Ward Ritchie
Harry "Ward" Ritchie (Los Angeles, California June 15, 1905 - Laguna Beach, California January 24, 1996) was an American printer, book collector and writer of around 100 books[1] who was part of the "Golden Age"[2] of fine printing in Southern California.
From 1932 to 1974 he operated the Ward Ritchie Press which specialized in books on cooking and Western Americana.[3] Ritchie was also the founding secretary of the Rounce & Coffin Club, a group of Southern California book collectors that met regularly starting in 1931.[4]
Throughout his career, Ritchie designed around 750 books[5] including work by poets Robinson Jeffers, Carl Sandburg, Archibald MacLeish, Carlyle MacIntyre, librarian Lawrence Clark Powell, novelist Alexandre Dumas, and many others.
In 1983, Ritchie became romantically involved with film actress Gloria Stuart, who was inspired by him to design her own hand-printed books under the imprimatur Imprenta Glorias. Ritchie maintained a close relationship with Stuart until his death.[6]
Ritchie died of pancreatic cancer in Laguna Beach, California on January 24, 1996.[7]
References
- ↑ Oliver (1996). Accessed 25 February 2012.
- ↑ Lehmann (2006). Accessed 25 February 2012.
- ↑ Letson (2011). Accessed 25 February 2012
- ↑ Finding Aid for the Rounce & Coffin Club papers created by the Clark Memorial Library. Accessed 25 February 2012
- ↑ Oliver (1996)
- ↑ Harmetz, Aljean; Robert Berkvist (September 27, 2010). "Gloria Stuart, an Actress Rediscovered Late, Dies at 100". New York Times. p. B19. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ↑ Letson (2011)
Sources
- Lehmann, Sarah (July 2006). "The Ward Ritchie Collection". Online Archive of California.
- Letson, Lester (3 May 2011). "Harry Ward "Ward" Ritchie". findagrave.com.
- Oliver, Myrna (January 27, 1996). "Ward Ritchie; Master Printer, Bibliophile". Los Angeles Times. p. Obituary. Retrieved 13 November 2012.