ABOUT FOTA

ABOUT ATLANTA’S FRIENDS OF THE ALPHABET

In 1978 there existed in Atlanta no special organization of persons interested in the letter arts. In that year the calligraphy club was conceived in the minds of Roy Rice, Jr., letterpress printer, typefounder, and calligrapher, and Steve Skaggs, calligrapher. An exhibit was organized at St. Martin’s-in-the-Field Episcopal Church in which the other then-known calligraphers were invited to participate. Exhibitors, friends, and visitors were subsequently contacted and encouraged to attend an initial meeting to explore the possibility of organizing a society to support and further the letter arts in Atlanta.

More than twenty persons appeared at this first, unofficial meeting, and the new society was born, with Steve and Laura Skaggs as the first co-presidents. Those who joined before 1979 were designated as charter members.

From the beginning it was clear that interest in the letter arts was not limited to calligraphers, and so the society was named The Atlanta Friends of the Alphabet by John McKenzie. Membership has included bookbinders, calligraphers, graphic artists, designers, offset printers, and letterpress printers. Some members are professional lettering artists, others happy amateurs, still others content simply to admire; but all are equally Friends of the Alphabet.

Presidents of FOTA have been Steve and Laura Skaggs, Roy and Hazle Rice, John McKenzie, Julie Cashin, Rene Hicks, Dena Bellows, Charles and Jean Dukes, Carol Gray, Ruby McKinney, Bill Allen, Teresa Whatley, Cindy Corliss, Michael Smith, and Diana Robinson.

We are interested in meeting those who share our love for letters and elegant handwriting. IF YOU WISH TO JOIN, see our membership page, or if you wish to speak with someone about our guild please call Emily, 404.389.0991, or Carol, 404-288-8749, or Bill, 770-851-9943.