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The Caxton Club, founded in 1895, is an organization of all those who have an interest in the book, including archivists, authors, binders, book artists, booksellers, collectors, conservators, designers, editors, librarians, printers, publishers, scholars, and others. Club members form a diverse community of those interested in the study and promotion of the arts and technologies pertaining to the production, distribution, and reception of manuscript and printed books and related textual objects such as manuscripts, maps, pamphlets, periodicals, broadsides, and ephemera. The Caxton Club welcomes members of all races, ethnicities, religions, gender identities/expressions, sexual orientations, and socio-economic statuses.

The club holds programs on the third Wednesday evening of the month and mid-day on the second Friday of the month from September through June. Additional programs are also scheduled, often in cooperation with other groups that share our interests. The format of each program (live only, live with virtual participation, or virtual only) will be clearly indicated in the Events section. Members have the opportunity to view video recordings of club programs, regardless of their registration for an event. Membership benefits include a printed issue of the Caxtonian six times per year, the opportunity to display an item in the club’s online exhibition, and full access to all Members Only events.

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.