Born in St. Louis, Michigan, Ransom grew up in Snohomish, Washington and began his career as a reporter, bookkeeper, and printer's devil for several papers in the Northwest.[1] Long interested in design, and having printed several art books on his own, Ransom was persuaded in 1903 to study at Frank Holmes’ School of Illustration. There he joined a group of young designers including Oswald Cooper, W.A. Dwiggins, and Frederic Goudy. Later that year, Ransom and Goudy founded the Village Press in Park Ridge, Illinois.[2] After an unprofitable year of operation, Ransom ceded sole proprietorship to Goudy, and for the next nine years, took work as a bookkeeper. In 1911 he married Helen Ruhman, a piano teacher. They had one child, a daughter, Frances Rose.[1]
Design career
A sample advertisement made in the typeface Parsons from an ATF specimen book
Encouraged by his wife, Ransom again tried his hand at design, setting up shop as a freelance artist, designing advertisements for both Carson Pirie Scott and Marshall Field's department stores and the Rock Island Rail Road, as well as books for several publishers. At this point he designed his famous typeface, Parsons, which he named for I.R. Parsons, an advertising manager for Carson's department store. The face was an immediate success, not only popular with printers, and used in all of Carson's advertisements for many years, but was among the most frequently used faces in motion picture titles and captions.[1]
He was credited by C.J. Bulliet, Editor of the art magazine for the Chicago Evening Post and later art critic of the Chicago Daily News, of having introduced (in 1923) Helen West Heller to woodcutting, after which she went on to become one of the world's foremost practitioners of that field.
Maker of books
In 1921 Ransom began publishing under the imprint of Will Ransom, Maker of Books. These volumes of fine printing were designed and decorated by Ransom, printed on paper made by Dard Hunter, and generally well regarded. The publishing venture proved unprofitable, however, and was abandoned in 1925.[1]
Later career
After again freelancing for a period, Ransom became director of typography at the Faithorn Company. In 1927, Ransom began writing a series on private presses for Publishers Weekly, a task for which he was well suited, and which led to publication of his noted book Private Presses and their Books (R.R. Bowker, N.Y.C., 1929). In 1930 he left Chicago for Rochester, New York, where he was employed by the Printing House of Leo Hart as a book designer for five years. In 1935 he moved to Buffalo where again he worked freelance. By this time, Ransom had an impressive reputation as a printing historian, so in 1939, Melbert Cary gave him a job in New York with the American Institute of Graphic Arts supervising the celebration of the 500th anniversary of printing. After this job terminated, he took work designing books for the Limited Editions Club and for Little and Ives. In 1941 Ransom became art editor for the University of Oklahoma Press. This last was his most satisfying position, as it allowed him to design books, and to continue his work on bibliography.[3]
Books
Private Presses and their Books, R.R. Bowker, N.Y.C., 1929
The first days of the Village Press: extracts from the diary of Will Ransom,Press of the Woolly Whale, N.Y.C., 1937
Typefaces
Parsons series This font featured unique alternate characters that Ransom wished designers to use sparingly. However, as the font proved hugely popular, these letters were used indiscriminately and with bad taste. Ransom was so disgusted with this misuse of his font that he all but refused to design any more faces.[4]
Parsons Swash Initials were designed for BB&S by Sidney Gaunt, not Ransom
Several series of Border Units (1920 - 1922, BB&S)
Clearcut Shaded Capitals, sometimes called Ransom Shaded Initials (1924, BB&S, later ATF), capitals only, font does not include an X or Z.
References
Will Ransom's papers and correspondence are in the archives of the Newberry Library.
^ abcdWells, James M., Will Ransom in Heritage of the Graphic Arts edited by Chandler B. Grannis, R.R. Bowker Company, New York & London, 1972, pp. 103-115
^Bruckner, D.J.R., "Frederic Goudy," Documents of American Design series, Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Publishers, New York City, 1990, ISBN0-8109-1035-7, p. 51
^Wells, James M., Will Ransom and Rollins, Carl Purlington American Type Designers and Their Work. in Print, V. 4, #1.
^MacGrew, Mac, "American Metal Typefaces of the Twentieth Century," Oak Knoll Books, New Castle Delaware, 1993, ISBN0-938768-34-4., p. 247
will, ransom, 1878, 1955, american, graphic, designer, letterer, typeface, designer, foremost, bibliographer, private, presses, open, shutters, poetry, collection, oliver, jenkins, published, 1922, contents, youth, early, career, design, career, maker, books, . Will Ransom 1878 24 May 1955 was an American graphic designer letterer typeface designer and the foremost bibliographer of private presses Open Shutters a poetry collection by Oliver Jenkins published by Will Ransom in 1922 Contents 1 Youth and early career 2 Design career 3 Maker of books 4 Later career 5 Books 6 Typefaces 7 References 8 External linksYouth and early career Edit Printing by William Morris as reprinted by the Village Press run by Will Ransom and Frederic Goudy c 1903 Born in St Louis Michigan Ransom grew up in Snohomish Washington and began his career as a reporter bookkeeper and printer s devil for several papers in the Northwest 1 Long interested in design and having printed several art books on his own Ransom was persuaded in 1903 to study at Frank Holmes School of Illustration There he joined a group of young designers including Oswald Cooper W A Dwiggins and Frederic Goudy Later that year Ransom and Goudy founded the Village Press in Park Ridge Illinois 2 After an unprofitable year of operation Ransom ceded sole proprietorship to Goudy and for the next nine years took work as a bookkeeper In 1911 he married Helen Ruhman a piano teacher They had one child a daughter Frances Rose 1 Design career Edit A sample advertisement made in the typeface Parsons from an ATF specimen book Encouraged by his wife Ransom again tried his hand at design setting up shop as a freelance artist designing advertisements for both Carson Pirie Scott and Marshall Field s department stores and the Rock Island Rail Road as well as books for several publishers At this point he designed his famous typeface Parsons which he named for I R Parsons an advertising manager for Carson s department store The face was an immediate success not only popular with printers and used in all of Carson s advertisements for many years but was among the most frequently used faces in motion picture titles and captions 1 He was credited by C J Bulliet Editor of the art magazine for the Chicago Evening Post and later art critic of the Chicago Daily News of having introduced in 1923 Helen West Heller to woodcutting after which she went on to become one of the world s foremost practitioners of that field Maker of books EditIn 1921 Ransom began publishing under the imprint of Will Ransom Maker of Books These volumes of fine printing were designed and decorated by Ransom printed on paper made by Dard Hunter and generally well regarded The publishing venture proved unprofitable however and was abandoned in 1925 1 Later career EditAfter again freelancing for a period Ransom became director of typography at the Faithorn Company In 1927 Ransom began writing a series on private presses for Publishers Weekly a task for which he was well suited and which led to publication of his noted book Private Presses and their Books R R Bowker N Y C 1929 In 1930 he left Chicago for Rochester New York where he was employed by the Printing House of Leo Hart as a book designer for five years In 1935 he moved to Buffalo where again he worked freelance By this time Ransom had an impressive reputation as a printing historian so in 1939 Melbert Cary gave him a job in New York with the American Institute of Graphic Arts supervising the celebration of the 500th anniversary of printing After this job terminated he took work designing books for the Limited Editions Club and for Little and Ives In 1941 Ransom became art editor for the University of Oklahoma Press This last was his most satisfying position as it allowed him to design books and to continue his work on bibliography 3 Books EditPrivate Presses and their Books R R Bowker N Y C 1929 The first days of the Village Press extracts from the diary of Will Ransom Press of the Woolly Whale N Y C 1937Typefaces EditParsons series This font featured unique alternate characters that Ransom wished designers to use sparingly However as the font proved hugely popular these letters were used indiscriminately and with bad taste Ransom was so disgusted with this misuse of his font that he all but refused to design any more faces 4 Parsons 1917 Barnhart Brothers amp Spindler BB amp S later American Type Founders ATF Parsons Bold 1918 BB amp S later ATF Parsons Italic 1918 BB amp S later ATF Parsons Swash Initials were designed for BB amp S by Sidney Gaunt not Ransom Several series of Border Units 1920 1922 BB amp S Clearcut Shaded Capitals sometimes called Ransom Shaded Initials 1924 BB amp S later ATF capitals only font does not include an X or Z References EditWill Ransom s papers and correspondence are in the archives of the Newberry Library a b c d Wells James M Will Ransom in Heritage of the Graphic Arts edited by Chandler B Grannis R R Bowker Company New York amp London 1972 pp 103 115 Bruckner D J R Frederic Goudy Documents of American Design series Harry N Abrams Inc Publishers New York City 1990 ISBN 0 8109 1035 7 p 51 Wells James M Will Ransom and Rollins Carl Purlington American Type Designers and Their Work in Print V 4 1 MacGrew Mac American Metal Typefaces of the Twentieth Century Oak Knoll Books New Castle Delaware 1993 ISBN 0 938768 34 4 p 247External links EditSamples of Ransom s Parsons font by MyFonts ATF s 1923 specimen book showing Parsons from p 82 image 105 at archive org Will Ransom Papers at Newberry Library Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Will Ransom amp oldid 1065863999, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
