The company's founder, David R. Godine, was a graduate of Roxbury Latin School, Dartmouth College (class of 1966), and the Harvard Graduate School of Education who had worked for artist Leonard Baskin and printer Harold McGrath, but who had no publishing experience when he opened his printing shop in 1970 in a barn in Brookline, Massachusetts.
Fondatorul companiei, David R. Godine, a fost un absolvent al Roxbury Latin School, al Dartmouth College (promoția 1966) și al Harvard Graduate School of Education care a lucrat pentru artistul grafic Leonard Baskin și pentru tipograful Harold McGrath, dar care nu avea nici o experiență editorială atunci când a deschis o tipografie în 1970 într-un hambar din Brookline, Massachusetts.