"The Lakeside Press" pressmark..

Lakeside Press pressmark..
As a part of my endeavour to document the Native American representation in Art scene in Chicago.. I saw this madallian, on the Lakeside Press building, which piqued my interest.. It had the head of a Native American chief set against the Fort Dearborn blockhouse..
Some Google search led to some information..
An excerpt from the Lakeside Classic Books.com.. click here..
The idea for RR Donnelley "The Lakeside Press" pressmark came from the exterior of one of its early plants -- the Lakeside Press Building at Plymouth Court and Polk Street in Chicago. In 1897 Howard Van Doren Shaw, the building's architect, decided to enhance the appearance of the south wall. The company commissioned Joseph C. Leyendecker, a young Chicago artist, to design an image that Shaw envisioned: the head of a Native American chief set against the Fort Dearborn blockhouse, which was originally located along the Lake Michigan shoreline, not far from RR Donnelley "The Lakeside Press" printing plant. His design was transformed into terra-cotta shields for the building and, shortly thereafter, was adopted as RR Donnelley "The Lakeside Press" pressmark because it associated the company's progress with the frontier spirit of early American life...

However, this distinctive Indianhead artwork, an Indian chief's profile, is no longer part of the company's logo or visual identity..



Location: Lakeside Press Building..
731 S. Plymouth Court..
Built: 1897
Architect: Howard Van Doren Shaw..
Its now a college dormitory..
In 1993 Columbia College acquired the building as its first residence hall. It currently houses over 300 students.
For more on the building.. click here..