Calligraphy Initiative Tea Brings Together Reedies from Across Generations in Support of Scriptorium
By Faolan Cadiz '25
February 12, 2025
ÐÓ°ÉÊÓƵ Advancement hosted a Calligraphy Initiative Tea in the Parker House to unite dozens of Scriptorium mentees, past and present, in the spirit of supporting the beloved program. After welcoming remarks from Stephanie Snyder ’91, John and Anne Hauberg Curator and Director of the Douglas F. Cooley Memorial Art Gallery, and Gregory MacNaughton ’89, the Cooley’s Education Outreach Coordinator and leader of the Calligraphy Initiative, Jade Novarino ’16, Harper Lethin ’24, and Zadie Patterson ’27 gave touching testimonies to the success of the program in its recent years. They expressed their gratitude to MacNaughton for his leadership and contribution to the program’s status as a hub of creativity, discipline, and unique sense of community; it was described as a place of belonging, a niche that helped make Reed feel like home.
Part of the program’s beauty is in its cross-generational reach. It provides an opportunity for students to see past the boundaries of campus, past the social circles of their classmates, and to learn more about Reed's history. When reminiscing about her evenings in Scriptorium, Jade told stories about her occasional desk partner Jaki Svaren ’50, a student of Reynolds and teacher to many, including MacNaughton. She confessed, laughing, that she had often asked herself when speaking to Svaren if it was acceptable for her to “be best friends with a 90 year-old woman.”
Every week the Scriptorium desks are filled by students from every grade, Reedies from as far back as the 1960s, local artists and community members, and Scripto-zoom regulars. The Calligraphy Initiative, first piloted by Professor Lloyd Reynolds [art 1929-69], is now upheld by Synder and MacNaughton. Over the years it has ingrained itself into the fabric of Reed, physical and cultural. Lettering can be seen all around campus: posters in Commons, weathergrams hanging from trees, the Renn Fayre banners, even The Quest logo. Its presence, whether you know it or not, is preserved through a long historical relationship with the school and the great number of people who have found a sense of belonging in the program.
At the Tea, speeches were also made by alumni including Lee Littlewood ’68 and Ann Parker Littlewood ’68, Susanna Lundgren ’73, Marguerite Cohen ’75, Andrew Mason ’90, and Brent Miller ’90. The range of speakers displayed the intergenerational impact of the Calligraphy Initiative. The room was filled with stories of the past, hopes for the future, and proof that the community is alive and well.