Fletcher Harper
Encyclopedia
Fletcher Harper was an American
publisher in the early-to-mid 19th century. Fletcher was the youngest of four sons born to Joseph Henry Harper, (1750–1838) , a farmer, carpenter, and storekeeper, and Elizabeth Kollyer, a Dutch
burgher's daughter. With his brothers, James
, John, and Joseph Wesley, founded the Harper & Brothers
publishing house. Credited with founding Harper's Weekly
(1850), Harper's Magazine
(1850), and Harper's Bazaar
(1867). Fletcher gave cartoonist Thomas Nast
his start in Harper's Weekly, and gave Nast great editorial freedom. His newspaper Harper's Weekly rose to fame during the American Civil War because of Nast's depiction of the war. It was called by United States President Abraham Lincoln "The greatest recruiter for the United States Militray." Harpers weekly was also responsible for publishing the first modern image of Santa Clause (drawn by Nast). His paper lost power after his death when his successor George W. Curtis began putting restrictions of Nast's, causing him to quit in 1886.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
publisher in the early-to-mid 19th century. Fletcher was the youngest of four sons born to Joseph Henry Harper, (1750–1838) , a farmer, carpenter, and storekeeper, and Elizabeth Kollyer, a Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
burgher's daughter. With his brothers, James
James Harper (publisher)
James Harper , was an American publisher and politician in the early-to-mid 19th century. James was the eldest of four sons born to Joseph Henry Harper, , a farmer, carpenter, and storekeeper, and Elizabeth Kolyer, daughter of Jacobus Kolyer and Jane Miller.-Childhood and starting in...
, John, and Joseph Wesley, founded the 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...
publishing house. Credited with founding Harper's Weekly
Harper's Weekly
Harper's Weekly was an American political magazine based in New York City. Published by Harper & Brothers from 1857 until 1916, it featured foreign and domestic news, fiction, essays on many subjects, and humor...
(1850), Harper's Magazine
Harper's Magazine
Harper's Magazine is a monthly magazine of literature, politics, culture, finance, and the arts, with a generally left-wing perspective. It is the second-oldest continuously published monthly magazine in the U.S. . The current editor is Ellen Rosenbush, who replaced Roger Hodge in January 2010...
(1850), and Harper's Bazaar
Harper's Bazaar
Harper’s Bazaar is an American fashion magazine, first published in 1867. Harper’s Bazaar is published by Hearst and, as a magazine, considers itself to be the style resource for “women who are the first to buy the best, from casual to couture.”...
(1867). Fletcher gave cartoonist Thomas Nast
Thomas Nast
Thomas Nast was a German-born American caricaturist and editorial cartoonist who is considered to be the "Father of the American Cartoon". He was the scourge of Boss Tweed and the Tammany Hall machine...
his start in Harper's Weekly, and gave Nast great editorial freedom. His newspaper Harper's Weekly rose to fame during the American Civil War because of Nast's depiction of the war. It was called by United States President Abraham Lincoln "The greatest recruiter for the United States Militray." Harpers weekly was also responsible for publishing the first modern image of Santa Clause (drawn by Nast). His paper lost power after his death when his successor George W. Curtis began putting restrictions of Nast's, causing him to quit in 1886.