Frederick Goudy
Frederic William Goudy (1865–1947) was a pivotal figure in American typography, renowned for creating over 100 typefaces that combined historical elegance with modern legibility. His tenure in Forest Hills Gardens (1913–1923)represents one of the most productive and personally significant chapters of his career.
Biography: The “Glorifier of Type”
Born in Bloomington, Illinois, Goudy began his career as a bookkeeper, only turning to type design in his thirties. In 1903, he founded the Village Press with his wife, Bertha, and Will Ransom. The press was a centerpiece of the American Arts and Crafts movement, emphasizing hand-crafted quality in an era of increasing mechanization.
Goudy’s work was defined by a “humanist” approach—he preferred the warmth and slight irregularities of Renaissance-era type over the stark, geometric lines of the Victorian era. His most famous designs, including Goudy Old Style, Kennerley, and Copperplate Gothic, remain staples of graphic design today.
Relationship to Forest Hills Gardens
Goudy moved his family and the Village Press to Forest Hills Gardens in 1913. His residence in this “model community” was not merely a home but a creative headquarters.
- The Deepdene Legacy: Goudy lived on Deepdene Road in the Gardens. He was so fond of the name that when he later moved to Marlborough-on-Hudson, he named his new estate “Deepdene.” He also created the Deepdene typeface, which is often cited as one of his most beautiful and balanced designs.
- Civic Promotion: Goudy was an active member of the local community. In 1915, he printed a notable brochure titled Why We Have Chosen Forest Hills Gardens for Our Home. This publication served both as a personal endorsement of the neighborhood’s aesthetic and as a showcase for his typographic skill.
- Patriotic Contributions: During World War I, Goudy designed a famous poster featuring the Forest Hills Gardens Village Green (now Flagpole Green) and the iconic Forest Hills Inn, depicting the community as a beacon of American values.
- The Village Letter Foundery: It was during his Forest Hills years that Goudy transitioned from simply designing type to cutting his own matrices, transforming the Village Press into the Village Letter Foundery. This allowed him total control over the production process, from drawing to casting.
Sources:
Bibliography
Bruckner, D. J. R. Frederic Goudy. New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1990.
Devroye, Luc. “Frederic William Goudy.” Luc Devroye’s Type Design Information. Accessed December 25, 2025. https://luc.devroye.org/fonts-61704.html.
Encyclopaedia Britannica Online. s.v. “Frederic W. Goudy.” Accessed December 25, 2025. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Frederic-W-Goudy.
Forest Hills Gardens Foundation. “Famous Residents Archive.” Accessed December 25, 2025. https://foresthillsgardensfoundation.org/famous-residents/.
Goudy, Frederic W. A Half-Century of Type Design and Typography, 1895–1945. New York: The Typophiles, 1946.
Goudy, Frederic W. Why We Have Chosen Forest Hills Gardens for Our Home. Forest Hills Gardens, NY: The Village Press, 1915.+1
Marlboro Local History Blog. “Deepdene, Goudy’s Home on Old Post Road.” March 2, 2012. https://marlborolocalhistory.wordpress.com/2012/03/02/deepdene-goudys-home-on-old-post-road/.
Queens Ledger. “Honoring Forest Hills’ Early Veterans.” November 18, 2022. https://queensledger.com/2022/11/18/honoring-forest-hills-early-veterans/.