Fred. T. (Frederick Thomas) Hodgson

Born in 1836 and deceased in 1919, Frederick Thomas Hodgson wrote extensively on building trades and construction. Library catalogs and digitized editions identify him as the author or editor of many manuals, including works on carpentry, bricklaying, estimating, finishing, and house plans.

Several editions of Modern Carpentry describe him as an architect and as editor of the National Builder. His books were designed to be practical rather than lofty, with straightforward explanations, diagrams, tables, and ready-to-use guidance for working builders.

Hodgson’s surviving bibliography suggests an unusually wide range: from Modern Carpentry and Practical Treatise on the Steel Square to Practical Bungalows and Cottages for Town and Country and Hodgson’s Estimator and Contractor’s Guide. That mix of technical instruction and accessible design advice helps explain why his books still circulate in digital libraries today.