Douglas C. McMurtrie Imprints

Collection

Identifier: MS M10

Staff Only

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

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

The library reserves the right to restrict access to its collections. Researchers agree to abide by any restrictions placed by the library on its collections. Learn more about our policies and services.

Copyright

It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Board of Governors for Truman State University, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of copyright.

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

Additional Description

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.