Projects and research

Scope and content:

Series 2: Projects and Research, 1975-2012, contains Barton's professional projects, project planning, and items used for project research. Instructions for Assembly (1993) contains process plans, mock-ups, instructions, patents used for inspiration, and process materials. Vision Shifts (1998) contains process plans, mock-ups, large scale prints, and photographs. Five Luminous Towers: A Book to Read in the Dark (2001) includes sample pieces, planning materials, and templates for The Lookout. As well, the book La Torre e le Carceri di Palazzo Ducale served as direct inspiration for Five Luminous Towers: A Book to Read in the Dark. Barton's first book, Beyond the Page (1981), contains hand cut master sheets. Everyday Road Signs (1988) contains a prototype of the book's binding, planning for the first five pages of Separations, sample material for page six, negatives, text copy for the opening page, and print prototypes for a page. Loom (1989) contains design prototypes, steel plates, and text copy and print. Tunnel Map (1988) contains planning for Map #1 Europe/Africa/Asia in a blue separation, page design plans, book cover design plans, and the first set of unused map film originals. Page design plans for Tunnel Map include: page 2 for North/South America, page 3 for Africa/Europe, page 4 for North/South America, page 5 for North/South America and Africa/Europe, and page 6 for Africa/Europe and North/South America.

Researchers should note that dates for Carol Barton's plans/prototypes are approximate and based on the year the specific project was published.

Prototypes of Pocket Paper Engineer Volume 3 are housed with a related promotional poster. The poster is for "a visiting artist lecture sponsored by the MFA Book Arts/Printmaking Program at the University of the Arts (Philadelphia)."

Barton has also been referenced in promotional materials regarding her work in: Visual Icons, Small Works: The Gallery at Studio B, Art on the Page: A Selection of Artists' Books, Orihon & More: Books By Artists, Under Cover: Book Arts, Beyond Reading, [Book] Art: Handmade Books, Book For[u]ms, The Pocket Paper Engineer, Washington University Libraries Special Collections, and Mining the Lloyd.

Access and use

Location of collection:
James Madison University
Second Floor Room 203, MSC 1704
Carrier Library
James Madison University
880 Madison Drive
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Tiffany Cole
Phone: (540) 568-3444
Phone: (540) 568-3612
Fax: (540) 568-3405
Parent restrictions:
Collection open to research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.
Parent terms of access:
The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).

Contents