Illustrated History of the Union Boat Club

This illustrated history chronicles Union Boat Club’s storied achievements in rowing and squash while capturing its spirited character. UBC members combine athletic drive with a love of good fun and fellowship. Their affection for their club and loyalty to one another energized our work. 

Julia proposed dismantling the chapter format of the partial manuscript, which she refashioned as a chronological flow of narration and features. Rick captured the Union Boat Club essence with a sporty yet elegant typography and rich color palette, and a layout that heeds the call to “make it snappy.” The images, a blending of contemporary and archival photos spanning 160-plus years, glide from one spread to the next. 

When UBC leaders decided to expand the book’s scope and size, the project gathered speed like a Henley eight at the Bend. One UBC leader hosted roundtable discussions that helped Julia update the club’s history and sports coverage; she also created more than a hundred sidebars, callouts, and other text elements, cued to images, to make the most of the newly accessible UBC archives. 

Rick both supervised new photography and culled the final selection of 364 images from his review of nearly 8,000. Working for consistent quality across this range was the primary challenge of production. 

Volume 3 collaborated every step of the way with the club’s five-member book team. We worked closely with dozens of UBC members, coaches, and staff to get their stories and insights, as well as photographers who captured fresh moments on the courts and on the Charles. 

Production Coordinator: Susan McNally