I met Richard Burnham at a Charles North Business Association meeting. As he handed out business cards featuring his brand new logo, and an address for his new location he has yet to move to, he jokes that if any of us need new cards, he knows a great place to have them made!
Burnham is the president and founder of Graphic Imaging, a family owned business founded in 1987, which currently resides in Charles Village, but will soon be moving to Woodberry. As Burnham and his team, comprised mostly of family, prepare to make the move, the building and the business find themselves in a state of flux. Upon visiting the location Graphic Imaging has called home for over 10 years, I knew that I have arrived just in time to experience the years of printing history contained within its walls.
The rowhouse turned office on 25th street has a long history of enterprise, including serving as the studio of famed Baltimore sculptor J. Maxwell Miller, whose work can be found throughout Baltimore, as well as in the Vatican. Later, the building served as a home to a casket company, whose mark remains on the building in the form of a casket-sized elevator found at the back.
When Burnham moved into the building, sculptures and caskets were replaced with cutting edge printing technologies. Forever working to stay at the forefront of the industry, Burnham’s massive collection of printing equipment, much now rendered useless in the digital age, serves as a reminder of our rapidly-changing times. Never one to fall behind the times, he proudly proclaims that he is “all digital now” and, in fact, has been for quite a while.
The printing and graphics industry is suffering in the light of the digital revolution. Whereas once a business such as this was critical for all of our printing needs, today affordable at-home printers and a variety of online printing solutions threaten the future vitality of the entire printing industry. But Burnham does not seem discouraged, and remains confident his personal touch, vast experience, and eye for quality will keep the business running.
As he proudly opens his curio cabinet filled with samples of the work he has produced over the years, one can see the amount of love and passion that he has put into doing it right. To Burnham, the printing business is not just about getting the job done, but doing so with care and expertise, and providing the best possible product with no exception. This may be lost on proponents of home-publishing, but the proof is in the product, and Burnham’s experience has produced some rather fine results.
Richard Burnham’s commitment to the industry is being recognized by The Printing & Graphics Association, Mid Atlantic, who recently induced him into their Hall of Fame, which honors the accomplishments of outstanding individuals within the organization.
Burnham is not your typical businessman concerned only with the growth of his own venture, but serves as a business leader within the community. He served on the former Printing Industries of Maryland Board from 1993 – 1995 and was Chairman of that Board from 2001-2003. He served on the national board of the Printing Industries of America and the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation, and has also been president of the Litho Club of Baltimore, The Eastern Shore Litho Club and the Baltimore Craftsmen Club as well as the Graphic Arts Literacy Alliance. In addition he was an instructor at the Community College of Baltimore County for over 15 years, and ran the Maryland Skills USA (VICA) competition for graphic communication students. Richard is also a past president of the National Association of Litho Clubs.
In addition to his career in printing, Richard has been very active in the Charles Village community where Graphic Imaging is located, working to promote business in the area as well as its safety through his involvement on boards for many neighborhood organizations. Included is the Village Learning Place, The Charles Village Benefits District, The Charles Village Civic Association, The Charles Village Business Association, The Old Goucher Community Association, The Old Goucher Business Alliance, The Charles North Business Association (Station North) and in South Baltimore, The Fort McHenry Business Association.
As the move date approaches, and nostalgia sets in, one thing is clear, Richard Burnham is a Baltimore success story, and his family remains devoted to providing Baltimore with the best possible printing solutions. Although an exact date for Graphic Imaging’s upcoming move to Woodberry is unknown, sometime around the end of April, the business will pack up and move to its new location near TV hill and the Pepsi plant. And even as memories are left behind, Burnham knows there are more memories to be had and made.
As I prepare to depart Graphic Imaging, two of Burnham’s granddaughters swirl around the office, and I am reminded of what a “family business” really means. I feel a touch of nostalgia as I walk out that particular door on the 25th street for what will probably be the last time. All though I may need to travel a bit further from home than I would have last month, at least now I know where I’ll go when I need something printed, and I need it done right.
Graphic Imaging can be contacted at:
