A Brief Account of the Educational Publishing Business in the United States

by William Edmond Pulsifer

—This organization was started on July 1, 1909, with John A. Hill, President, and James H. McGraw, Vice President. After Mr. Hill’s death in 1916, Mr. McGraw succeeded him as President, which position he still holds.

At the time of the formation of this Company in 1909, when the Book Departments of the McGraw Publishing Company and the Hill Publishing Company were consolidated, the combined lists totaled perhaps 200 books. In ten years this list has grown to approximately 1000 titles. Some of the most notable publications of the Educational Department of the McGraw-Hill Book Company are Dr. Cady’s Inorganic Chemistry, Dr. Norris’ Principles of Organic Chemistry, Dr. Moore’s History of Chemistry, Dr. Mahin’s Quantitative Analysis, a series of Electrical Engineering texts prepared under the general supervision of Dr. H. E. Clifford of Harvard University, a series of books on Scientific Management and Efficiency, under the general direction of Dr. R. S. Butler, formerly of the University of Wisconsin, a series of mathematical texts, including Slichter’s Elementary Mathematical Analysis, Wolff’s Calculus, Allen’s Projective Geometry, and a series of successful books for trade schools and apprentice classes, under the general direction of F. E. Mathewson of the Dickinson High School, Jersey City, N. J.

The present officers of the McGraw-Hill Book Company are: James H. McGraw, President; Martin M. Foss, Vice President and General Manager; Arthur J. Baldwin, Vice President; Edward Caldwell, Treasurer; James S. Thompson, Secretary.

THE BOBBS-MERRILL COMPANY.

—This house was established in 1838 by Samuel Merrill. The business has continued in unbroken succession since that time, under several different firm names, being first Merrill & Company, then Merrill & Field, Merrill Hubbard Company, Merrill Meigs & Company, The Bowen-Merrill Company, and in 1903 the firm name became The Bobbs-Merrill Company.

In 1909 a set of educational readers was added to the general line of publications of this house. As publishers of law books, The Bobbs-Merrill Company ranks among the leading houses of the country.

The present officers of the corporation are: W. C. Bobbs, President; John R. Carr, Vice President; D. L. Chambers, Secretary.

THE JOHN C. WINSTON COMPANY.

—The founder of this Philadelphia concern was Mr. John C. Winston, who was its directing head until May 6, 1920, when he died.