George S. Parker

George Swinnerton Parker (12 December 1866 – 26 September 1952) was an American game designer and businessman who founded Geo. S. Parker Co. and Parker Brothers.

Life and career

Parker was born in Salem, Massachusetts.Cutter, William Richard (1908). ''Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of Boston and Eastern Massachusetts.'' Lewis Historical Publishing Company

Parker's philosophy deviated from the prevalent theme of board game design; he believed that games should be played for enjoyment and did not need to emphasize morals and values. He published his first game, ''Banking'', in 1883 at the age of 16. ''Banking'' is a card game in which players borrowed money from the bank and tried to generate wealth by guessing how well they could do. The game included 160 cards which foretold their failures or successes. The game was so popular among family and friends that his brother, Charles Parker urged him to publish it. George approached two Boston publishers with the idea, but was unsuccessful. Not discouraged, he spent $40 to make 500 sets of ''Banking''. He eventually sold all but 12 copies, making a profit of $100.

Parker founded his game company, initially called the Geo. S. Parker & Company, in his town of residence Medford, Massachusetts, in 1883,Banking boxtop owned by Joseph Angiolillo and followed it up with two other games: ''Famous Men'', another card game, and ''Baker's Dozen'', a board game designed by one of his teachers.Famous Men and Baker's Dozen boxtops owned by Joseph Angiolillo In 1885, his family moved to Salem, where he published four more card games: ''The Dickens Game'', ''Ivanhoe'', ''Speculation'', and ''Great Battlefields''.Dickens, Ivanhoe, Great Battlefields boxtops owned by Joseph Angiolillo and Geo. S. Parker 1885 catalogue When George's brother Charles joined the business in 1888, the company's name was changed to its more familiar form. In 1898, a third brother, Edward H. Parker, joined the company. For many years, George designed most of the games himself, and wrote all the rules. Many games were based on important events of the day: ''Klondike'' was based on the Alaskan gold rush, and ''War in Cuba'' on the impending Spanish–American War.

The game industry was growing, and the company was becoming very profitable. In 1906, Parker Brothers published the game ''Rook'', their most successful card game to this day, and it quickly became the best-selling game in the country. During the Great Depression, a time when many companies were going out of business, Parker Brothers released a new board game called ''Monopoly''. Although the company had originally rejected the game in 1934, they decided to publish it the next year. It was an instant success, and the company had difficulty keeping up with demand. The company continued to grow throughout the next several decades, producing such lasting games as ''Clue'', ''Risk'', and '' Sorry!''.Orbanes, Philip (2003). ''Game Makers: The Story of Parker Brothers, from Tiddledy Winks to Trivial Pursuit.'' Harvard Business School Press, The ''Clue'' murder mystery game was based on the house in Peterborough, New Hampshire, that George Parker and his wife Grace lived in.https://www.ledgertranscript.com/Peterborough-home-was-inspiration-for-Clue-board-game-23251247

Parker died in BostonStaff report (September 27, 1952). George S. Parker bituary ''New York Times'' and was buried in Harmony Grove Cemetery in Salem.

References

External links

Parker Brothers
via The History Channel
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Parker, George Swinnerton
1866 births
1952 deaths
19th-century American businesspeople
20th-century American businesspeople
American company founders
American game designers
Artists from Salem, Massachusetts
Burials at Harmony Grove Cemetery
Parker Brothers