Thomas Maitland Cleland was born August 18, 1880, in Brooklyn, New York.^[2] Cleland studied at the ArtistArtisan Institute in Chelsea, New York, but was otherwise self-taught.^[3][4]

Cleland began his career as a book designer for the Caslon Press and created title pages for Merrymount Press. D. B. Updike of Merrymount Press was a mentor who encouraged him to strive for perfection with commissions and criticism. When the Caslon Press folded in 1900, Cleland acquired a small foot-powered press and some fonts and launched his own printing shop from a room he constructed in his father's basement. He managed to produce two small books along with small job printing projects. His work caught the notice of printing enthusiasts in Boston, who persuaded him to move his operation there and launch the Cornhill Press.^[4][5][6][7]

From 1907 to 1908, Cleland was art director of McClure’s Magazine, completely redesigning the periodical during his tenure. In 1925, he created illustrations and typography for Wesvaco Paper Corporation's in-house magazine.^[2][3] In 1929, he was hired on as art director to design Fortune magazine by Henry Luce. The initial issue in February 1930 was hailed as a masterpiece of classical design and was pitched to Luce at the initial meeting.^[8] In 1937, he planned a typographical refresh of Newsweek. Later, he designed the newspaper PM. The design of the newspaper earned him the Ayer Award.^[2][3] He worked on eight books for the Limited Editions Club of The Heritage Press, designing a variety of illustrations, typography, and complete books. He also consulted printers on ink printing.^[9]

He was a member of the Architectural League of New York, the Society of Illustrators and the Century Club, and an honorary member of the Boston Society of Arts and Crafts and the American Institute of Graphic Arts and was associated with American Type Founders for most of the early twentieth century.^[9] In 1940, he won the AIGA medal for his work.^[10] In 1960, in recognition of his work the New York Public Library held an exhibition for two months.^[9] In 1978, he was induced into the Art Directors Club Hall of Fame.^[2][11]

Cleland died November 9, 1964, in Danbury, Connecticut.^[2][9]

• Della Robbia (1903, ATF) later cast by Lanston Monotype (1915), Deberny & Peignot (1917) and Intertype, and cast as Westminster Oldstyle by Stephenson Blake (1907), and as Firenze by Typefoundry Amsterdam.^[12]
  • Della Robbia Light (1913, ATF) was cut by Morris Fuller Benton and copied by Damon & Peat as Armstrong. ^[13]
  • Della Robbia Initials (Intertype) are not related at all.^[14]
• Garamond No. 3 + Italic (1917, ATF) in collaboration with Morris Fuller Benton
• Swash letters for Caslon Oldstyle Italic No. 471 (1920, ATF)
• Swash letters for Garamond No. 3 + Italic (1922, ATF)

• Cleland, T.M., Giambattista Bodoni of Parma (1916)
• Cleland, T.M.; Hamill, Alfred E.; Kent, Rockwell (Illustrator), The Decorative Work of T.M. Cleland, A Record and Review, Pynson Printers, New York (1929)

• Rollins, Carl Purlington American Type Designers and Their Work. in Print, V. 4, #1.
• Jaspert, W. Pincus, W. Turner Berry and A.F. Johnson, The Encyclopedia of Type Faces, Blandford Press Lts., 1983, ISBN 0-7137-1347-X.
• MacGrew, Mac, American Metal Typefaces of the Twentieth Century, Oak Knoll Books, New Castle Delaware, 1993, ISBN 0-938768-34-4.
• Friedl, Ott, and Stein, Typography: an Encyclopedic Survey of Type Design and Techniques Throughout History. Black Dog & Levinthal Publishers: 1998. ISBN 1-57912-023-7.
• The decorative work of T.M. Cleland : a record and review / with a biographical and critical introduction by Alfred E. Hamill, and a portrait lithograph by Rockwell Kent, Pynson Printers, New York, 1929.

• Works by or about Thomas Maitland Cleland at Internet Archive
• Images of his typefaces at Myfonts
• UNCG American Publishers' Trade Bindings: Thomas Maitland Cleland
• T. M. Cleland Costume Designs for Scaramouche, held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts