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Founded in 1927 by Sol Cantor and Dr.
Robert L. Leslie, The Composing Room set out to be the
cream of the crop in typesetting firms. Described in a promotional
piece as "a shop where type is set intelligently for intelligent
clients. Also promptly, reasonably, and with true professional
enthusiasm. An outfit which plays up the art in every particular,
and doesn't and doesn't miss the fun in fundamentals either."
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Midtown Manhattan
photo: Arthur Rothstein
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division,
FSA-OWI Collection |
Located in the heart of New
York City, it thrived on the growth of the advertising
and printing industry between the wars. The Composing Room
became the sponsor for a variety of intellectual and educational
endeavors starting with PM and A-D magazines, graphic arts
courses, the A-D Gallery,
Gallery 303 and eventually the lecture series Heritage
of the Graphic Arts in the 1960's.
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Fifth Avenue approaching 47th Street, New York City
photo: Dorothea Lange
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division,
FSA-OWI Collection |
In 1934, Dr.
Robert Leslie, created a small printer's journal. He hired
Percy Seitlin as
Editor and dubbed it PM
magazine. Sponsored by The Composing Room, Leslie and
Seitlin utilized its vast network of resources and clients.
Described in the October 16, 1939, issue of Time magazine
as a 'lively little publication,' PM soon grew to be a voice
for a generation of artists, designers, writers, printers
and graphic production people.
The significance of this firm lies in
the ingenuity and driving force of Dr.
Robert Leslie. His life mission, to serve, manifested
itself in the education and betterment of the printing and
graphic arts industry. Through Dr. Leslie, these endeavors
took shape and grew to be an influential force in the history
of graphic design. He was mentor to many emigre designers
and gave many their first exposure to the US market.
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The New York Times National Book Fair 1937. l-r, Richard
Ellis, Bert Wolff, Leon Epstein and Dr. Robert L. Leslie
photo: Alfred A. Cohn
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In addition, through PM and later A-D
he lifted the expectations of quality work here in the United
States, as well as spreading the ideals of European modernism
to a generation of designers and art directors. These many
designers in turn became clients of the Composing Room, a
testament to Dr. Leslie's business sense. This collection
of multi-media information attempts to remind today's audience
of the importance and impact to the history of graphic design
one company and one man's vision can make.
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