A Brief Account of the Educational Publishing Business in the United StatesPulsifer, William Edmond
History
A Brief Account of the Educational Publishing Business in the United States
Pulsifer, William Edmond
Publishers and publishing -- United States; Textbooks -- United States
Scott, Foresman & Company began publishing educational books in 1889,
the first being a beginner’s Latin book, _Bellum Helveticum_, and the
second, Lowe and Ewing’s _Caesar_.
AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY.--On June 14, 1890, an announcement was made by
the American Book Company as follows:
“American Book Company, Incorporated, New York, Cincinnati, Chicago.
Birdseye Blakeman, President; Alfred C. Barnes, Vice President; Harry
T. Ambrose, Treasurer; Gilman H. Tucker, Secretary. Directors: Caleb
S. Bragg, Chairman; William H. Appleton, William W. Appleton, Daniel
Appleton, Alfred C. Barnes, Charles J. Barnes, Henry B. Barnes,
Birdseye Blakeman, George R. Cathcart, A. H. Hinkle, David B. Ivison,
Henry H. Vail.
“The American Book Company is a stock company incorporated under state
laws for the purpose of carrying on the manufacture and sale of books.
The American Book Company has purchased the schoolbook publications
hitherto issued by D. Appleton & Company, A. S. Barnes & Company,
Harper & Brothers, Ivison, Blakeman, Taylor & Company of New York, and
Van Antwerp, Bragg & Company of Cincinnati. The company is organized in
the interest of economy in the production and sale of schoolbooks, etc.”
Mr. Birdseye Blakeman served as President from April, 1890, until May,
1893. He was succeeded by David B. Ivison, who served as President
until 1896. Harry T. Ambrose was President of the Company from 1896
until 1914, when L. M. Dillman was elected to that office. Mr. Blakeman
died October 9, 1894, and Mr. Ivison, April 6, 1903.
General A. C. Barnes served as Vice President from 1890 until his
death in 1904, when he was succeeded by Dr. Henry H. Vail. He in turn
was succeeded by the present Vice President, A. Victor Barnes.
Mr. Ambrose served as Treasurer of the Company until he was elected
President in 1896, when Charles P. Batt, the present Treasurer,
succeeded him. Gilman H. Tucker was Secretary of the Company at its
organization in 1890, and remained as such until his death, November
14, 1913. He was succeeded by John Arthur Greene, who died in 1917. The
present Secretary is W. L. Billmyer.
Dr. Henry H. Vail was Chief of the Editorial Department at the
organization of the Company, and held that position until his
resignation in 1909, when he was succeeded by Russell Hinman. Mr.
Hinman died in 1912, when Mr. G. W. Benton was made Editor-in-Chief and
is still serving in that position.
Since its organization, the American Book Company has taken over by
purchase the schoolbook properties of the following houses: Werner
School Book Company, Chicago; Standard School Book Company, St. Louis;
D. D. Merrill, St. Paul; Cowperthwait & Company, Philadelphia; Taintor
Brothers & Company, New York; E. H. Butler & Company, Philadelphia;
Western School Book Company, Chicago; Sheldon & Company, New York;
Williams & Rogers, Rochester; the elementary list of the University
Publishing Company, New York.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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