 Theodore Low De Vinne, a leading New York typographer and printer who was one of nine men who founded the Grolier Club (an organization devoted to the history of printing), had the building constructed for his printing company.The press printed several leading American magazines, including the "St. Nicholas Magazine", "Scribner's Monthly" and "The Century".De Vinne also wrote books such as "The Invention of Printing," "Correct Composition" and "Title Pages."