Cass Canfield
Encyclopedia
Augustus Cass Canfield was an American publishing executive who was the longtime president and chairman of Harper & Brothers
, later Harper & Row.
. He had two sisters: Mary Cass Canfield and Laura Cass Canfield (Mrs William Lawrence Wood).
He attended the Groton School
and Harvard University
, graduating from Harvard in 1919 after serving as a lieutenant in the United States Army
during World War I
. Canfield also studied at New College, Oxford
and trekked through Asia, retracing the route of Marco Polo
.
. In 1924, he invested in Harper & Brothers
and became manager of its London office. He held various executive positions with Harper's in London and New York between then and 1931; among the writers who he signed to Harper's contracts were James Thurber
, E. B. White
, J. B. Priestley
, Harold Laski
, John Gunther
, and Julian Huxley
. EM Delafield dedicated The Provincial Lady Goes Further to him.
Canfield was president of Harper & Brothers from 1931–45, board chairman from 1945–55, and chairman of the executive committee from 1955-67. From 1967 until his death in 1986, he was House Senior Editor at Harper's. He also wrote seven nonfiction books.
, Canfield took a leave of absence from Harper's to serve as a member of the Board of Economic Warfare
, the Foreign Economic Administration
, and the United States Office of War Information
. He was a founder of the journal Foreign Affairs
.
Canfield campaigned for Adlai Stevenson in 1956. He was a strong supporter of birth control
, served as chair of the executive committee of Planned Parenthood
, and traveled extensively giving speeches and raising money to support the organization.
He married his first wife, Katherine Temple Emmet, in 1922 and was divorced by her in June 1937 (she married, in October 1937, John D W Churchill). They had two sons: Michael Temple Canfield (1926–69, adopted), a London representative of Harper & Row; and Cass Canfield Jr., an executive at Harper & Row. According to the memoirs of Loelia, Duchess of Westminster, British monarch King Edward VIII believed that Michael Canfield was actually the biological son of his brother Prince George, Duke of Kent
and socialite Kiki Preston
; Michael became the first husband of Lee Radziwill
.
Canfield's second wife was Jane Sage White, a sculptor, the former wife of Charles Fairchild Fuller, and a daughter of Ernest Ingersoll White. They married in 1938, and Jane Canfield died in 1984. By this marriage Canfield had three stepchildren: Jane Sage Fuller, Blair Fairchild Fuller, and Isabelle Whitney "Jill" Fuller.
In 1984, Canfield married Joan H. King.
Harper & Brothers
Harper is an American publishing house, the flagship imprint of global publisher HarperCollins.-History:James Harper and his brother John, printers by training, started their book publishing business J. & J. Harper in 1817. Their two brothers, Joseph Wesley Harper and Fletcher Harper, joined them...
, later Harper & Row.
Early life
Canfield was the son of Augustus Cass Canfield (1854—1904), a wealthy engineer and yachtsman, and his wife, the former Josephine Houghteling. His stepfather was Frank Jay Griswold. He also was a great-grandson of Presidential candidate Lewis CassLewis Cass
Lewis Cass was an American military officer and politician. During his long political career, Cass served as a governor of the Michigan Territory, an American ambassador, a U.S. Senator representing Michigan, and co-founder as well as first Masonic Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Michigan...
. He had two sisters: Mary Cass Canfield and Laura Cass Canfield (Mrs William Lawrence Wood).
He attended the Groton School
Groton School
Groton School is a private, Episcopal, college preparatory boarding school located in Groton, Massachusetts, U.S. It enrolls approximately 375 boys and girls, from the eighth through twelfth grades...
and Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, graduating from Harvard in 1919 after serving as a lieutenant in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Canfield also studied at New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
and trekked through Asia, retracing the route of Marco Polo
Marco Polo
Marco Polo was a Venetian merchant traveler from the Venetian Republic whose travels are recorded in Il Milione, a book which did much to introduce Europeans to Central Asia and China. He learned about trading whilst his father and uncle, Niccolò and Maffeo, travelled through Asia and apparently...
.
Publishing career
After returning to New York, he worked as a reporter and advertising salesman for the New York PostNew York Post
The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...
. In 1924, he invested in Harper & Brothers
Harper & Brothers
Harper is an American publishing house, the flagship imprint of global publisher HarperCollins.-History:James Harper and his brother John, printers by training, started their book publishing business J. & J. Harper in 1817. Their two brothers, Joseph Wesley Harper and Fletcher Harper, joined them...
and became manager of its London office. He held various executive positions with Harper's in London and New York between then and 1931; among the writers who he signed to Harper's contracts were James Thurber
James Thurber
James Grover Thurber was an American author, cartoonist and celebrated wit. Thurber was best known for his cartoons and short stories published in The New Yorker magazine.-Life:...
, E. B. White
E. B. White
Elwyn Brooks White , usually known as E. B. White, was an American writer. A long-time contributor to The New Yorker magazine, he also wrote many famous books for both adults and children, such as the popular Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little, and co-authored a widely used writing guide, The...
, J. B. Priestley
J. B. Priestley
John Boynton Priestley, OM , known as J. B. Priestley, was an English novelist, playwright and broadcaster. He published 26 novels, notably The Good Companions , as well as numerous dramas such as An Inspector Calls...
, Harold Laski
Harold Laski
Harold Joseph Laski was a British Marxist, political theorist, economist, author, and lecturer, who served as the chairman of the Labour Party during 1945-1946, and was a professor at the LSE from 1926 to 1950....
, John Gunther
John Gunther
John Gunther was an American journalist and author whose success came primarily in the 1940s and 1950s with a series of popular sociopolitical works known as the "Inside" books...
, and Julian Huxley
Julian Huxley
Sir Julian Sorell Huxley FRS was an English evolutionary biologist, humanist and internationalist. He was a proponent of natural selection, and a leading figure in the mid-twentieth century evolutionary synthesis...
. EM Delafield dedicated The Provincial Lady Goes Further to him.
Canfield was president of Harper & Brothers from 1931–45, board chairman from 1945–55, and chairman of the executive committee from 1955-67. From 1967 until his death in 1986, he was House Senior Editor at Harper's. He also wrote seven nonfiction books.
Government and political activities
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Canfield took a leave of absence from Harper's to serve as a member of the Board of Economic Warfare
Board of Economic Warfare
The Office of Administrator of Export Control was established in the United States by Presidential Proclamation 2413, July 2, 1940, to administer export licensing provisions of the act of July 2, 1940 . Brigadier General Russell Lamont Maxwell, United States Army, headed up this military entity...
, the Foreign Economic Administration
Foreign Economic Administration
In the administration of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the Foreign Economic Administration was formed to relieve friction between US agencies operating abroad. As described by the biographer of the FEA's chief, Leo Crowley, the agency was designed and run by "The Nation's #1 Pinch-hitter".S. L...
, and the United States Office of War Information
United States Office of War Information
The United States Office of War Information was a U.S. government agency created during World War II to consolidate government information services. It operated from June 1942 until September 1945...
. He was a founder of the journal Foreign Affairs
Foreign Affairs
Foreign Affairs is an American magazine and website on international relations and U.S. foreign policy published since 1922 by the Council on Foreign Relations six times annually...
.
Canfield campaigned for Adlai Stevenson in 1956. He was a strong supporter of birth control
Birth control
Birth control is an umbrella term for several techniques and methods used to prevent fertilization or to interrupt pregnancy at various stages. Birth control techniques and methods include contraception , contragestion and abortion...
, served as chair of the executive committee of Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood Federation of America , commonly shortened to Planned Parenthood, is the U.S. affiliate of the International Planned Parenthood Federation and one of its larger members. PPFA is a non-profit organization providing reproductive health and maternal and child health services. The...
, and traveled extensively giving speeches and raising money to support the organization.
Family
Canfield was thrice married.He married his first wife, Katherine Temple Emmet, in 1922 and was divorced by her in June 1937 (she married, in October 1937, John D W Churchill). They had two sons: Michael Temple Canfield (1926–69, adopted), a London representative of Harper & Row; and Cass Canfield Jr., an executive at Harper & Row. According to the memoirs of Loelia, Duchess of Westminster, British monarch King Edward VIII believed that Michael Canfield was actually the biological son of his brother Prince George, Duke of Kent
Prince George, Duke of Kent
Prince George, Duke of Kent was a member of the British Royal Family, the fourth son of George V and Mary of Teck, and younger brother of Edward VIII and George VI...
and socialite Kiki Preston
Kiki Preston
Kiki Preston, née Alice Gwynne was an American socialite, a member of the infamous Happy Valley set, and the alleged mother of a child born out of wedlock with Prince George, Duke of Kent, fourth son of King George V of the United Kingdom...
; Michael became the first husband of Lee Radziwill
Lee Radziwill
Caroline Lee Bouvier Canfield Radziwill Ross best known as Lee Radziwill, is an American socialite, public relations executive, and former actress and interior decorator. She is the younger sister of the late First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis...
.
Canfield's second wife was Jane Sage White, a sculptor, the former wife of Charles Fairchild Fuller, and a daughter of Ernest Ingersoll White. They married in 1938, and Jane Canfield died in 1984. By this marriage Canfield had three stepchildren: Jane Sage Fuller, Blair Fairchild Fuller, and Isabelle Whitney "Jill" Fuller.
In 1984, Canfield married Joan H. King.