Robert Hunter Middleton Records, 1811-1986

This collection includes the papers and publications of Robert Hunter Middleton, along with published materials and trade publications related to typography. Materials contained in these records include correspondences, budgets, reports, publications, invitations, questionnaires, audiotapes, films, slides, and miscellaneous other records pertaining to Middleton’s work as a typographer. Many publications contained within the collection do not contain contributions by Middleton and may have been used as reference material.

Robert Hunter Middleton was an influential Chicago Typographer. Born May 6th, 1898 near Glasglow, Scotland, Robert Hunter Middleton and his family immigrated shortly after his birth to the United States. Middleton and his mother joined his father, a manager of a coalmine near Birmingham, Alabama. Years later, the family moved to Illinois, living in Eldorado and Danville until he departed for Chicago to attend the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts in 1920, he later graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Entering art school to hone his skills as an illustrator, Middleton was not immediately drawn to the typographic arts. At the Art Institute, Middleton studied formatively with Ernst Detterer, whom Middleton credited, “If I were to designate the person who came nearest to determining my career, it would be Ernst Detterer.” Middleton earned an apprenticeship under Detterer, at the Ludlow Typography Company.

One of Middleton’s first assignments at Ludlow was to modernize the “Jenson type,” a typeface created by 15th century Venetian Nicholas Jenson, and a typeface designed by Aldus Manutius, another 15th century Venetian. Beginning with a foundational understanding of typography drawn from historic and modern masters, Middleton buttressed his talent with the type setting machines and technologies being developed at the Ludlow Typography Company.

During his career at Ludlow, Middleton was instrumental in creating numerous typefaces that have become canonical in advertising and printing. Among his contributions are the Bodoni Series, the Garamond Series, the Karnak Series, Ludlow Black, the Tempo Series, the Record Gothic Series, and the Radiant Series, along with dozens of other typefaces.

Thinking deeply about the intricacies at all stages of the printing process, Middleton experimented with book jackets, papers, and inks in an effort to produce books that were visually beautiful and conveyed information with textual clarity. In 1944, Middleton founded Cherryburn Press, a private press in the basement of his home. As a devotee of fine bookmaking, R. Hunter Middleton was an appreciator, collector and printer of the works of Thomas Bewick. Bewick generated numerous woodblock engravings and prints throughout his career in England during the 18th and 19th centuries. After the Bewick wood blocks were brought to Chicago, Middleton began printing Christmas cards and stationary using Bewick images for his personal use. The culmination of Middleton’s work surrounding Thomas Bewick was the Thomas Bewick Portfolio on a retired printing machine from Ludlow.

Middleton was also a member and leader of numerous societies devoted to the typographic arts in Chicago and beyond. A founding member of the Society of Typographic Arts of Chicago, Middleton sought to foster a collaborative and thriving community among typographers in the city. Working in the greater Chicago arts and design scenes, Middleton was a member of the Chicago Art Directors Club, the 27 Chicago Designers and The Caxton Club of Chicago. Beyond the city of Chicago, Middleton was a member of the Association Typographique Internationale of Paris and a frequent executive committee member of the International Design Conference in Aspen.

Middleton died August 3rd, 1985 in Chicago.

Robert Hunter Middleton records, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Illinois at Chicago

• Names
  • Middleton, Katharine, (Mrs. R. Hunter), d.1987
  • Middleton, R. Hunter (Robert Hunter), 1898-1985
• Subject
  • Advertising.
  • Block printing.
  • Book collecting.
  • Book design.
  • Book industries and trade.
  • Chicago Commerce and Economic History.
  • Chicago Design History.
  • Graphic arts.
  • Graphic design (Typography).
  • Immigrants.
  • Printers.
  • Scottish Americans.
  • Small presses.
  • Typographers.
  • Wood-engraving--Printing.
• Geographic CoverageChicago (Ill)