Thomas Maitland Cleland

Thomas Maitland Cleland (August 18, 1880 – November 9, 1964) was an American book designer, painter, illustrator, and type designer.[1]

Sea of Matrimony, by Cleland

Early life and education

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Thomas Maitland Cleland was born August 18, 1880, in Brooklyn, New York.[2] Cleland studied at the ArtistArtisan Institute in Chelsea, New York, but was otherwise self-taught.[3][4]

Career

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Cleland began his career as a book designer for the Caslon Press and created title pages for Merrymount Press. D. B. Updike of Merrymount Press was a mentor who encouraged him to strive for perfection with commissions and criticism. When the Caslon Press folded in 1900, Cleland acquired a small foot-powered press and some fonts and launched his own printing shop from a room he constructed in his father's basement. He managed to produce two small books along with small job printing projects. His work caught the notice of printing enthusiasts in Boston, who persuaded him to move his operation there and launch the Cornhill Press.[4][5][6][7]

From 1907 to 1908, Cleland was art director of McClure’s Magazine, completely redesigning the periodical during his tenure. In 1925, he created illustrations and typography for Wesvaco Paper Corporation's in-house magazine.[2][3] In 1929, he was hired on as art director to design Fortune magazine by Henry Luce. The initial issue in February 1930 was hailed as a masterpiece of classical design and was pitched to Luce at the initial meeting.[8] In 1937, he planned a typographical refresh of Newsweek. Later, he designed the newspaper PM. The design of the newspaper earned him the Ayer Award.[2][3] He worked on eight books for the Limited Editions Club of The Heritage Press, designing a variety of illustrations, typography, and complete books. He also consulted printers on ink printing.[9]

He was a member of the Architectural League of New York, the Society of Illustrators and the Century Club, and an honorary member of the Boston Society of Arts and Crafts and the American Institute of Graphic Arts and was associated with American Type Founders for most of the early twentieth century.[9] In 1940, he won the AIGA medal for his work.[10] In 1960, in recognition of his work the New York Public Library held an exhibition for two months.[9] In 1978, he was induced into the Art Directors Club Hall of Fame.[2][11]

Cleland died November 9, 1964, in Danbury, Connecticut.[2][9]

Typefaces

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Bibliography

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  • Cleland, T.M., Giambattista Bodoni of Parma (1916)
  • Cleland, T.M.; Hamill, Alfred E.; Kent, Rockwell (Illustrator), The Decorative Work of T.M. Cleland, A Record and Review, Pynson Printers, New York (1929)

References

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  • Rollins, Carl Purlington American Type Designers and Their Work. in Print, V. 4, #1.
  • Jaspert, W. Pincus, W. Turner Berry and A.F. Johnson, The Encyclopedia of Type Faces, Blandford Press Lts., 1983, ISBN 0-7137-1347-X.
  • MacGrew, Mac, American Metal Typefaces of the Twentieth Century, Oak Knoll Books, New Castle Delaware, 1993, ISBN 0-938768-34-4.
  • Friedl, Ott, and Stein, Typography: an Encyclopedic Survey of Type Design and Techniques Throughout History. Black Dog & Levinthal Publishers: 1998. ISBN 1-57912-023-7.
  • The decorative work of T.M. Cleland : a record and review / with a biographical and critical introduction by Alfred E. Hamill, and a portrait lithograph by Rockwell Kent, Pynson Printers, New York, 1929.
  1. ^ Shinn, Nick. "The Golden Age of Hand Lettering in American Advertising". Type Culture. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Thomas M. Cleland". ADC • Global Awards & Club. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
  3. ^ a b c Friedl, Ott, and Stein, p. 170.
  4. ^ a b GmbH, Monotype. "Thomas Maitland Cleland - Linotype Font Designer Gallery". www.linotype.com. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
  5. ^ Meggs, Philip B. "An Eminent Pre-Modernist: The Curious Case Of T.M. Cleland." Print 49.2 (1995): 72. Academic Search Complete. Web. 1 Oct. 2013.
  6. ^ "The History of the Life of the Late T. M. Cleland - Graphic Arts". blogs.princeton.edu. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
  7. ^ "T.M. Cleland, Who Brought Beauty Into Advertising; FROM "THE DECORATIVE WORK OF T.M. CLELAND"". The New York Times. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
  8. ^ "The Art Of Covering Business Henry Luce wanted FORTUNE to be more than a great business magazine. He wanted it to be beautiful. - March 6, 2000". archive.fortune.com. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
  9. ^ a b c d "T. M. CLELAND DIES". The New York Times. 1964-11-10. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
  10. ^ "AIGA Medal and Medalists". AIGA | the professional association for design. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
  11. ^ "Advertising; Lawyers Take to The Air". The New York Times. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
  12. ^ MacGrew, Mac, American Metal Typefaces of the Twentieth Century, Oak Knoll Books, New Castle Delaware, 1993, ISBN 0-938768-34-4, pp. 116 + 117, and Jaspert, W. Pincus, W. Turner Berry and A.F. Johnson, The Encyclopedia of Type Faces, Blandford Press Lts., 1983, ISBN 0-7137-1347-X, p. 240.
  13. ^ Jaspert (p. 240) says this was copied as Canterbury by Lanston Monotype, but McGrew (p. 117) has no mention of this, nor does his list of Monotype Series Numbers (pp. 363-365) have any listing for any Canterbury.
  14. ^ MacGrew, American Metal Typefaces of the Twentieth Century, pp. 116 + 117.
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