Crocker & Brewster
Encyclopedia
Crocker & Brewster was a leading publishing house in Boston
, Massachusetts
, during its 58-year existence. The business was located at today's 173-175 Washington Street for nearly half a century; in 1864 it moved to the adjoining building, where it remained until the firm's dissolution.
The firm was founded by Uriel Crocker
and Osmyn Brewster, with the participation of their earlier employer, Samuel Turell Armstrong
, later mayor of Boston and acting governor of the Commonwealth. In 1815, Crocker was made foreman of Armstrong's printing office, and in 1818 was, with his fellow-apprentice, Brewster, taken into partnership with Armstrong. The trio agreed that the bookstore would be named for Mr. Armstrong and the printing office for Crocker & Brewster.
In 1821 a branch of the business was established in New York City
. Five years later, it was sold to Daniel Appleton
and Jonathan Leavitt, becoming the foundation of the firm, D. Appleton & Sons.
After 1825, the entire business was carried on under the name of Crocker & Brewster, although Mr. Armstrong continued to be a member of the firm until 1840. The printing office was then in Mr. Crocker's charge and the bookstore in Mr. Brewster's. The firm thrived with strong sales until 1876, when it relinquished its active publishing business to H. O. Houghton and Company, which purchased its stereotype
plates, copyright
s, and book stock. H. O. Houghton later became Houghton Mifflin
. The partnership between Armstrong, Crocker, and Brewster was not dissolved until Crocker's death in 1887.
The firm published mainly standards and educational works, including Scott's Family Bible in six royal octavo
volumes, the first large work stereotyped in the United States. It sold twenty to thirty thousand copies of this bible, a large number for those days. The firm also introduced the first iron-lever printing press
in Boston and printed from the city's first power press.
Crocker & Brewster's papers are now archived in the Boston Athenaeum.
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, during its 58-year existence. The business was located at today's 173-175 Washington Street for nearly half a century; in 1864 it moved to the adjoining building, where it remained until the firm's dissolution.
The firm was founded by Uriel Crocker
Uriel Crocker
Uriel Crocker was a public-spirited Boston citizen, head of the Crocker & Brewster publishing house during its 58-year existence , and actively involved in other enterprises including railroads....
and Osmyn Brewster, with the participation of their earlier employer, Samuel Turell Armstrong
Samuel Turell Armstrong
Samuel Turell Armstrong was a U.S. political figure. Born in 1784 in Dorchester, Massachusetts, he was a bookseller in Boston, and among other works published a stereotype edition of Scott's family Bible, which was widely circulated.Orphaned at the age of thirteen, Samuel Armstrong attended public...
, later mayor of Boston and acting governor of the Commonwealth. In 1815, Crocker was made foreman of Armstrong's printing office, and in 1818 was, with his fellow-apprentice, Brewster, taken into partnership with Armstrong. The trio agreed that the bookstore would be named for Mr. Armstrong and the printing office for Crocker & Brewster.
In 1821 a branch of the business was established in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Five years later, it was sold to Daniel Appleton
Daniel Appleton
Daniel Appleton was an American publisher.-Biography:He was born in Haverhill, Massachusetts. After a few years of schooling, he started a general store in Haverill. Later, he moved to Boston where he sold dry-goods imported from England...
and Jonathan Leavitt, becoming the foundation of the firm, D. Appleton & Sons.
After 1825, the entire business was carried on under the name of Crocker & Brewster, although Mr. Armstrong continued to be a member of the firm until 1840. The printing office was then in Mr. Crocker's charge and the bookstore in Mr. Brewster's. The firm thrived with strong sales until 1876, when it relinquished its active publishing business to H. O. Houghton and Company, which purchased its stereotype
Stereotype
A stereotype is a popular belief about specific social groups or types of individuals. The concepts of "stereotype" and "prejudice" are often confused with many other different meanings...
plates, copyright
Copyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
s, and book stock. H. O. Houghton later became Houghton Mifflin
Houghton Mifflin
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is an educational and trade publisher in the United States. Headquartered in Boston's Back Bay, it publishes textbooks, instructional technology materials, assessments, reference works, and fiction and non-fiction for both young readers and adults.-History:The company was...
. The partnership between Armstrong, Crocker, and Brewster was not dissolved until Crocker's death in 1887.
The firm published mainly standards and educational works, including Scott's Family Bible in six royal octavo
Octavo
Octavo to is a technical term describing the format of a book.Octavo may also refer to:* Octavo is a grimoire in the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett...
volumes, the first large work stereotyped in the United States. It sold twenty to thirty thousand copies of this bible, a large number for those days. The firm also introduced the first iron-lever printing press
Printing press
A printing press is a device for applying pressure to an inked surface resting upon a print medium , thereby transferring the ink...
in Boston and printed from the city's first power press.
Crocker & Brewster's papers are now archived in the Boston Athenaeum.