Dead History
Dead History is a typeface which explores combining structural elements of both geometric sans-serif and Didone serif typefaces.
Dead History
Public domain
- Name
- Dead History
- Period
- 1990
- Region
- United States
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Documentary connections
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Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q2111988 · wikipedia · Dead History
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Dead History • Style — Sans-serif–serif hybrid • Classifications — Geometric sans-serif Didone Postmodern • Releasedate — 1990 • Creator — P. Scott Makela • Foundry — Emigre
History
History
The Dead history typeface was designed in 1990 by P. Scott Makela and is licensed by Emigre. While Makela studied in the design program at Cranbook, he used a digital process to create Dead History as opposed to Phototypesetting. With his computer, he combined elements of both the VAG Rounded and Bell Centennial to create Dead History. The typeface went through a few more edits before being licensed by Emigre in 1994, where it was redrawn and finalized by Zuzana Licko. In 2011, The Museum of Modern Art in New York added Dead History to its architecture and design collection. The typeface was designed when digital tools became standard for designers. Dead history aided in paving the way for other dual typefaces and more creative approaches to the design of type.
Characteristics
Characteristics
Dead History's strokes transition from unbracketed serifs and contrasting stroke width on the left side of characters to a mono-weighted sans-serif with soft, rounded terminals on the right. This typeface is most often associated with postmodern ideals from the time by shifting from the idea of clear and simple to expressive and intense forms. This allows readers to explore type not just as a way of communication but also as a visual experience.
Places
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Places
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- United States
Text attribution
Licensing
Text attribution
Part of the biographical narrative on this page reuses licensed material. Its origin, revision and licence are recorded here.
The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Dead History, revision 1280040163 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
References
Citations
References
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reference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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39,529 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
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