photo by: Bremen Keasey/Journal-World

A display commemorating America 250 at the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont St., features artwork created by local residents drawn with oak gall ink, the type of ink the Declaration was written in.

As different organizations around Lawrence found ways to celebrate America 250, Lawrence Public Library leaders were hoping to find an angle to commemorate the anniversary that was a little bit different.

Terese Winters, an information services librarian, said the staff was hoping to find a connection to the celebration with nature since there is “nothing awe-inspiring like nature.” Ken Lassman, a local author who puts together the Kaw Valley Almanac, shared with library staff that the Declaration of Independence was written with oak gall ink, and that was all the inspiration they needed.

The inspiration that sprang from the connection is now on full display at the library as part of a community learning workshop that discussed the unique oak gall ink and its connection to the country’s pivotal founding. A special exhibit, “Expressions of Democracy in Gall Ink,” currently features dozens of drawings created by community members with the ink that made a permanent mark on history.

Winters said for this exhibit to even be possible, it took the support and time of “a lot of talented, artistic and knowledgeable people” in the community. First, Winters said the project was funded by a Natural and Cultural Heritage Grant from Douglas County. That allowed the library to partner with Wendy Holman, the education program coordinator at the KU Field Station, to introduce the team what exactly galls are.

Galls are abnormal growths created by different types of plants, often caused by insects or midges — they are almost like an allergic reaction. People then take the galls and grind them up into a powder, which can be used to create ink. Winters learned there were “amazing different types” in the area, including some fungus galls and hackberry nipple galls.

“It was a real learning experience for sure,” Winters said.

photo by: Bremen Keasey/Journal-World

Different types of galls, abnormal growth on plants caused by insects or midges, are displayed at the Lawrence Public Library. The ink created by galls helped inspire this display that celebrates America 250 and features drawings in gall ink from local residents.

The oak galls’ relevance to history was that the tannins in their structure made the ink “much more permanent,” according to Winters. Because what was written did not fade quickly, the oak gall ink — also called iron gall ink — has been used “since antiquity.” Although printing presses were in use during the time of the American Revolution, lots of historic documents, like the Declaration of Independence, still used traditional ink.

The library also teamed up with Mary Anne Jordan, a textiles professor at the University of Kansas, who occasionally uses ink in her work. Winters said Jordan then walked through the library staff the process of making ink from the galls and how to make pens that could use the ink.

Holman and Jordan also gave talks to around 30 community members of all ages that connected how gall ink played a part in the foundation of the United States. Winters said the participants in that event were then asked to reflect on the ideas of democracy and the future of the country. They then created drawings using handmade tools and gall ink that were inspired by those ideas.

“We are really impressed with what people put together,” Winters said.

Along with drawings from community members, the display featured examples of tools used in the drawing process and specimens on loan from Holman of branches with galls. Winters said the final display was a product of not just how engaged the library’s patrons are in learning, but also how lucky the community is to have experts available who want to share their knowledge.

“(This brought) all parts of the community together,” Winters said. “It’s a humble community display, but in that way it is special.”

The display will be up at the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont St., until the end of the month. Winters also said there will be a community reception at the library on Tuesday, July 28, that will bring together the collaborators on the project and present a special display of ancient manuscripts from KU’s Kenneth Spencer Research Library that are written in iron gall ink. Details for that event can be found at the library’s website.

photo by: Bremen Keasey/Journal-World

Specimens with galls are on display as part of a special exhibit at the Lawrence Public Library called “Expressions of Democracy in Gall Ink.” The display takes inspiration from nature and the ink used to write the Declaration of Independence, and it features drawings from residents inspired by those ideas.

photo by: Bremen Keasey/Journal-World

Drawings that drew inspiration from the Declaration of Independence and America 250 hang in a special display at the Lawrence Public Library. Participants learned about the connection between gall ink and the Declaration of Independence thanks to a range of community experts.

photo by: Bremen Keasey/Journal-World

Drawings created using iron gall ink — the same type of ink the Declaration of Independence was written in — are displayed at the Lawrence Public Library.