Digitisation: fabric sample books by Adolf Jenny-Trümpy
Aim of the project
Adolf Jenny-Trümpy from Ennenda/Glarus was responsible for the technical and colourful part of the cotton printing in the family business Bartholome Jenny & Co since the end of the 19th century. Around 1907, Jenny-Trümpy began a special collection of print samples, which was possibly intended to preserve the products for future generations. He created a 22-volume pictorial history of dye development in the 19th to 20th centuries. 17 volumes from one of these series were entrusted to the Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences (D-CHAB) at ETH Zurich to be preserved and made accessible for posterity. Due to lack of space, however, the books could hardly be exhibited so far. In principle, an exhibition in this case is difficult: the fabric samples are partly not fixed firmly enough, being touched by many hands would be a problem and the diversity of the books’ contents can only be shown behind display cases to a limited extent. In addition, the handwriting, which is sometimes difficult to read, is a barrier to processing the contents. The aim of the proposed project is therefore to make the collection of specimen fabrics accessible to all interested parties free of charge on a suitable website/platform – in words and pictures.
Description of the project
In 2022, one of the 17 fabric sample books was already scanned as a test copy and the manuscripts it contained were fully transcribed. Between January and December 2023, the remaining 16 fabric sample books were fully scanned and transcribed as part of the approved funding in order to make them available to the public, researchers and interested specialists and to facilitate further processing. The scanned books, together with the transcribed text, will be made available in a suitable form on the D-CHAB website in spring 2024.
Context and synergies
Through the digitisation of the books, the interested public as well as specific interest groups such as chemists, researchers, designers, textile experts and others can gain insight into historical printing/dyeing processes and have free access to exciting chemical dyeing recipes and a large variety of textiles/patterns, which in turn could serve as inspiration for new projects or research work.
A possible benefit could also be cooperation, for example with schools, museums or universities in the course of research or design projects. In addition, the fabric sample books serve as a connecting point or highlight during the public tours to bring people from outside the subject area into the HCI building and get them excited about chemistry. Digitisation will also ensure the preservation of the delicate fabrics and dyeings.
Time frame
January 2023–December 2023