You say you’re in the print industry? That’s for me to decide. It depends on whether you can tell me, without jumping ahead in this post: Frank who?

There are successful heads of printing companies, motivational speakers by the dozen, leaders of trade associations, and witty bloggers aplenty. But in the realm of print knowledge, there is only one name, and that’s Frank Romano.

Even the autofill function on my computer knows his name.

I pretty much owe my career to Frank Romano. About 15 years ago, as I launched my business as a champion of print buyers, I met Frank at a trade event and got up the nerve to introduce myself. So began our long friendship and regular collaboration.

We co-edited a printed magazine for print buyers, which, like all the other similar publications for buyers, faded away as the Internet grew. When I produced print buyer conferences, Frank helped me refine session topics and often suggested presenters. He always keynoted, and based on feedback from the crowds who flocked to his presentations, he always slayed them. We also developed educational boot camps for print buyers and for print reps (his idea). What fun we had!

It was Frank’s idea that, from time to time, I curate some of my Print Tips and shape them into books. Today there are three such books (so far). Again and again, I reach out to Frank to answer random questions (“How do digital presses differ?” “Why is inkjet so popular?” “Which markets are flocking to digital printing?”). He always knows, and he always answers quickly.

He asks nothing in return.

Why bring this up now? Last week, Frank hosted a small group of New England print buyers at his fantastical Romano Printing, Graphic Arts & Book Library in Salem, NH. It’s his private collection and I’ll wager you haven’t seen anything like it before. Get there fast, before it up and moves: Frank’s donating his collection of 5000+ rare books and thousands of magnificent print/typesetting artifacts to the Museum of Printing.

Currently located in North Andover, MA, the museum (did I mention that Frank’s the president?) will move to new, fully accessible space in Haverhill, MA, early next year.

This will make the Museum of Printing the “largest printing and graphic arts museum in the United States and the only one of any size east of the Mississippi River.” Sounds like cause for many celebrations, if you ask me.

As our small group of print lovers visited Frank’s library last week (and were treated to a delicious dinner, to boot), we got a sense of his incredible knowledge and experience. His collection includes an example of every Mac model ever made (he knew and advised Steve Jobs); samples of rare chromolithographs (my favorite, love the colors); a first edition of the Hingham MA Journal from 1888, printed on a Hoe Rotary Flatbed Newspaper press that was driven by a steam engine; a full set of Inland Printer (now American Printer) that began in 1883; and a copy of every edition of Pocket Pal (edited by Frank), including the first one from 1934.

Everywhere we looked, we saw print ephemera, books and rare typesetting memorabilia, linotype displays, photo engravings, framed prints celebrating industry legends, and thousands of materials and artwork dealing with fonts. The layout of his library is stunning. He designed it.

Tucked into a corner of one of the many rooms, looking almost embarrassed to be there, was a display case carrying awards he’s won. (Sorry, but just like Baby, these honors should not be put in a corner.)

Ali Westcott, founder of MarTechCreative and an extremely talented and knowledgeable print geek herself, called the event “An absolutely wonderful and inspiring night!” Best of all, Ali documented our tour by taking lots of pictures and notes. Feast your eyes.

Another member of our gang, Greg Mroczek, had this to say: “Frank is like a living repository of print-history, plus he has this massive, curated collection of all things print and an extroverted personality and a gift for public speaking that all together make him an invaluable presence in New England – and the US, I would say. Isn’t he like what the Japanese call a living national treasure?”

So I looked up “living national treasure,” and here’s what jumped out at me: “…a term for those designated as keepers of important intangible cultural properties.”

Yes indeed, he’s a living national treasure. I’m fortunate – and thankful – to call him my friend.

If you haven’t experienced a Frank talk, don’t pass up the opportunity to hear him speak when you can. And if you want to deepen your knowledge, pick up any one of the almost 60 books he’s authored. His little weekly videos on WhatTheyThink are a hoot (the latest one covers the candidate logos and typography for the 2016 presidential race). Fifty years in to this wild world of printing, he’s still teaching college courses at RIT (where he’s Professor Emeritus) and CalPoly. Like time, he refuses to stand still.

At the rate he’s moving, he’s going to need a bigger library.

PS: Fall 2016, party at the Museum of Printing. Mark your calendars – and prepare to be wowed.

PPS: Got any Frank stories you want to share here? Please do!

(c) 2015 Margie Dana