Publisher. America's foremost 20th century book designer, in 1880 he joined Boston's Houghton, Mifflin & Company and became a printer. In 1893 he started Merrymount Press, which became the liturgical printer for the Episcopal Church, with its most well known work being 1930's "Book of Common Prayer." Updike's books initially followed styles then in use, but he became interested in typographic design, acquired metal sorts for several rare fonts, and had created the metal sorts for two fonts of his own design, Montalegro and Merrymount. Updike was the first American publisher to use the now-standard Times New Roman, and in 1910 he endowed at the Providence Public Library a collection on the history of printing which comprises more than 7,500 books, 600 letters and manuscripts and 200 prints, including rare books from the 1600s and 1700s. In 1922 he published "Printing Types: Their History, Forms and Use," with a revised version coming out in 1937. Updike received the American Institute of Graphic Art's Gold Medal in 1922, was admitted to membership in the American Antiquarian Society, and received an honorary degree from Harvard University in 1929.
Publisher. America's foremost 20th century book designer, in 1880 he joined Boston's Houghton, Mifflin & Company and became a printer. In 1893 he started Merrymount Press, which became the liturgical printer for the Episcopal Church, with its most well known work being 1930's "Book of Common Prayer." Updike's books initially followed styles then in use, but he became interested in typographic design, acquired metal sorts for several rare fonts, and had created the metal sorts for two fonts of his own design, Montalegro and Merrymount. Updike was the first American publisher to use the now-standard Times New Roman, and in 1910 he endowed at the Providence Public Library a collection on the history of printing which comprises more than 7,500 books, 600 letters and manuscripts and 200 prints, including rare books from the 1600s and 1700s. In 1922 he published "Printing Types: Their History, Forms and Use," with a revised version coming out in 1937. Updike received the American Institute of Graphic Art's Gold Medal in 1922, was admitted to membership in the American Antiquarian Society, and received an honorary degree from Harvard University in 1929.
Bio by: Bill McKern
Family Members
Advertisement
