Charles Scribner I (February 21, 1821 – August 26, 1871)
[ was an American publisher who, with Isaac D. Baker (1819–1850), founded a publishing company that would eventually become ]Charles Scribner's Sons
Charles Scribner's Sons, or simply Scribner's or Scribner, is an American publisher based in New York City, known for publishing American authors including Henry James, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Kurt Vonnegut, Marjorie Kinnan R ...
.
Early life
Scribner was born in New York City on February 21, 1821. He was the son of Uriah Rogers Scribner (1778–1853) and Betsey ( née Hawley) Scribner (1787–1871). Among his siblings were the Rev. William Scribner and Walter Scribner, a druggist
A pharmacist, also known as a chemist (Commonwealth English) or a druggist (North American and, archaically, Commonwealth English), is a healthcare professional who prepares, controls and distributes medicines and provides advice and instructi ...
.
He attended the Lawrenceville School
The Lawrenceville School is a coeducational preparatory school for boarding and day students located in the Lawrenceville section of Lawrence Township, in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. Lawrenceville is a member of the Eight Scho ...
from 1834 to 1837. After a year's study at New York University
New York University (NYU) is a private research university in New York City. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded by a group of New Yorkers led by then- Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin.
In 1832, th ...
, he entered Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and one of the ...
and graduated with the class of 1840. He began the study of law, but was obliged by ill health to make a trip to Europe.
Career
After returning from Europe, in 1846 Scribner became the younger partner of Baker in forming a new kind of publishing house under the firm name of Baker and Scribner. Unlike traditional houses, which were generally outgrowths of printing companies or book sellers, theirs would exist purely as a publisher. This had an influence on the character of its publications, which were chiefly confined to the works of contemporary authors. It also published Presbyterian philosophy books.[
With the death of Baker in 1850, Scribner gained control of the company, renaming it Charles Scribner, and then Charles Scribner and Company. With Charles Welford, who died in May 1885, he formed the house of Scribner and Welford in 1857 for the importation of foreign books.]
In 1865, Charles Scribner and Co. made its first venture into magazine publishing with ''Hours at Home'', a monthly magazine. In 1870 this magazine was merged into ''Scribner's Monthly
''Scribner's Monthly: An Illustrated Magazine for the People'' was an illustrated American literary periodical published from 1870 until 1881. Following a change in ownership in 1881 of the company that had produced it, the magazine was relaunch ...
'' under the editorship of Josiah G. Holland, and published by a separate company, Scribner and Co., with Dr. Holland and Roswell Smith as part owners.[
Upon Scribner's death the next year in August 1871, Charles Scribner and Co. was reorganized as Scribner, Armstrong, and Co. The partners in the new firm were Scribner's eldest son, ]John Blair Scribner
John Blair Scribner (June 4, 1850 – January 21, 1879) was the president of Charles Scribner's Sons from 1871 to 1879.
Biography
John Blair Scribner was born on June 4, 1850, to Charles Scribner I and Emma Elizabeth Blair (1827-1869). His gra ...
, Andrew C. Armstrong, and Edward Seymour. In 1877, the publication house moved to 743 Broadway. Upon Seymour's death in April 1877, and Armstrong's retirement in 1878, the firm-name was changed to Charles Scribner's Sons
Charles Scribner's Sons, or simply Scribner's or Scribner, is an American publisher based in New York City, known for publishing American authors including Henry James, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Kurt Vonnegut, Marjorie Kinnan R ...
, under which form the business was conducted after John Blair Scribner's death in 1879 by Charles Scribner and Arthur H. Scribner, younger brothers of John Blair.
Personal life
In 1846, Scribner was married to Emma Elizabeth Blair (1827–1869), daughter of the magnate John Insley Blair
John Insley Blair (August 22, 1802 – December 2, 1899) was an American entrepreneur, railroad magnate, philanthropist and one of the 19th century's wealthiest men.
Early life
John Insley Blair was born at Foul Rift in White Township, New Jer ...
and Nancy Ann (née Locke) Blair. Her brother DeWitt Clinton Blair, continued their father's business and his son, C. Ledyard Blair
Clinton Ledyard Blair (July 16, 1867 – February 7, 1949) was an American investment banker and yachtsman.
Early years
Blair was born in Belvidere, New Jersey, on July 16, 1867. He was the son of DeWitt Clinton Blair, a philanthropist and ind ...
, was a prominent investment banker. Together, they were the parents of:
* John Blair Scribner
John Blair Scribner (June 4, 1850 – January 21, 1879) was the president of Charles Scribner's Sons from 1871 to 1879.
Biography
John Blair Scribner was born on June 4, 1850, to Charles Scribner I and Emma Elizabeth Blair (1827-1869). His gra ...
(1850–1879), who married Lucy Ann Hawley Skidmore (1853–1931) in 1875. After his death, she founded Skidmore College
Skidmore College is a Private school, private liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Saratoga Springs, New York. Approximately 2,650 students are enrolled at Skidmore pursuing a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Scien ...
.
* Emma Locke Scribner (1852–1922), who married Walter Cranston Larned (1850–1914), art editor of the ''Chicago Daily News
The ''Chicago Daily News'' was an afternoon daily newspaper in the midwestern United States, published between 1875 and 1978 in Chicago, Illinois.
History
The ''Daily News'' was founded by Melville E. Stone, Percy Meggy, and William Doughert ...
''.
* Charles Scribner II
Charles Scribner II (October 18, 1854 – April 19, 1930) was the president of Charles Scribner's Sons and a trustee at Skidmore College.
Early life
He was born in New York City on October 18, 1854. He was the son of Emma Elizabeth Blair (1827–1 ...
(1854–1930), who married Louise Flagg (1862–1948), daughter of priest and painter Jared Bradley Flagg
Jared Bradley Flagg (June 16, 1820 – September 25, 1899) was an American painter.
Early life
Flagg was born on June 16, 1820, in New Haven, Connecticut. He was a son of Martha ( née Whiting) Flagg (1792–1875) and Henry Collins Flagg, the o ...
and sister of architect Ernest Flagg
Ernest Flagg (February 6, 1857 – April 10, 1947) was an American architect in the Beaux-Arts style. He was also an advocate for urban reform and architecture's social responsibility.
Early life and education
Flagg was born in Brooklyn, New ...
.
* Arthur Hawley Scribner
Arthur Hawley Scribner (March 15, 1859 – July 3, 1932) was president of Charles Scribner's Sons.
Biography
He was born on March 15, 1859.
While at Princeton University he started the Ivy Club. He joined Charles Scribner's Sons
Charles Sc ...
(1859–1932), who married Helen Annan (1868–1928).
He died of typhoid
Typhoid fever, also known as typhoid, is a disease caused by ''Salmonella'' serotype Typhi bacteria. Symptoms vary from mild to severe, and usually begin six to 30 days after exposure. Often there is a gradual onset of a high fever over several d ...
on August 26, 1871 while traveling in Lucerne, Switzerland.
He is interred in the family plot at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx
The Bronx () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the state of New York. It is south of Westchester County; north and east of the New York City borough of Manhattan, across the Harlem River; and north of the New Y ...
, New York City.
References
External links
*
Archives of Charles Scribner’s Sons
{{DEFAULTSORT:Scribner, Charles
1821 births
1871 deaths
Charles Scribner's Sons
Princeton University alumni
Lawrenceville School alumni
Businesspeople from New York City
Deaths from typhoid fever
American publishers (people)
19th-century American businesspeople