Seek Black Guy from NYC Who was VERY into Type in the 1970s

[homeboy]

This topic was imported from the Typophile platform

In the early 1970s, in New York City, while I was running a tiny loft-based typesetting company called Intertypographics, I was friends with a black guy, probably gay but I don't know for sure, but geeky/nerdy for sure, in his 20s (which would make him 55 or 60 today), who loved type and typography. Not design or the mechanics of typesetting. Just type and typography. After all these years, I don't remember his name. It's probably more likely that I'd win the lottery, but could he be reading this message?

[5star]

Was he also interested into graffiti?

n.

[George Thomas]

I know a man who fits the description although I don't know if he ever lived in NYC but he certainly could have.

If you can come up with a name, first or last, I'll arrange to put you in contact with him; otherwise I won't mention his name here.

[hrant]

It's probably more likely that I'd win the lottery

Actually since there are sadly so few black people in typography (offhand I can only think of three) your chances are probably decent.

George, you could simply point your contact here and let him decide.

hhp

[George Thomas]

Hrant, he may actually be registered on this board but I don't know how to check. If the names are a close match I would just have to give him a call and, as you say, point him to this forum.

[5star]

...

n.

[homeboy]

I'm cool with you keeping his confidence. But I can speak. I'm Alan Bell, black and I'm friends with Dorothy. Although I don't remember the guy's name—we were more acquaintances than friends—here's a few more details that might help. At the time I was probably working on gay newspaper project called Gotham Ledger or maybe a successor project called Gaysweek. The loft was on the second floor of a building on 9th Ave. at 13th St.

[Chris Dean]

“…there are sadly so few black people in typography…”

Woah. I’ve had more than that in a single class. In fact, I’ve tought classes where white males were the minority. Where on earth are you getting your numbers from?

[hrant]

From my aggregate impression over the past 20+ years. But if things have indeed been changing quicky lately (and I don't mean just in the Yukon) then that's great.

hhp

[Chris Dean]

The classrooms I was refering to were in Halifax, Nova Scotia, at NSCAD University and Dalhousie University.

[5star]

Wow, what coincidence Chris. Isn't there an Architecture program at NSCAD?

n.

[Chris Dean]

There used to be a school called TUNS (Technical University of Noca Scotia) which was absorbed by Dal in the early 90’s. At about the same time, they discontinued the Environmental Panning department at NSCAD. No architecture at NSCAD.

[5star]

TUNS, yeah that's the one. I remember thinking about going there back in the day.

Halifax is a great town with a surprising amount of refined culture.

n.

[Chris Dean]

And more bars per capita in Canada!