Off The Shelves Feature

Type case with movable type used for manual typesetting.

Frederic And Bertha Goudy Memorial Tablet

Photo shows memorial tablet for Frederic and Bertha Goudy. It reads “In Memory Of Frederic And Bertha Goudy. With One Devotion – One Accord They Wrought And Loved The Printed Word. Erected in 1954 By Their Friends and The Goudy Wildlife Club Of Newburgh.”
On the back of this photo was this written note which explains that the original tablet is on South Street in Newburgh, NY.

Photo of Goudy with his family

Frederic Goudy with his wife, Bertha and family posing by the falls near their home, Deepdene in Marlboro on Old Post Road. Photo donated by D. McCourt.

Today’s Find in Library’s Archives

While looking through the Marlboro Library’s Frederic Goudy local history photo collection, it is clear to see that the Goudy’s had a love for animals. There are many pictures of dogs, cats, and horses. Here is one of Goudy with one of his dogs.

Frederic Goudy’s Home Marlborough, NY

Goudy’s home, Deepdene on Old Post Road with horse and mower in front. Circa mid 1900s.

Deepdene, Goudy’s Home on Old Post Road.

America’s famous type designer, Frederic Goudy lived in Marlboro from 1924-1947. On his Old Post Road property was his home and workshop. The workshop was an old pre-Revolutionary Mill, which burned down in 1939. The Goudys named the property Deepdene after their previous home in Queens, which was on Deepdene Avenue.

Goudy Spotlight

               Type designer, Frederic W. Goudy lived in Marlboro from 1924 until his death in 1947. His home was located on Old Post Road, and was given the name “Deepdene.” On his property, Goudy set up a shop where he designed many types, one of which he named, “Marlborough.” In Goudy’s book, Goudy’s Type Designs: His Story and Specimens, he wrote, “the type was given the name ‘Marlborough’ after the name of the town where it was designed. I do not think the town itself was ever aware of the ‘honor’ paid it!”

               J. Ben Lieberman wrote in his introduction for Goudy’s book previously mentioned, “Frederic W. Goudy, as was noted in the program for the banquet ending his centennial year (1965-66), ‘was a genius and a giant among type designers, and he ranks with the immortals who altered fundamentally the styles of our typefaces.'”