Woman’s Home Companion
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''Woman's Home Companion'' was an American monthly
magazine A magazine is a periodical publication, generally published on a regular schedule (often weekly or monthly), containing a variety of content. They are generally financed by advertising, purchase price, prepaid subscriptions, or by a combinatio ...
, published from 1873 to 1957. It was highly successful, climbing to a circulation peak of more than four million during the 1930s and 1940s. The magazine, headquartered in
Springfield, Ohio Springfield is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Clark County, Ohio, Clark County. The municipality is located in southwestern Ohio and is situated on the Mad River (Ohio), Mad River, Buck Creek, and Beaver Creek, approxim ...
, was discontinued in 1957. Among the contributors to the magazine were editor
Gene Gauntier Gene Gauntier (born Genevieve Gauntier Liggett, August 26, 1885 – December 18, 1966) was an American screenwriter and actress who was one of the pioneers of the motion picture industry. A writer, director, and actress in films from mid 1906 ...
, and authors
Temple Bailey Irene Temple Bailey (February 24, 1869 – July 6, 1953) was a popular American novelist and short story writer.Clayton, Marion E. (15 July 1928)Noted Author Tells About Life, Writing on Visit in Valley ''Utica Observer-Dispatch''Alden, Alice (17 ...
,
Ellis Parker Butler Ellis Parker Butler (December 5, 1869 – September 13, 1937) was an American author. He was the author of more than 30 books and more than 2,000 stories and essays and is most famous for his short story "Pigs Is Pigs", in which a bureaucratic s ...
,
Rachel Carson Rachel Louise Carson (May 27, 1907 – April 14, 1964) was an American marine biologist, writer, and conservationist whose influential book ''Silent Spring'' (1962) and other writings are credited with advancing the global environmental m ...
,
Arthur Guiterman Arthur Guiterman (; November 20, 1871 Vienna – January 11, 1943 New York) was an American writer best known for his humorous poems. Life and career Guiterman was born of American parents in Vienna. His father was Alexander Gütermann, born in t ...
,
Patricia Highsmith Patricia Highsmith (January 19, 1921 – February 4, 1995) was an American novelist and short story writer widely known for her psychological thrillers, including her series of five novels featuring the character Tom Ripley. She wrote 22 novel ...
,
Shirley Jackson Shirley Hardie Jackson (December 14, 1916 – August 8, 1965) was an American writer known primarily for her works of horror and mystery. Over the duration of her writing career, which spanned over two decades, she composed six novels, two me ...
,
Anita Loos Corinne Anita Loos (April 26, 1888 – August 18, 1981) was an American actress, novelist, playwright and screenwriter. In 1912, she became the first female staff screenwriter in Hollywood, when D. W. Griffith put her on the payroll at Triang ...
,
Neysa McMein Neysa Moran McMein (born Marjorie Frances McMein; January 24, 1888 – May 12, 1949) was an American illustrator and portrait painter who studied at The School of The Art Institute of Chicago and Art Students League of New York. She began her car ...
,
Kathleen Norris Kathleen Thompson Norris (July 16, 1880 – January 18, 1966) was an American novelist and newspaper columnist. She was one of the most widely read and highest paid female writers in the United States for nearly fifty years, from 1911 to 1959. N ...
, Sylvia Schur,
John Steinbeck John Ernst Steinbeck Jr. (; February 27, 1902 – December 20, 1968) was an American writer and the 1962 Nobel Prize in Literature winner "for his realistic and imaginative writings, combining as they do sympathetic humor and keen social ...
,
Willa Cather Willa Sibert Cather (; born Wilella Sibert Cather; December 7, 1873 – April 24, 1947) was an American writer known for her novels of life on the Great Plains, including ''O Pioneers!'', '' The Song of the Lark'', and ''My Ántonia''. In 1923, ...
,
Frank Albert Waugh Frank Albert Waugh (July 8, 1869 – March 20, 1943) was an American landscape architect whose career focused upon recreational uses of national forests, the production of a highly natural style of landscape design, and the implementation of ecolo ...
and
P. G. Wodehouse Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse, ( ; 15 October 188114 February 1975) was an English author and one of the most widely read humorists of the 20th century. His creations include the feather-brained Bertie Wooster and his sagacious valet, Jeev ...
. Notable illustrators included
Rolf Armstrong Rolf Armstrong (April 21, 1889 – February 22, 1960) was an American commercial artist specializing in glamorous depictions of female subjects. He is best known for his magazine covers and calendar art. In 1960 the New York Times dubbed him th ...
, Władysław T. Benda,
Elizabeth Shippen Green Elizabeth Shippen Green (September 1, 1871 – May 29, 1954) was an American illustrator. She illustrated children's books and worked for publications such as ''The Ladies' Home Journal'', ''The Saturday Evening Post'' and ''Harper's Magazine''. ...
,
Bessie Pease Gutmann Bessie Pease Gutmann (1876 – 1960) was an American artist and illustrator, most noted for her paintings of putti, infants, and young children. During the early 1900s she was one of the better-known magazine and book illustrators in the United S ...
, Rico Lebrun,
Neysa McMein Neysa Moran McMein (born Marjorie Frances McMein; January 24, 1888 – May 12, 1949) was an American illustrator and portrait painter who studied at The School of The Art Institute of Chicago and Art Students League of New York. She began her car ...
,
Violet Oakley Violet Oakley (June 10, 1874 – February 25, 1961) was an American artist. She was the first American woman to receive a public mural commission. During the first quarter of the twentieth century, she was renowned as a pathbreaker in mural deco ...
, Herbert Paus, May Wilson Preston,
Olive Rush Olive Rush (June 10, 1873 near Fairmount, Indiana – August 20, 1966 in Santa Fe, New Mexico) was a painter, illustrator, muralist, and an important pioneer in Native American art education. Her paintings are held in a number of private colle ...
,
Arthur Sarnoff Arthur Sarnoff (1912 – 2000 ) was an American artist and illustrator. Sarnoff was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1912. He studied at the Industrial School and the Grand Central School of Art in New York City. He was a member of the Society of I ...
and
Frederic Dorr Steele Frederic Dorr Steele (August 6, 1873 – July 6, 1944) was an American illustrator best known for his work on Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories. Early life and education Steele was born on 6 August 1873 at Eagle Mills, near Marquette, M ...
.


History


19th-Century


Early Days

Spurred on by the success of other mail-order monthlies, two brothers, S.L. and Frederick Thorpe of
Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U.S. ...
started their magazine in 1874. The magazine called ''The Home'' was only eight pages in size, produced on cheap paper and the subscription price was fifty cents a year. The content consisted of household articles, fiction by unknown writers and advertisements mostly for mail-order items. A year after Frederick died in 1877, S.L. acquired another Cleveland periodical called ''Little Ones at Home''. Thorpe consolidated both titles under the new title of ''Home Companion: A Monthly for Young People''. According to Thorpe, but not verified officially circulation reached eighty-eight thousand. Thorpe had been studying medicine, and when he started his practice in 1881, he sold the paper to E.B. Harvey and Frank S. Finn. In 1882, after starting a higher-class magazine without advertising called ''Young Folks' Circle'', Harvey & Finn sold ''The Home Companion'' to Mast, Crowell, & Kirkpatrick of Springfield, Ohio.


1880s

Phineas P. Mast had hired John Crowell of Lexington, Kentucky to launch and manage ''
Farm & Fireside ''Farm & Fireside'' was a semi-monthly national farming magazine that was established in 1877 and was published until 1939. It was based in Springfield, Ohio. It was the original magazine for what eventually became the Crowell-Collier Publishing ...
'' magazine in Springfield, Ohio. P.P. Mast made his money through agricultural equipment and wanted a magazine to promote his wares. ''Farm & Fireside'' launched in 1877, and the firm acquired ''The Home Companion'' in 1883 after realizing the market for content aimed at women. Crowell then purchased Harvey & Finn's ''Young Folks' Circle'' in 1884, which was absorbed into ''The Home Companion'' two years later. In November 1886, the name of the periodical was changed to ''Ladies' Home Companion''. Mast's nephew, T.J. Kirkpatrick was the first general editor of the periodical. During the 1880s, the magazine changed size and length, and the quality of the content was improved by the addition of writers such as
Maria Louise Pool Maria Louise Pool (August 20, 1841 – May 18, 1898) was an American writer. Biography She was born in Rockland, Massachusetts to Elias Pool and Lydia Lane. She attended the public school of the town (then East Abington), and later taught schoo ...
, James Otis, and Eben E. Rexford. Now published semi-monthly, an important feature of the magazine was a Practical Housekeeping department, which was created by Eliza R. Parker. Woodcuts were used for illustration and at times the magazine reprinted articles from other magazines. Coverage was given to food, fashion, and serialized fiction. Topics covered included—household budgeting, home building, and furnishing, needlework, health, childcare, and etiquette. By 1889 circulation had reached eighty thousand, and, in 1890, it hit one hundred thousand. It was considered a leader in the field of women's interest magazines.


1890s

The cover was created for the first time for the
Christmas Christmas is an annual festival commemorating Nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus, Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people Observance of Christmas by country, around t ...
issue of 1891—covers would not become a regular feature until three or four years later and
halftone Halftone is the reprographic Reprography (a portmanteau of ''reproduction'' and ''photography'') is the reproduction of graphics through mechanical or electrical means, such as photography or xerography. Reprography is commonly used in catal ...
pictures made from photographs would appear in 1891. It was in 1893 that the price of the magazine was raised to one dollar a year. At the time the Companion competed with the ''
Ladies' Home Journal ''Ladies' Home Journal'' was an American magazine last published by the Meredith Corporation. It was first published on February 16, 1883, and eventually became one of the leading women's magazines of the 20th century in the United States. In 18 ...
'' which was twice as long, only published twelve times a year, and had a much larger circulation. To compete, the Companion went to a monthly publication and cut the price back to fifty cents—at the same time it upped the quality of its articles and writers. Circulation soon rose to 300,000 by 1898—still only half of the Ladies' Home Journal. To further the distance—the Companion's name was officially changed to ''Woman's Home Companion'' in 1896. According to Frank L. Mott's ''History of the American Magazine'', the editor, presumably Joseph F. Henderson, wrote of the change in the January 1887 edition:
The indiscriminate use and abuse of the term "lady" has robbed it of so much of its meaning that it has been in a measure tabooed by those who deserve the title in its best sense. The noblest ambition of our end-of-the-century femininity is to be a "woman."..."Woman" is an honest Anglo-Saxon word, and has no synonym. The use of "lady" as a synonym for "woman" is vulgar.
During the 1890s in addition to housekeeping tips the magazine also covered subjects such as college education for girls, women in the arts and civil service, travel abroad, women's clubs and health. There was no mention of the
war with Spain War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militias. It is generally characterized by extreme violence, destruction, and mortality, using regular o ...
except for one article on the
American Red Cross The American Red Cross (ARC), also known as the American National Red Cross, is a non-profit humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief, and disaster preparedness education in the United States. It is the desi ...
in the September 1898 issue.


20th century


Turn of the Century

At the turn of the century, the magazine's parent company went through some changes. P.P. Mast died in 1898 and 1901, T. J. Kirkpatrick sold his remaining interests to John Crowell and the main editorial offices were moved to New York (printing was to remain in Springfield). In 1906, Joseph P. Knapp paid $750,000 for controlling interest in the Crowell Publishing Company. During this period the magazine went from twelve pages of advertisements in 1901 to over 75 by 1907. At the same time, the magazine went through editor and editorial changes as well. Arthur T. Vance became the editor in 1901 and Vance pushed to broaden the scope of the magazine into general interest areas. During this time many magazines were outlets for what was called muckraking journalism—a general movement in journalism from after 1900 until around World War I. Editors and journalists took on investigative reporting to raise public awareness of social issues of the day. ''Woman's Home Companion'' was not known as a muckraking magazine, but under Vance's editorial-ship and push towards general interest stories, the magazine featured a crusade against
child slavery Child slavery is the slavery of children. The enslavement of children can be traced back through history. Even after the Abolitionism, abolition of slavery, children continue to be enslaved and trafficked in modern times, which is a particular pr ...
during 1906-07. Coverage included child-workers in cotton mills, canning factories, tailoring, and sweat shops. The January 1907 issue featured a statement signed by
President Theodore Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt Jr. ( ; October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919), often referred to as Teddy or by his initials, T. R., was an American politician, statesman, soldier, conservationist, naturalist, historian, and writer who served as the 26t ...
entitled, ''Where I Stand on Child Labor Reform''. Under Vance there was coverage of art and music, architecture, books in addition to the regular departments dealing with fashion and the home. Vance was also interested in short stories and the list of authors who published included Frank H. Spearman,
Hamlin Garland Hannibal Hamlin Garland (September 14, 1860 – March 4, 1940) was an American novelist, poet, essayist, short story writer, Georgist, and psychical researcher. He is best known for his fiction involving hard-working Midwestern farmers. Biog ...
,
Sarah Orne Jewett Theodora Sarah Orne Jewett (September 3, 1849 – June 24, 1909) was an American novelist, short story writer and poet, best known for her local color works set along or near the southern coast of Maine. Jewett is recognized as an important ...
,
Bret Harte Bret Harte (; born Francis Brett Hart; August 25, 1836 – May 5, 1902) was an American short story writer and poet best remembered for short fiction featuring miners, gamblers, and other romantic figures of the California Gold Rush. In a caree ...
, Robert Grant,
Jack London John Griffith Chaney (January 12, 1876 – November 22, 1916), better known as Jack London, was an American novelist, journalist and activist. A pioneer of commercial fiction and American magazines, he was one of the first American authors to ...
,
Eden Philpotts Eden Phillpotts (4 November 1862 – 29 December 1960) was an English author, poet and dramatist. He was born in Mount Abu, India, was educated in Plymouth, Devon, and worked as an insurance officer for ten years before studying for the stage a ...
,
Morgan Robertson Morgan Andrew Robertson (September 30, 1861 – March 24, 1915) was an American author of short stories and novels, and the self-proclaimed inventor of the periscope. Early life Robertson was the son of Andrew Robertson, a ship captain on the ...
and
Rafael Sabatini Rafael Sabatini (29 April 1875 – 13 February 1950) was an Italian-born British writer of romance and adventure novels. He is best known for his worldwide bestsellers: ''The Sea Hawk'' (1915), ''Scaramouche'' (1921), ''Captain Blood'' (a.k.a ...
. Jack London wrote the short story ''the Apostate'', which was published in the September 1906 edition. London also published coverage of his cruise around the South Pacific under the title, ''Round the World for the Woman's Home Companion'' . This journey was also the basis for London's book ''
The Cruise of the Snark ''The Cruise of the Snark'' (1911) is a non-fictional, illustrated book by Jack London chronicling his sailing adventure in 1907 across the south Pacific in his ketch the ''Snark''. Accompanying London on this voyage was his wife Charmian London ...
.''


The Battles Lane years

The most influential editor of ''Woman's Home Companion'' was Gertrude Battles Lane (December 21, 1874 – September 25, 1941), the editor from 1911 until a few months before her death in 1941. Lane started her editing career with Crowell in 1903 at eighteen dollars a week—her salary before she died was fifty thousand a year.
Frank Luther Mott Frank Luther Mott (April 4, 1886 – October 23, 1964) was an American historian and journalist, who won the 1939 Pulitzer Prize for History for Volumes II and III of his series, ''A History of American Magazines''. Early life and education Mott w ...
, Dean Emeritus of the School of Journalism at the
University of Missouri The University of Missouri (Mizzou, MU, or Missouri) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Columbia, Missouri. It is Missouri's largest university and the flagship of the four-campus Universit ...
and winner of a
Pulitzer Pulitzer may refer to: *Joseph Pulitzer, a 20th century media magnate *Pulitzer Prize, an annual U.S. journalism, literary, and music award *Pulitzer (surname) * Pulitzer, Inc., a U.S. newspaper chain *Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, a non-pro ...
prize for ''the History of Magazines in America'' stated that Lane was one of the greatest woman editors of her generation. Lane understood her audience and once stated her editorial creed which was aspirational for her readers:
In editing the ''Woman's Home Companion'', I keep constantly in mind a picture of the housewife of today as I see her. She is not the woman who wants to do ''more'' housework, but the woman who wants to do less housework so that she will have more time for other things.
She is intelligent and clear-headed; I must tell her the truth. She is busy; I must not waste her time. She is forever seeking new ideas; I must keep her in touch with the best. Her horizon is ever extending, her interest broadening: the pages of the ''Woman's Home Companion'' must reflect the sanest and most constructive thought on vital issues of the day.
During the first
World War A world war is an international conflict which involves all or most of the world's major powers. Conventionally, the term is reserved for two major international conflicts that occurred during the first half of the 20th century, World WarI (1914 ...
,
Margaret Deland Margaret Deland (born Margaretta Wade Campbell; February 23, 1857 – January 13, 1945) was an American novelist, short story writer, and poet. She also wrote an autobiography in two volumes. She generally is considered part of the literary ...
reported from France and Lane spent time in Washington working with the Food Administration. The magazine published a section called "Ideas for War Work at Home" and the magazine ran a Treasure and Trinket fun—women sold or melted jewelry and gave the proceeds to the Air Force. Under her directorship, each issue featured two serials, four to five short stories, six specials and many monthly departments. For a time,
Eleanor Roosevelt Anna Eleanor Roosevelt () (October 11, 1884November 7, 1962) was an American political figure, diplomat, and activist. She was the first lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945, during her husband President Franklin D. Roosevelt's four ...
published a page in the magazine, and Presidents
William Howard Taft William Howard Taft (September 15, 1857March 8, 1930) was the 27th president of the United States (1909–1913) and the tenth chief justice of the United States (1921–1930), the only person to have held both offices. Taft was elected pr ...
,
Woodrow Wilson Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28, 1856February 3, 1924) was an American politician and academic who served as the 28th president of the United States from 1913 to 1921. A member of the Democratic Party, Wilson served as the president of ...
,
Calvin Coolidge Calvin Coolidge (born John Calvin Coolidge Jr.; ; July 4, 1872January 5, 1933) was the 30th president of the United States from 1923 to 1929. Born in Vermont, Coolidge was a History of the Republican Party (United States), Republican lawyer ...
, and
Herbert Hoover Herbert Clark Hoover (August 10, 1874 – October 20, 1964) was an American politician who served as the 31st president of the United States from 1929 to 1933 and a member of the Republican Party, holding office during the onset of the Gr ...
wrote on occasion for the magazine. During this period, the Companion competed with ''
Ladies' Home Journal ''Ladies' Home Journal'' was an American magazine last published by the Meredith Corporation. It was first published on February 16, 1883, and eventually became one of the leading women's magazines of the 20th century in the United States. In 18 ...
'', ''
McCalls ''McCall's'' was a monthly American women's magazine, published by the McCall Corporation, that enjoyed great popularity through much of the 20th century, peaking at a readership of 8.4 million in the early 1960s. It was established as a small-for ...
'' and ''
Pictorial Review The ''Pictorial Review'' was an American women's magazine published from 1899 to 1939. Based in New York, the ''Pictorial Review'' was first published in September 1899. The magazine was originally designed to showcase dress patterns of German i ...
''. By the 1930s, it led by a small margin with a circulation of 3,000,000 in 1938. Despite the high circulation advertising revenue declined for a while during the Great Depression but had begun to recover by 1939. Also in 1939, Crowell was reorganized as the
Crowell-Collier Publishing Company Crowell-Collier Publishing Company was an American publisher that owned the popular magazines ''Collier's'', ''Woman's Home Companion'' and ''The American Magazine''. Crowell's subsidiary, P.F. Collier and Son, published ''Collier's Encyclopedia,' ...
.


World War II Years

After Lane died in 1941, the magazine changed editors and shifted focus. Willa Roberts, who had been a writer and staff member for twenty years, became the editor for a short time. The magazine covered the war with correspondents in Europe and support activities at home such as war gardens and home canning. Roberts was then followed up by Willam A. H. Birnie in 1943. Birnie had previously been the assistant editor of Crowell's ''
the American Magazine ''The American Magazine'' was a periodical publication founded in June 1906, a continuation of failed publications purchased a few years earlier from publishing mogul Miriam Leslie. It succeeded ''Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly'' (1876–1904), ' ...
'' and then the managing editor for the Companion. Birnie (who had started in newspapers) and Roger Dakin, an article editor shifted the focus of the magazine to crusading for causes—the magazine became known as "the fighting lady." An article on keeping children out of jail with adults resulted in New York state legislation.


Final years and shutdown

By the 1940s magazines had moved them away fiction and into more non-fiction coverage with an emphasis on features and articles rather than short stories and serials and the ''Woman's Home Companion'' followed suit. In another nod to changing times—the ''Companion'' also moved advertising to the front of the magazine and double-page layouts of color became common. Circulation by 1950 was four million and advertisement rates were high by 1953 when the rate for a black-and-white page was $12,880. But then advertising declined rapidly, and the magazine faced hard times. Paul C. Smith, who was President of Crowell-Collier in 1954, was named editor-in-chief for ''Woman's Home Companion'', ''
Collier's ''Collier's'' was an American general interest magazine founded in 1888 by Peter Fenelon Collier. It was launched as ''Collier's Once a Week'', then renamed in 1895 as ''Collier's Weekly: An Illustrated Journal'', shortened in 1905 to ''Collie ...
'' and ''
The American Magazine ''The American Magazine'' was a periodical publication founded in June 1906, a continuation of failed publications purchased a few years earlier from publishing mogul Miriam Leslie. It succeeded ''Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly'' (1876–1904), ' ...
''. A decade after editor Battles Lane death, the magazine began a decrease in page count, from 945 pages in 1951 to 544 pages in 1956."Crowell-Collier's Christmas", ''
Time Magazine ''Time'' (stylized in all caps) is an American news magazine based in New York City. For nearly a century, it was published weekly, but starting in March 2020 it transitioned to every other week. It was first published in New York City on Mar ...
'', December 24, 1956
The situation at ''
Collier's ''Collier's'' was an American general interest magazine founded in 1888 by Peter Fenelon Collier. It was launched as ''Collier's Once a Week'', then renamed in 1895 as ''Collier's Weekly: An Illustrated Journal'', shortened in 1905 to ''Collie ...
'' was comparable. Publisher Crowell-Collier closed ''
The American Magazine ''The American Magazine'' was a periodical publication founded in June 1906, a continuation of failed publications purchased a few years earlier from publishing mogul Miriam Leslie. It succeeded ''Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly'' (1876–1904), ' ...
'', its healthier publication, in order to save ''Collier's'' and the ''Companion''. By July 1956 it was calculated that the annual loss of the magazine would reach $3 million. Just before Christmas 1956, both ailing publications folded, and 2740 employees, mostly printing workers, were laid off without severance pay or pensions. ''Collier's'' and ''Woman's Home Companion'' came to an end January 1957, shortly after the first 1957 issues were distributed. In ''the History of the American Magazines'', the closure of the ''Woman's Home Companion'' was "mourned by many readers, for it had long been a lively, interesting, and helpful member of the group of leading magazines for women and the home." After shuttering the magazines
Crowell Collier Publishing Company Crowell-Collier Publishing Company was an American publisher that owned the popular magazines ''Collier's'', ''Woman's Home Companion'' and ''The American Magazine''. Crowell's subsidiary, P.F. Collier and Son, published ''Collier's Encyclopedia,' ...
would reinvent itself as an educational company.


Other publications

Occasionally, the ''Companions stories were collected in anthologies such as ''Seven Short Novels from the Woman's Home Companion'', edited by
Barthold Fles Barthold "Bart" Fles (February 7, 1902 – December 19, 1989) was a Dutch-American literary agent, author, translator, editor and publisher. Among his many clients were Elias Canetti, Raymond Loewy, Heinrich Mann, Joseph Roth, Felix Salten, I ...
.Seven Short Novels from the Woman's Home Companion
at the
Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country. The library is ...
The magazine also published such non-fiction as John Wister's ''Woman's Home Companion Garden Book'' (Collier, 1947). A much-loved, classic collection of American recipes, ''The Woman's Home Companion Cook Book'' was compiled by the magazine's staff and edited by Dorothy Kirk in editions printed from 1942 through 1947 by P.F. Collier & Son Corporation, New York. This collection of over 2,600 recipes, with illustrations and homemaking instructions, is still prized by contemporary cooks. * ''Seven Short Novels from Woman's Home Companion'' (1949) * ''Woman's Home Companion Garden Book'' (1947) * ''Woman's Home Companion Household Book'' (1948) * ''The Woman's Home Companion Cook Book'' (various editions in the 1940s)


Stats and lists about the magazine


Titles

* ''The Home'' (1874–78) * ''Home Companion'' (1878–86) * ''Our Young People'' (briefly in 1883) * ''Ladies' Home Companion'' (1886-1896) * ''Woman's Home Companion'' (1897-1957)


First and last issues

* First Issue: January 1874 * Last Issue: January 1957


Publishing frequency

* Monthly (1874–1889) * Semi-Monthly (1880–1896) * Monthly (1896–1957) * Regular Annual Volumes


Publishers

* Thorpe & Bros., Cleveland, Ohio (1874–1877) * S.L. Thorpe, Cleveland, Ohio (1877–1881) * Harvey & Finn, Cleveland, Ohio (1881–1883) * Mast, Crowell & Kirkpatrick, Springfield, Ohio (1883–1898) and in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1891-1895) * Crowell & Kirkpatrick Co., Springfield, Ohio (1898–1901) * Crowell Publishing Company, published in Springfield, Ohio but editorial offices in New York (1901–1939) *
Crowell-Collier Publishing Company Crowell-Collier Publishing Company was an American publisher that owned the popular magazines ''Collier's'', ''Woman's Home Companion'' and ''The American Magazine''. Crowell's subsidiary, P.F. Collier and Son, published ''Collier's Encyclopedia,' ...
, New York and Springfield, Ohio (1939–1957)


Presidents

* S. L. Thorpe (1874–1881) * E. B. Harvey (1881–1883) * P. P. Mast (1883–1898) * John S. Crowell (1898–1906) * George H. Hazen (1906–1918) * George D. Buckley (1918–1923) * Lee W. Maxwell (1923–1934) * Thomas H. Beck (1934–1947) * Albert E. Winger (1947–1953) * Paul Clifford Smith (1953–1957)


Editors

* S. L. Thorpe (1874–1881) * E. B. Harvey (1881–1883) * T. J. Kirkpatrick (1883–1896) * Joseph Franklin Henderson (1896–1900) * Arthur Turner Vance (1900–1906) * Frederick L. Collins (1906–1911) * Gertrude B. Lane (1912–1941) * Willa Roberts (Plank) (1941–1943) * William A. H. Birnie (1943–1952) * Woodrow Wirsig (1953–1956) * Theodore Strauss (1956–1957)


References


Bibliography


"A Preliminary Letter from Jack London Who Is Going Around the World for the Woman's Home Companion," ''Woman's Home Companion'', November 1906.''Blazing the Trail: The Autobiography of Gene Gauntier'', ''Woman's Home Companion'', 1928-29."The Married Woman Goes Back to Work," ''Woman's Home Companion'', October 1956.


External links

{{Commons category, Woman's Home Companion
Record 000500423
an
record 004922087
at
HathiTrust HathiTrust Digital Library is a large-scale collaborative repository of digital content from research libraries including content digitized via Google Books and the Internet Archive digitization initiatives, as well as content digitized locally ...
Digital Library catalog – holdings most of 1908 to 1923 only (as of April 2019)
Crowell-Collier's Influence on the American Identity: ''Women's Home Companion''
Monthly magazines published in the United States Defunct women's magazines published in the United States Magazines established in 1873 Magazines disestablished in 1957 Magazines published in Ohio