Henry Oscar Houghton
Encyclopedia
Henry Oscar Houghton was an American publisher, co-founder of Houghton Mifflin
, and a mayor of Cambridge, Massachusetts
.
, and at 13 started work as apprentice at The Burlington Free Press where he became a typesetter
. After graduation from the University of Vermont
, he moved to Boston
to work first as a reporter, then proofreader
. He then joined a small Cambridge firm, Freeman & Bolles, that typeset and printed books for Little, Brown and Company
. At age 25 he became a partner and in 1849 the company was renamed Bolles and Houghton. After Bolles left, he took on full responsibility. In 1852 Houghton moved the business to beside the Charles River
, renaming it the Riverside Press.
Before the Riverside Press, American books had generally been printed with poor ink on cheap paper. Houghton insisted on much higher quality; his motto was "Do it well or not at all." The result was very successful. He became the main printer for publishers Ticknor and Fields
, and in 1863 was engaged by G. & C. Merriam Company to print and bind their new dictionary.
In 1864 Houghton formed a partnership with Melancthon M. Hurd, a New York publisher. Hurd & Houghton was a quick success, and within three years the company increased its workforce from 90 to 300 employees. George Harrison Mifflin became partner in 1872, and when Houghton became mayor of Cambridge, Mifflin succeeded him as lead partner. In 1878, when Hurd retired, Houghton joined with James R. Osgood
(formerly of Ticknor and Fields
) to make Houghton, Osgood and Company. Lawson Valentine would become the third partner and provide $200,000 in fresh capitol. The firm was plagued by personal debts from Osgood. The firm dissolved and in 1880 Houghton and Mifflin formed Houghton, Mifflin and Company.
He died on August 25, 1895, and Mifflin would assume full control of the company. It is unknown whether Houghton fathered any children.
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...
, and a mayor of Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
.
Biography
Houghton was born poor in Sutton, VermontSutton, Vermont
Sutton is a town in Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,001 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 38.4 square miles , of which 38.3 square miles is land and 0.1 square mile is...
, and at 13 started work as apprentice at The Burlington Free Press where he became a typesetter
Typesetting
Typesetting is the composition of text by means of types.Typesetting requires the prior process of designing a font and storing it in some manner...
. After graduation from the University of Vermont
University of Vermont
The University of Vermont comprises seven undergraduate schools, an honors college, a graduate college, and a college of medicine. The Honors College does not offer its own degrees; students in the Honors College concurrently enroll in one of the university's seven undergraduate colleges or...
, he moved to Boston
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...
to work first as a reporter, then proofreader
Proofreading
Proofreading is the reading of a galley proof or computer monitor to detect and correct production-errors of text or art. Proofreaders are expected to be consistently accurate by default because they occupy the last stage of typographic production before publication.-Traditional method:A proof is...
. He then joined a small Cambridge firm, Freeman & Bolles, that typeset and printed books for Little, Brown and Company
Little, Brown and Company
Little, Brown and Company is a publishing house established by Charles Coffin Little and his partner, James Brown. Since 2006 it has been a constituent unit of Hachette Book Group USA.-19th century:...
. At age 25 he became a partner and in 1849 the company was renamed Bolles and Houghton. After Bolles left, he took on full responsibility. In 1852 Houghton moved the business to beside the Charles River
Charles River
The Charles River is an long river that flows in an overall northeasterly direction in eastern Massachusetts, USA. From its source in Hopkinton, the river travels through 22 cities and towns until reaching the Atlantic Ocean at Boston...
, renaming it the Riverside Press.
Before the Riverside Press, American books had generally been printed with poor ink on cheap paper. Houghton insisted on much higher quality; his motto was "Do it well or not at all." The result was very successful. He became the main printer for publishers Ticknor and Fields
Ticknor and Fields
Ticknor and Fields was an American publishing company based in Boston, Massachusetts.-Early years:In 1832 William Davis Ticknor and John Allen began a small publishing business which operated out of the Old Corner Bookstore located on Washington and School Streets in Boston, Massachusetts...
, and in 1863 was engaged by G. & C. Merriam Company to print and bind their new dictionary.
In 1864 Houghton formed a partnership with Melancthon M. Hurd, a New York publisher. Hurd & Houghton was a quick success, and within three years the company increased its workforce from 90 to 300 employees. George Harrison Mifflin became partner in 1872, and when Houghton became mayor of Cambridge, Mifflin succeeded him as lead partner. In 1878, when Hurd retired, Houghton joined with James R. Osgood
James R. Osgood
James R. Osgood was an American publisher probably best known for his partnership with Mark Twain and his involvement with the publishing company that would become Houghton Mifflin.-Life and work:...
(formerly of Ticknor and Fields
Ticknor and Fields
Ticknor and Fields was an American publishing company based in Boston, Massachusetts.-Early years:In 1832 William Davis Ticknor and John Allen began a small publishing business which operated out of the Old Corner Bookstore located on Washington and School Streets in Boston, Massachusetts...
) to make Houghton, Osgood and Company. Lawson Valentine would become the third partner and provide $200,000 in fresh capitol. The firm was plagued by personal debts from Osgood. The firm dissolved and in 1880 Houghton and Mifflin formed Houghton, Mifflin and Company.
He died on August 25, 1895, and Mifflin would assume full control of the company. It is unknown whether Houghton fathered any children.