Special Collections & Archives: William & Barbara Holman Book Arts Collection

Introduction

In 2009, William and Barbara Holman donated their collection of nearly 800 fine and rare imprints to our legacy institution, the University of Texas-Pan American.

Countless decisions go into designing and creating a book, from the typeface and paper to the design of the cover. The collection donated by the Holmans highlights the art and design of books, featuring limited editions, handmade paper, well-known illustrators, and “firsts” in printing and publishing.

William Roger Holman

Librarian, Writer, Book Designer, Fine Printer

In 1951, William Holman (1925–2021) began his four-year tenure as Head Librarian at Pan American College. Between 1955 and 1966, he went on to lead and direct libraries in Galveston, San Antonio, and San Francisco.

In 1966, he was recruited by Harry Ransom of the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center at the University of Texas at Austin, where he worked to develop the rare books collection. There, Holman and his wife, Barbara, continued work in hand-press printing and managing their publishing company. The books and broadsides the Holmans printed are also highly collectible.

Mr. Holman wrote his memoirs in his book Orphan’s Nine Commandments. His professional career is recognized in two books: A Free Library in this City [San Francisco], by Peter Booth Wiley, and A Roving Chronicle of Book People, by Nicholas Basbanes.

Barbara Louis (Switzer) Holman

Artist, Illustrator, Book Designer

Barbara Holman received numerous awards for her art and designs. She was awarded Print Magazine’s “Poster of the Year Award” and was included in AIGA’s 50 Best Books Award as a book designer. She pursued her education in drawing and painting at Pan American College, the Art Students’ League in New York, and the Fine Arts Department at the University of Oklahoma.

Newspaper Clippings:

• William Roger Holman "The Orphan's Nine Commandments" (Longview News-Journal, Jan. 27, 2008)
• "A name for himself: Publisher makes a kind of peace with his orphan past" (Austin American-Statesmen, Jan. 13, 2008)