Binford & Mort
Encyclopedia
Binford & Mort Publishing is a book publishing
company located in Hillsboro, Oregon
, United States. Founded in 1930, the company was previously known as Metropolitan Press and Binfords & Mort. At one time they were the largest book publisher in the Pacific Northwest
. The privately owned company focuses on books from the Pacific Northwest, and has printed many important titles covering Oregon
’s history.
in 1878, but moved west in 1884 after his parents died. Peter A. Binford, also from Indiana, was born on March 23, 1876, in Crawfordsville
in the west-central part of that state. Peter and Maurice moved to Klickitat County, Washington, in 1884 with their older sister Julia, who had married Frank Lee. Julia raised the two along with five other younger siblings.
Peter later worked in the printing industry in Klickitat County for his brother in law Lee at several newspapers. In 1891, Maurice and his brother Peter moved to Portland
and worked for Lee at Lee’s company, Metropolitan Printing Company. In 1899, the brothers purchased the printing company from Lee. Maurice served as the company’s secretary and treasurer in the early years.
In 1920, Ralph Mort, their nephew, was added to the company. They established a publishing company in 1930 under the name of Metropolitan Press, and published Northwest books, primarily history titles. Some of these books were re-prints of titles that were no longer protected by copyright
, while others were new titles by Oregon authors. Early authors included Thomas Nelson Strong, Charles Henry Carey, Howard McKinley Corning, and Frederic Homer Balch among others. The company became the first large publisher in Oregon.
During the Great Depression
, the company acquired the rights to print the American Guide Series
guidebooks created by the Works Progress Administration
's Writers Project for Utah
, Washington, Nevada
, and Oregon, which proved very profitable. In 1938, the Binfords changed the named to Binfords & Mort after taking on Ralph Mort as a new partner in the business. Publishing house William Morrow and Company
suggested this name change as they wanted a more original name as they took on national distribution of the Binfords’ titles.
Maurice died in 1954. Peter retired from the company by 1957, and he died on October 19, 1959. The name of the company was then changed to Binford & Mort, with Thomas Binford taking over for his father Maurice. From its founding until about 1960, the company's publications did much to promote works and authors from the Pacific Northwest. By 1957, they were the largest book publisher in the Northwest and had more than 350 titles.
After the older Binfords left, Thomas failed to maintain the quality of the editorial process for new books. Thus, even though Binford & Mort averaged ten new titles a year, the quality suffered. By 1980, the company had moved to Salem
. Thomas died in 1983 and Binford & Mort was purchased by the Gardeniers of Hillsboro.
By 1996 they had relocated to Portland, and by 2000 Binford & Mort was in Hillsboro. By that time P. L. Gardenier served as editor and they focused on works of non-fiction, while also printing books for self-publishers. Today the company still publishes some new titles, and continues to re-print its older titles. Described as "Portland's most venerable general trade publisher," many of the works they published are considered to be definitive books on their topics. These include Oregon Geographic Names
by Lewis A. McArthur
, A General History of Oregon by Charles Henry Carey, Howard McKinley Corning’s Dictionary of Oregon History, History of Oregon Literature by Alfred Powers, and George S. Turnbull’s History of Oregon Newspapers. As of 2009, Polly Gardenier served as the director of the three person company that had annual revenues of $200,000.
Publishing
Publishing is the process of production and dissemination of literature or information—the activity of making information available to the general public...
company located in Hillsboro, Oregon
Hillsboro, Oregon
Hillsboro is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and is the county seat of Washington County. Lying in the Tualatin Valley on the west side of the Portland metropolitan area, the city is home to many high-technology companies, such as Intel, that compose what has become known as the...
, United States. Founded in 1930, the company was previously known as Metropolitan Press and Binfords & Mort. At one time they were the largest book publisher in the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
. The privately owned company focuses on books from the Pacific Northwest, and has printed many important titles covering Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
’s history.
History
Maurice M. Binford was born in IndianaIndiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
in 1878, but moved west in 1884 after his parents died. Peter A. Binford, also from Indiana, was born on March 23, 1876, in Crawfordsville
Crawfordsville, Indiana
Crawfordsville is a city in Union Township, Montgomery County, Indiana, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 15,915. The city is the county seat of Montgomery County...
in the west-central part of that state. Peter and Maurice moved to Klickitat County, Washington, in 1884 with their older sister Julia, who had married Frank Lee. Julia raised the two along with five other younger siblings.
Peter later worked in the printing industry in Klickitat County for his brother in law Lee at several newspapers. In 1891, Maurice and his brother Peter moved to Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
and worked for Lee at Lee’s company, Metropolitan Printing Company. In 1899, the brothers purchased the printing company from Lee. Maurice served as the company’s secretary and treasurer in the early years.
In 1920, Ralph Mort, their nephew, was added to the company. They established a publishing company in 1930 under the name of Metropolitan Press, and published Northwest books, primarily history titles. Some of these books were re-prints of titles that were no longer protected by copyright
Public domain
Works are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...
, while others were new titles by Oregon authors. Early authors included Thomas Nelson Strong, Charles Henry Carey, Howard McKinley Corning, and Frederic Homer Balch among others. The company became the first large publisher in Oregon.
During the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, the company acquired the rights to print the American Guide Series
American Guide Series
The American Guide Series was a group of books and pamphlets published under the auspices of the Federal Writers' Project , a Depression-era works program in the United States. The American Guide Series books were compiled by the FWP, but printed by individual states, and contained detailed...
guidebooks created by the Works Progress Administration
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
's Writers Project for Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, Washington, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, and Oregon, which proved very profitable. In 1938, the Binfords changed the named to Binfords & Mort after taking on Ralph Mort as a new partner in the business. Publishing house William Morrow and Company
William Morrow and Company
William Morrow and Company is an American publishing company founded by William Morrow in 1926. The company was acquired by Scott Foresman in 1967, and sold to Hearst Corporation in 1981. It was sold along to the News Corporation in 1999...
suggested this name change as they wanted a more original name as they took on national distribution of the Binfords’ titles.
Maurice died in 1954. Peter retired from the company by 1957, and he died on October 19, 1959. The name of the company was then changed to Binford & Mort, with Thomas Binford taking over for his father Maurice. From its founding until about 1960, the company's publications did much to promote works and authors from the Pacific Northwest. By 1957, they were the largest book publisher in the Northwest and had more than 350 titles.
After the older Binfords left, Thomas failed to maintain the quality of the editorial process for new books. Thus, even though Binford & Mort averaged ten new titles a year, the quality suffered. By 1980, the company had moved to Salem
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
. Thomas died in 1983 and Binford & Mort was purchased by the Gardeniers of Hillsboro.
By 1996 they had relocated to Portland, and by 2000 Binford & Mort was in Hillsboro. By that time P. L. Gardenier served as editor and they focused on works of non-fiction, while also printing books for self-publishers. Today the company still publishes some new titles, and continues to re-print its older titles. Described as "Portland's most venerable general trade publisher," many of the works they published are considered to be definitive books on their topics. These include Oregon Geographic Names
Oregon Geographic Names
Oregon Geographic Names is an authoritative compilation of the origin and meaning of place names in the U.S. state of Oregon. , the book is in its seventh edition and is compiled and edited by Lewis L. McArthur, who took over from his father, Lewis A. McArthur, as of the fourth edition...
by Lewis A. McArthur
Lewis A. McArthur
Lewis Ankeny McArthur , known as "Tam" McArthur, was an executive for Pacific Power and Light Company. He was also the secretary for the Oregon Geographic Board for many years and the author of Oregon Geographic Names. His book, now in its seventh edition, is a comprehensive source of information...
, A General History of Oregon by Charles Henry Carey, Howard McKinley Corning’s Dictionary of Oregon History, History of Oregon Literature by Alfred Powers, and George S. Turnbull’s History of Oregon Newspapers. As of 2009, Polly Gardenier served as the director of the three person company that had annual revenues of $200,000.