applying for membership in all categories must attend two virtual or in-person meetings in order to be considered for membership.

To become a member, the applicant must:

Have an interest in printed, handwritten, or digital books and related items, as well as in the book arts, in bibliophilic history, and/or in collecting such materials
Be at least 21 years of age
Have attended two meetings either virtually or in-person
Submit an on-line application
Await contact from a membership co-chair who will assist with the next two steps
Be proposed by a club member and seconded by another club member (if the applicant does not know any current members, the Membership Committee will supply such support).
Membership Committee will present your application to the Council for approval of membership