Step into the world of nineteenth-century Utah, where language, typography, identity, and imagination converged in one of the most ambitious printing experiments in American history: the Deseret Alphabet. Designing Deseret is a one-day symposium that seeks to bring together scholars, printers, artists, and enthusiasts to explore the alphabet’s origins, its evolving cultural role, and its enduring legacy in the history of the book.

Following a morning session of guest speakers, attendees will participate in a series of rotating, hands-on activities, hosted by the Special Collections Division of the J. Willard Marriott Library. These 45-minute sessions will provide opportunities to engage directly with historical materials and practices.

Participants will gain practical insight into printing techniques in the Book Arts Studio; examine primary sources in the Rare Books Classroom; and learn how to read and write in Deseret with period primers. Presented in collaboration with the Utah Bibliographical Society, Church History Library, Brigham Young University, Utah State University, and the University of Utah. 

Registration for the symposium is $50.00.