Paul LeTourneur, EDP -- Editor, E-Document News

There are four generations of printers in my family.

Beginning with my maternal grandfather who worked in type setting in New York City and my dad who worked in a bindery in Queens, I started in the early stages of the computer print market in Westbury Long Island and worked in business forms and envelope printing, data processing and facility management. My youngest son started in the laser print room in Baltimore and went on to print production and mailing management.

I often regret not being old enough to sit with my grandfather to discuss his business and understand the printing industry as he saw its evolution, and my dad, he never discussed the bindery, and changed his vocation when I was just a spud. I did talk about the business to my son Eric – he understood what he was getting into, and he took to the business as if he had years of experience. Must be genetic.

I recently moved from Maryland to Florida, and as with all moves, had to pack and re-pack piles of “stuff” that I have been dragging from place to place. One box that I had not opened for a while (and thought it was about time to ditch), was filled with memorabilia from my grandfather:

• An ashtray from the Printers League Section of the Printing Industries of Metropolitan New York, Inc., 60th Anniversary Dinner 1906-1966;
• A Turtle’s Standard Gauge to set type, and;
• A little green book titled “1913 – 1963: 50 Years of Printing Progress Through Better Selling”, published by the Associated Printing Salesmen, Inc.

Holding these items gave me time to reflect on how those of us in the E-Doc community marvel at how far we have come in such a short time. Then I opened the book to the President’s Message in that little green book, and read … “In the early days of our century – and, admittedly for some time afterward – we were selling in bulk: 5,000 copies in one color, 400 embossed invitations – and on and on.”

I started in the “bulk mail” business. We printed “business forms” on press, filled in the blanks on two-dozen IBM impact printers, and mailed 100,000 “computer letters” in a single run. The forms were two or three colors, the impact printers ran with one-color inked ribbons, and that was 1969. For a short time, very little separated press from document. Then Laser Imaging changed our industry and we called our product an Electronic Document. We thought nothing when producing these documents in the millions.

Another quote from the APS book: “what we have achieved through maturity is greater professional scope, a wider sense of responsibility, and a deep-rooted code of ethical conduct.” These words could have been taken from the Xplor EDP program’s charter – to establish professionalism in our field, take responsibility for our selves and peers, and adhere to the code of ethics. The printing method changes – from printer’s ink to toner – but the people and their contribution remains basically the same.

Production has changed – our craft moves on to a paperless document and we move information effortlessly around the world electronically. Hopefully, some things will never change. We are still the professionals committed to a craft and a true sense of honesty in how we conduct ourselves in our business. We still belong to Craft Associations, attend dinners and conventions, and volunteer our time and talent to the industry.

My point in all of this is, we need to hold on to our past, tell these stories to our future printers and document managers, and forgive me, “network with our peers” every chance we get. So if you don’t belong to a trade association, join one. If you belong, lay out some cash and support that association by attending events – educate yourself and our future contributors and leaders.

This industry provided you with a profession – support it – look how far we have come.