Gress, Edmund G. (Edmund Geiger), 1872-1934

Edmund Geiger Gress (1872-1934), editor of The American Printer, was a historian of typography.

From the description of Edmund G. Gress papers, 1909-1934. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122466039

Edmund Geiger Gress was born in Easton, Pennsylvania in 1872. He began his career as a compositor, reporter and special feature writer for The Easton Daily Free Press . Later he became manager of the paper's job printing department. In 1903 he went to New York as foreman of the composing room of The American Printer, a monthly magazine devoted to the printing arts. He in turn wrote for the publication, edited special issues, and served as editor until 1930 when he retired. For the next two years he headed a printing consultant firm. Among his peers he was considered to be an authority on typography.

Gress, a self-proclaimed "pioneer in a new typographic movement," developed what he called the Fresh Note American Period Typography. It was a reaction to the use of old school European layout styles and to those who disregarded well-fashioned older type faces for modern ones simply because they were new, but not necessarily well formed or appropriate for a particular piece of printing. Gress advocated using a stylistically appropriate type face, one that was similar to the type used in the period of the piece, "...but give it a fresh handling that fits it in [to] the present day scheme of things," (Fashions, p.180) by using modern stylistic devices, borders and space arrangement.

His published works include The American Manual of Typography, A Dash through Europe, Fashions in American Typography, 1790-1930 ; The Art and Practice of Typography, and Type Designs in Color . He belonged to the American Insitute of Graphic Arts of which he was a former director and a member of the Committee on Special Services, and to the Bushwick Memorial Church in Brooklyn. He had a fine collection of miniature books and a collection of typographic signatures set in the type face most favored by its designer. He frequently lectured on printing.

Gress was married to Mabel Stoneback. They made their home in Floral Park, New York. They had two daughters, Evelyn and Margaret. Gress died of pneumonia at his home in Floral Park on September 30, 1934 at 62 years of age.

Sources: Gress, Edmund G. Fashions in American Typography, 1790 - 1930; New York Times, Oct 1, 1934 (Obituary)

From the guide to the Edmund Geiger Gress papers, 1909-1934, (The New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division.)