Frederic W. Goudy was a prolific American printer, artist and type designer whose typefaces include Copperplate Gothic, Goudy Old Style and Kennerley.
Goudy designed his first typeface, Camelot, in 1896.
In 1908, he created his first significant typeface for the Lanston MonotypeMachine Company: E-38, sometimes known as Goudy Light.
In 1911, Goudy produced his first "Hit", Kennerley Old Style, for an H. G. Well santhology published by Mitchell Kennerley.
This success was followed by Goudy's release of the titling letter Forum.
Although Goudy was one of the first type designers to become established without working for a foundry, the American Type Founders Company(ATF) became interested in Goudy after his release of Kennerley and Forum.
Goudy agreed "On the condition that his original drawings would not be subjected to interference by the founder's drawing room".
Goudy Old Style was released in 1915 and became an instant success.
ATF continued to expand the Goudy 'family' to Goudy Title in 1917, Goudy Boldin 1920, Goudy Catalogue in 1921, Goudy Hand tooled in 1922 and GoudyExtrabold in 1927.
Goudy types were clearly very lucrative for ATF, but Goudy did not receive anything because he had sold his original design for $1,500 instead of entering into a royalty agreement.
ATF's refusal to give
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For nearly forty years I have endeavored constantlyto create a greater and more general esteem for good printing and typography, to give printers and reader of print more legible and more beautiful types thanwere hither to available. By the end of his life, Goudy had designed 122typefaces and published 59 literary works. He worked extensively with his wifeBertha, who particularly collaborated with him on printing projects in which sheacted as a compositor of type. The couple had a son, Frederic T. Goudy. It hasbeen claimed that Goudy was the originator of the well-known statement, "Any man who would letter space blackletter would shag