Biographer by Wolverhampton academic books place in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography

Jessica Glaser focused her attention on American-born typographer Beatrice Warde's life for her PhD research.

The research now features in the latest update to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, which was released this month.

Ms Glaser, University of Wolverhampton visual communication lecturer, said: "My research on Beatrice Warde is central to my PhD study investigating her place and influence on the printing industry.

"Her professional life extended throughout a period of significant change and her networks included important figures from publishing and politics, including T.S. Eliot, Eleanor Roosevelt and British politician Eleanor Rathbone.

"Through her endeavours Beatrice became one of the most influential figures in 20th century printing."

Warde, who was born in 1900 and moved to Britain in 1925, worked for the British Monotype Corporation where she publicised the new typeface Gill Sans.

She was linked to the then Wolverhampton School of Printing, supporting staff and students, as well as visiting for presentations and prize-givings during the 1940s and 50s.

Ms Glaser, who works in the Wolverhampton School of Art, added: "The circumstances of Beatrice’s death in 1969 meant that information on her life and work was lost until 2010 when an archive relating to her life and work was established at the Cadbury Research Library, University of Birmingham.

“Underpinning many contemporary attitudes and approaches to graphic design and typography Beatrice’s work continues to have relevance to contemporary graphic design and typography and as a result her ideas influence education in this area.”

The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography is the national record of people who have shaped British history.

It includes biographies of 63,277 people, written by more than 10,000 contributors, and can be accessed at most public libraries.