Douglas C. McMurtrie Imprints
Scope and Contents
Reprinted publications of Douglas Crawford McMurtrie's research on the history of printing in the United States--covering the first printers in numerous states as well as some history of the first printing in Europe, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean and elsewhere in the world. In addition, there are publications on typefaces, bibliographies, typographical style, and celebrations of printing.
Dates
- Creation: 1919-1944
Creator
- McMurtrie, Douglas C., 1888-1944 (Person)
Language of Materials
The material in this collection is in English, German, Spanish, French, Swedish, Czech, and Slovak.
Notes on Use of Collections
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Copyright
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Researchers further agree to indemnify and hold harmless Truman State University, Pickler Memorial Library, and their officers, employees, and agents from and against all suits, claims, actions, and expenses arising out of use of collections held by the library.
Biographical Note
Douglas C. McMurtrie was a designer of modern typefaces and the author of more than thirty books on the history and technique of printing. He was born on July 20, 1888 in Belmar, New Jersey. In 1915, he married Adele Kohler and they had three children. He attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He left college without a degree and worked as a newspaper reporter, statistician, printing broker, and freelance designer. Later, McMurtrie became manager of Cheltenham Press and printing manager of other newspapers including Condé Nast Press. McMurtrie moved to Chicago where he became director of advertising and typography at Ludlow Typograph Company. While at Ludlow, he headed the Works Progress Administration (WPA) American Imprints Inventory. He passed away on September 29, 1944.
Extent
2 linear feet
Arrangement
This collection is organized into 21 series.
- The Invention of Printing, 1922-1941
- 500th Anniversary of Invention of Printing, 1940-1942
- Typefounding, 1924-1926
- Regional - United States, 1929-1934
- By State - Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho and Illinois, 1929-1942
- By State - Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts and Michigan, 1928-1942
- By State - Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey and New Mexico, 1932-1935
- By State - New York, 1933-1939
- By State - North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and South Carolina 1928-1938
- By State - Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming 1931-1935
- Regional - Canada and the Caribbean, 1928-1942
- Regional - Latin America 1934-1942
- Regional - Europe 1923-1942
- Regional - Other Parts of the World, 1919-1936
- Historical Documents, 1938-1939
- Typography, 1919-1942
- Printing House Craftsmen, 1941
- American Imprints Inventory, 1938-1940
- Bibliographic Practice, 1938-1941
- Miscellaneous 1923-1944
- Envelopes, undated
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The McMurtrie Imprints appear to have been acquired by the university around 1970. They may have been part of The George Hartje Collection, a collection covering the history of books, libraries, printing, and all aspects of the printed word.
Processing Information
Arrangement scheme for the collection retained as it was received, in the order in which it was grouped in envelopes.
The collection is organized according to the following bibliography: Heartman, Charles F. (1942). McMurtrie Imprints. Hattiesburg, Mississippi: The Book Farm. A number corresponding to the listings in this bibliography (and a later supplement) follows each entry in brackets.
- Title
- Douglas C. McMurtrie Imprints
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Cheryl Musch.
- Date
- 2020
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Truman State University, Pickler Memorial Library, Special Collections Manuscripts Repository