Ernst F. Detterer
Encyclopedia
Ernst Frederic Detterer was an American
calligrapher, teacher, and typographer. He studied at Moravian College
and the Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art
where he took classes in lettering taught by Edward Johnston
. From 1912–21 he taught wood-cut art, calligraphy and typography at Chicago Normal School
. From 1921–31 he taught the history of printing at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. The design department of the Ludlow Typograph Company
commissioned him to design a Venetian type-face (i.e. one based on the designs of Venetian type-founder Nicolas Jenson
), and his Nicolas Jenson was the result. Detterer's former student, R. Hunter Middleton
, later expanded Nicolas Jenson into a complete type family. First cast in 1923, Nicolas Jenson was reintroduced in 1941 as Eusebius. At the time of his death, Detterer was employed as the custodian of the John M. Wing Collection on the History of Printing at the Newberry Library
in Chicago.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
calligrapher, teacher, and typographer. He studied at Moravian College
Moravian College
Moravian College a private liberal arts college, and the associated Moravian Theological Seminary are located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, United States, in the Lehigh Valley region.-History:...
and the Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art
Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art
The Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art was chartered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on February 26, 1876. This was in response to the Centennial International Exhibition held in Philadelphia that year....
where he took classes in lettering taught by Edward Johnston
Edward Johnston
Edward Johnston, CBE was a British-Uruguayan craftsman who is regarded, with Rudolf Koch, as the a father of modern calligraphy, in the form of the broad edged pen as a writing tool, a particular form of calligraphy....
. From 1912–21 he taught wood-cut art, calligraphy and typography at Chicago Normal School
Chicago State University
Chicago State University is a state university of the U.S. state of Illinois, located in Chicago.-History:Cook County Normal School was founded in 1867, largely through the initiative of John F. Eberhart, the Commissioner of Schools for Cook County...
. From 1921–31 he taught the history of printing at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. The design department of the Ludlow Typograph Company
Ludlow Typograph
A Ludlow Typograph is a hot metal typesetting system used in letterpress printing. The device casts bars, or slugs of type, out of type metal primarily consisting of lead. These slugs are used for the actual printing, and then are melted down and recycled on the spot.The Ludlow system uses molds,...
commissioned him to design a Venetian type-face (i.e. one based on the designs of Venetian type-founder Nicolas Jenson
Nicolas Jenson
Nicolas Jenson was a French engraver, pioneer printer and type designer who carried out most of his work in Venice. Jenson acted as Master of the French Royal Mint at Tours, and is accredited with being the creator of the first model roman type...
), and his Nicolas Jenson was the result. Detterer's former student, R. Hunter Middleton
R. Hunter Middleton
Robert Hunter Middleton was an American book designer, painter, and type designer. Born in Glasgow, Scotland he came to Chicago in 1908 where he studied at the School of the Art Institute. He joined the design department of the Ludlow Typograph Company in 1923 and served as director of the...
, later expanded Nicolas Jenson into a complete type family. First cast in 1923, Nicolas Jenson was reintroduced in 1941 as Eusebius. At the time of his death, Detterer was employed as the custodian of the John M. Wing Collection on the History of Printing at the Newberry Library
Newberry Library
The Newberry Library is a privately endowed, independent research library for the humanities and social sciences in Chicago, Illinois. Although it is private, non-circulating library, the Newberry Library is free and open to the public...
in Chicago.
Typefaces
- Nicolas Jenson (1923, LudlowLudlow TypographA Ludlow Typograph is a hot metal typesetting system used in letterpress printing. The device casts bars, or slugs of type, out of type metal primarily consisting of lead. These slugs are used for the actual printing, and then are melted down and recycled on the spot.The Ludlow system uses molds,...
) - Newberry Binding Type (1935, ATFAmerican Type FoundersAmerican Type Founders was a business trust created in 1892 by the merger of 23 type foundries, representing about 85% of all type manufactured in the United States...
) Drawings by Detterer, metal patterns by R. Hunter MiddletonR. Hunter MiddletonRobert Hunter Middleton was an American book designer, painter, and type designer. Born in Glasgow, Scotland he came to Chicago in 1908 where he studied at the School of the Art Institute. He joined the design department of the Ludlow Typograph Company in 1923 and served as director of the...
, matrices cut by Robert WiebkingRobert WiebkingRobert Wiebking was a German-American engraver typeface designer who was known for cutting type matrixes for Frederic Goudy from 1911 to 1926.-Life and career:...
, cast in brass by American Type FoundersAmerican Type FoundersAmerican Type Founders was a business trust created in 1892 by the merger of 23 type foundries, representing about 85% of all type manufactured in the United States... - Eusebius (1941, LudlowLudlow TypographA Ludlow Typograph is a hot metal typesetting system used in letterpress printing. The device casts bars, or slugs of type, out of type metal primarily consisting of lead. These slugs are used for the actual printing, and then are melted down and recycled on the spot.The Ludlow system uses molds,...
) a re-issue of Nicolas Jenson.