Meynell, Francis Meredith Wilfrid, 1891-1975

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Francis Meredith Wilfrid Meynell was born on May 12, 1891 in London, England to Wilfrid and Alice (Thompson) Meynell, the youngest of seven surviving children. Francis Thompson was Francis Meynell's godfather. Meynell attended Trinity College, Dublin, from 1908 until 1910 or 1911. He married three times: Hilda Saxe, 1914 (one daughter, Cynthia); Vera Mendel, 1925 (one son, Benedict); and Alix Hester Marie Kilroy, 1946 (no children).

Francis Meynell was a typographer, book designer, and publisher. After leaving Trinity College, he worked for his father at Burns & Oates Ltd. as head of design, 1911-1913. He then founded and designed for Pelican Press, launched sometime between 1914-1916. He became the director and assistant editor of the Daily Herald in 1918, and founded Nonesuch Press, where he was also the designer and director, 1923-1975. While running Nonesuch, Meynell also served as a columnist for News Chronicle (1934); was a director of the Mather & Crowther Ltd. advertising agency (1939-1960); and a director for Bodley Head Ltd. (1960-1975). He published his autobiography, My Lives with Random House in 1971.

Meynell was a conscientious objector during World War One. In 1921 he served as editor of the weekly paper The Communist, and he supported the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War.

Meynell was a member of the Art Workers Guild, the Society of Typographer Designers (president, 1958-1962), the Poetry Society (vice-president), and the Savile Club. He also participated as the British Broadcasting Corporation Brains Trust (London) chair, 1942-1943; H.M. Stationery Office honorary typography advisor, 1945-1966; Cement and Concrete Association, director-general, 1946-1958; Royal Mint (London) member of advisory council, 1954-70; and the Royal College of Art member of council, 1959-1961.

Francis Meynell was named Royal Designer for Industry by the Royal Society of Arts in 1945; knighted in 1946, and honored with a D.Litt. from the University of Reading in 1964.

Francis Meynell died on July 9, 1975 in London.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Meynell, Francis, 1891-1975. Letter, [ca. 1908] : London, to Mr. Lambert. Washington State University, Holland and Terrell Libraries
referencedIn George Warren Arms collection, 1848-1988 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Eastman, Max Forrester, 1883-1969. Eastman mss. 1892-1968 Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
referencedIn Mary Hyde Eccles papers, 1853-2005, (bulk) 1939-2003. Houghton Library
referencedIn Paul Johnston papers, 1918-1979, 1930s-1950s New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn John Pudney Papers TXRC95-A1., 1850-1977, (bulk 1926-1976) Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
referencedIn Papers of Robert Graves: Correspondence (arranged by correspondent), c1909 to 2004 St John's College, Oxford
referencedIn Cleverdon mss. II, 1926-1988 Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
creatorOf Pynson Printers records, 1927-1933. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Vol. VII (ff. 181). 1910-1923.Franklin Thomas Grant Richards, author and publisher: Correspondence with Harold Monro from Franklin Thomas Grant Richards: 1920-1921: Signed and typewritten.Frank Sidgwick, of Sidgwick and Jackson: Letters to Harold Mon..., 1910-1923 British Library
creatorOf Meynell, Francis, 1891-1975. Francis Meynell letter to Edmond C. Travis : London : TLS, 1935 February 4. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Macy, George. George Macy papers, 1916-1970. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Donald and Katharine Foley Collection of Penguin Books, 1935-1965 Bancroft Library
creatorOf Meynell, Francis, 1891-1975. Letter, 1965 November 23, Monks Eleigh to Percy Muir, Takeley. Washington State University, Holland and Terrell Libraries
creatorOf Pudney, John, 1909-1977. Papers, 1850-1977 (bulk 1926-1976). Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
referencedIn Squire, John Collings, Sir, 1884-1958. Jack Squire collection. [1933]. University of Victoria Libraries, UVic
creatorOf COCKERELL PAPERS. Vol. CXIV (ff. 320). Meynell.includes:ff. 1-6 Everard Meynell, author: Letters to S. C. Cockerell: 1907-1925.ff. 7-13 Wilfrid Meynell, author: Letters to S. C. Cockerell: 1925-1944.ff. 14-310 Viola Meynell, novelist: Letters t... British Library
referencedIn Fonds Edward Gordon Craig Bibliothèque nationale de France. Département des arts du spectacle
referencedIn English literature mss. Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
creatorOf Meynell, Francis, 1891-1975. Letters to Frank Sidgwick. London, Eng. 1924-1929. University of Iowa Libraries
creatorOf Cleverdon, Douglas. Papers, 1953-1973. Indiana University
creatorOf Meynell, Francis, 1891-1975. Francis Meynell letter to Edmond C. Travis : London : TLS, 1933 July 13. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Turner, W. J. (Walter James), 1889-1946. Papers, 1918-1937. Temple University Libraries, Paley Library
referencedIn T. M. Cleland Papers, 1880-1964, (bulk 1920-1963) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Rogers, Bruce, 1870-1957. Typed copy of a letter : London, to Henry Watson Kent, ca. 1929-1932 [copied ca. 1950]. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Alice Christiana Thompson Meynell collection of papers, 1875-1929 The New York Public Library. Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature.
contributorOf Boston College Collection of the Alice and Wilfrid Meynell Family Boston College. John J. Burns Library
referencedIn Letters from others to Anthony Bertram, 1920-1971. Houghton Library
referencedIn Morison Room papers, 1907-1973 Cambridge University Library, Department of Manuscripts and University Archives
referencedIn Houghton Library. Houghton Library printed book provenance file, L-Q. 1942. Houghton Library
referencedIn Bett, W. R. (Walter Reginald), 1903-. Tribute to Walter De la Mare, Letters, 1946-1948. Temple University Libraries, Paley Library
referencedIn Warde, Frederic, 1894-1939. Papers, 1915-1938. Grolier Club
referencedIn Pynson Printers records, 1927-1933 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Johnston, Paul, 1899-. Paul Johnston papers, 1918-1979, bulk (1930s-1950s). New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf SUPPLEMENTARY ABERCONWAY PAPERS. Vol. II A (ff. 130.) 1. Letters from: Maurice Baring, 1921: -John Christie, 1939: -C.B. Cochran, 1927: -Ada Leverson, 1927, n.d.: -Andrée and Dugald Sutherland Maccoll, 1945-1948: -A.E.W. Mason, 1927?, 1939?: -S..., 1911-1956 British Library
creatorOf Carter, John, 1905-1975. John Carter calligraphic letters, 1946-1971. Newberry Library
creatorOf Meynell, Alice, 1847-1922. Alice Christiana Thompson Meynell collection of papers, 1895-1929. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Vol. CXXIV. 1934-1945.George Bernard Shaw, author: Notes on a visit to G. B. Shaw by Colonel Ralph H. Isham: 1936: Typewritten.Lord Alfred Bruce Douglas, poet: Alphonse James Albert known as A. J. A. Symons, alias Albert James Alroy; writer: Correspo..., 1934-1945 British Library
creatorOf Meynell, Francis, Sir, 1891-. Typed letter signed : London, to Edward Wagenknecht, 1935 Nov. 13. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Arms, George Warren, 1912-. George Warren Arms collection, 1848-1988. Yale University Library
referencedIn Lisl Steiner photographic negatives of Typophiles lectures, 1965-1968 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Arms, George Warren, 1912- person
associatedWith Behn, Aphra. person
associatedWith Bertram, Anthony, 1897- person
associatedWith Bett, W. R. (Walter Reginald), 1903- person
associatedWith Carter, John, 1905-1975. person
correspondedWith Cleland, T. M. (Thomas Maitland), 1880-1964 person
associatedWith Cleverdon, Douglas. person
associatedWith Cleverdon, Douglas. person
associatedWith Craig, Edward Gordon (1872-1966) person
associatedWith Eastman, Max, 1883-1969 person
associatedWith Eccles, Mary Hyde. person
associatedWith Foley, Donald L. person
associatedWith Foley, Katharine person
associatedWith Graves, Robert Windham, 1858-1934 person
associatedWith Houghton Library. person
associatedWith Johnston, Paul, 1899- person
associatedWith Macy, George. person
associatedWith Meynell, Alice, 1847-1922. person
sibling of Meynell, Everard Henry Edward Manning, 1882-1926 person
sibling of Meynell, Viola Mary Gertrude, 1885-1956 person
childOf Meynell, Wilfrid, 1852-1948 person
associatedWith Nonesuch Press. corporateBody
associatedWith Pierpont Morgan Library. Wagenknecht Collection. corporateBody
associatedWith Pudney, John, 1909-1977 person
associatedWith Pynson Printers corporateBody
associatedWith Pynson Printers (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Rogers, Bruce, 1870-1957. person
associatedWith Sidgwick, Frank, 1879-1939, person
associatedWith Squire, John Collings, Sir, 1884-1958. person
associatedWith Stanley Arthur Morison person
associatedWith Steiner, Lisl, 1927- person
acquaintanceOf Thompson, Francis Joseph, 1859-1907 person
associatedWith Travis, Edmond C., person
associatedWith Turner, W. J. (Walter James), 1889-1946. person
associatedWith Wagenknecht, Edward, 1900-2004, person
correspondedWith Warde, Frederic, 1894-1939. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Greater London ENG GB
Subject
Publishers and publishing
Authors, English
Graphic designers
Occupation
Book designers
Publisher
Activity

Person

Birth 1891-05-12

Death 1975-07-10

Active 1910

Active 1956

Birth 1891

Britons

English

Information

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SNAC ID: 87990362