named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Calligraphy Workshops
Offers in-person and online workshops on various calligraphic styles including italic, copperplate, Spencerian, blackletter, and brush lettering, taught by expert practitioners
Holiday Fair
Annual festive gathering promoting calligraphy and lettering arts, open to the public and members
Lecture Series
Hosts lectures on calligraphy history and practice, with archived videos available to members
Summer Sweep
Annual community event featuring mini-workshops, supply swaps, and casual gatherings for calligraphy enthusiasts
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Community Art Education Workshops 2 activities
- Offers in-person and online calligraphy workshops and classesProvides year-round learning opportunities through in-person and online workshops on topics such as Spencerian script, brush italic variations, gold lettering, and hand embossing, open to students of all levels.
- Teaches calligraphy through institutional and public programsOffers instruction in calligraphy via workshops and regular classes at institutions such as Columbia University’s School of Library Service and through Society of Scribes programs, covering techniques like broad-edged pen use and historical scripts.
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Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Hosts annual and recurring community events for calligraphersOrganizes annual events including a Holiday Fair, Summer Sweep, General Meeting with guest speaker, and a lecture at the Grolier Club; also hosts recurring meetups featuring demonstrations and discussions on calligraphy techniques and tools.
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Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
- Organizes exhibitions and public showcases of calligraphic workHosts an annual members' exhibition at the National Arts Club each spring and has co-curated major exhibitions such as the 25th anniversary show at AIGA; uses exhibitions to share knowledge and highlight member achievements.
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Artist and Curatorial Publications 1 activity
- Produces and distributes publications on calligraphy and related artsPublishes the annual journal _Letters from New York_, the Society of Scribes Journal, the SOS Studio Handbook, and other scholarly and instructional materials; distributes excerpts online and in print to support the calligraphy community.
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Volunteer Engagement and Capacity Support 1 activity
- Supports organizational operations through volunteer engagementRecruits and works with volunteers to support the ongoing operations of the Society of Scribes guild.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Maintains a public directory of freelance calligrapher membersProvides a listing of professional freelance calligraphers to connect clients with skilled practitioners, supporting both public access and member visibility.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$37K
Contributions & grants——
Program service revenue$20K53%
Investment income$100%
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$31K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$2K
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$113K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$113K
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +18.9%
relationships · 22
Who they work with
- Alice Partner — Featured artist whose work is showcased in events and gallery images by the organization.
- American Institute of Graphic Arts Partner — Co-hosted the Society of Scribes' 25th anniversary exhibition in 1999.
- Anthony Bloch Partner — Instructor for brush italic variations workshop
- Barry Morentz Partner — Instructor for gold lettering workshop
- Big Apple Pen Club Partner — Co-hosts a calligraphy and fountain pen meetup event with the Society of Scribes.
- Christopher Haanes Partner — Instructor for the lost arch workshop
- Columbia University School of Library Service Partner — Hosted Alice Koeth's non-credit calligraphy classes.
- Elinor Holland Partner — Instructor for curvaceous copperplate workshops
- Elmo van Slingerland Partner — Instructor for Roman minuscules workshop
- Ewan Clayton Partner — Instructor for drawn and painted letters workshop
- Grolier Club Partner — Hosts lectures organized by the Society of Scribes.
- John Downer Partner — Instructor for commercial brush lettering workshop
- Luca Barcellona Partner — Instructor for pointed brush and blackletter workshops
- Marcy Robinson Partner — Instructor for pen-written Roman caps and beginning italic workshops
- Michael Ward Partner — Instructor for movement writing workshop
- Morgan Library Partner — Commissioned Alice Koeth to design and write signs for over thirty years.
- Pentalic Corporation Partner — Co-founder Louis Strick was President of Pentalic Corporation, indicating an early institutional connection between the company and the founding of the Society.
- Schin Loong Partner — Instructor for Madarasz script workshop
- Society of Scribes Partner — Hosts a workshop led by Dao Huy Hoang, an instructor affiliated with the organization for educational programming.
- Stationery Festival Partner — Collaborates to offer exclusive products available only at the Stationery Festival event.
- The National Arts Club Partner — Hosts the Society of Scribes' annual Open Members’ Exhibition and other events at its venue on Gramercy Park.
- Viktor Kams Partner — Instructor for hand embossing and introduction to the flat brush workshops
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community-Driven Knowledge Sharingmethodology: community-driven-knowledge-sharingBy creating informal, low-structure spaces for practitioners to exchange ideas, the organization fosters deeper personal connections and collective growth because minimizing institutional formality encourages authentic dialogue and peer-led learning.
- East-West Artistic Synthesismethodology: east-west_synthesisBy integrating Eastern traditional arts with Western illumination techniques, the organization creates a distinctive artistic and spiritual expression because the fusion of diverse traditions enriches both form and meaning in calligraphic practice.
- Historically Grounded Personal Expressionmethodology: historically grounded personal expressionBy teaching calligraphers to master historical scripts through original manuscripts and then adapt them with personal expression, the organization advances artistic innovation because deep study enables authentic reinterpretation rather than imitation.
- Inclusive Community Engagement Modelmethodology: inclusive_community_engagementBy hosting accessible, low-barrier gatherings and informal meetups, the organization introduces calligraphy to people of all skill levels because reducing structural and social barriers increases participation and fosters broad-based belonging.
- Learn-by-Doing Pedagogymethodology: learn-by-doingBy combining hands-on practice with educational programming such as lectures and demonstrations, members develop greater skill and sustained engagement because active creation reinforces learning and builds confidence.