Presentation: English Roundhand—History, Misconceptions & Modern Practice

Saturday, 6/14/2025
2:00 - 4:00
Latino/Hispanic Meeting Room A
Latino/Hispanic Meeting Room B
Main Library

100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
United States

415-557-4400

Learn about the materials and methods of English Roundhand. Calligrapher Katie Leavens demonstrates the modern practice of this writing hand.

Katie Leavens is a freelance illustrator and calligrapher based in San Francisco. She thrives on complex projects that blend her background in design, illustration and lettering. She has a passion for studying lettering from the past, particularly in exploring how medieval illumination techniques can inform contemporary design. Her approach results in work that is both deeply rooted in tradition and strikingly modern.

A dedicated member of the lettering community, Katie has served on the Friends of Calligraphy council since 2019. She leads their social media efforts, manages their class registrations and is currently co-coordinating Kalligraphia 2025, the member exhibit at the San Francisco Public Library. She has taught calligraphy around San Francisco since 2020. Her class help students develop both technical confidence and their artistic voice.

Connect: Katie Leavens - Instagram

This program is part of KALLIGRAPHIA 2025, the triennial exhibition by Friends of Calligraphy, in association with Book Arts & Special Collections. This year's exhibition celebrates the 50th anniversary of Friends of Calligraphy.

Image: Elena Caruthers

Creative Arts

Exercise your power of imagination with programs that encourage hands-on projects for adults. For craft programs, all materials are provided, unless noted.

Typography and Calligraphy

Attend programming, lectures and workshops on the art, design and function of lettering.

This program is sponsored by Friends of the San Francisco Public Library.

Attending Programs

All programs are drop-in (no registration necessary) unless otherwise noted. All SFPL locations are wheelchair accessible. For accommodations (such as ASL), call (415) 557-4557 or contact accessibility@sfpl.org. Requesting at least 3 business days in advance will help ensure availability.

This program will be conducted in English unless otherwise noted.

Notice: This event may be filmed or photographed. By participating in this event, you consent to have your likeness used for the Library’s archival purposes and promotional materials. If you do not want to be photographed, please inform a staff person or the photographer. A sticker will be provided to help identify you so that we can avoid capturing your image.

Public Notice and Disclaimer

This program uses a third-party website link. By clicking on the third-party website link, you will leave SFPL's website and enter a website not operated by SFPL. This service may collect personally identifying information about you, such as name, username, email address, and password. This service will treat the information it collects about you pursuant to its own privacy policy. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of each third-party website or service that you visit or use, including those third parties with whom you interact through our Library services. For more information about these third-party links, please see the section of SFPL’s Privacy Policy describing Links to Other Sites.

The views and opinions expressed in programs presented by groups unaffiliated with SFPL do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SFPL or the City.