Peter Fenelon Collier
Encyclopedia
Peter Fenelon Collier was the founder of the publishing company P.F. Collier & Son, and in 1888 founded Collier's Weekly
. P.F. Collier & Son Company published the encyclopedias Collier's Cyclopedia of Social and Commercial Information (1883, Editor Nugent Robinson), the New American Encyclopedia of Social and Commercial Information (1908, Editor James E. Homans) and the 10 volume Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921, 1926, 1928, Editor Francis J. Reynolds, Chairman William A. Neilson).
, County Carlow
, Ireland
on December 12, 1849 to Catherine Fenelon and Robert Collier. He emigrated to Dayton, Ohio
in 1866 when he was seventeen years old. He attended St. Mary's Seminary in Cincinnati for four years. He then worked for Sadler and Company a publisher of schoolbooks. With $300 that he saved as a salesman, he bought the printing plates to Father Burke's Lectures. In a single year, his sales were $90,000. In July 1873 he married Catherine Dunne.
In 1874, he published a biography of Pius IX and later published Chandler's Encyclopedia and Chamber's Encyclopedia. He then began publishing Collier's Library, a series of popular novels.
He later formed his own publishing company printing books for the Roman Catholic market. He founded Collier's Once a Week in April of 1888. It was advertised as a magazine
of "fiction, fact, sensation, wit, humor, news". By 1892, Collier's Once a Week had a circulation of over 250,000, and was one of the largest selling magazines in the United States
. In 1895, the name was changed to Collier's Weekly
: An Illustrated Journal.
Peter Collier died on April 23, 1909.
, took over as publisher of Collier's Weekly. When Norman Hapgood joined Harper's Weekly
in 1912, Robert Collier became the new editor. Circulation continued to grow, and by 1917, circulation reached one million. Robert Collier (author)
(1885-1950), his nephew, founded Robert Collier Publications.
Collier's Weekly
Collier's Weekly was an American magazine founded by Peter Fenelon Collier and published from 1888 to 1957. With the passage of decades, the title was shortened to Collier's....
. P.F. Collier & Son Company published the encyclopedias Collier's Cyclopedia of Social and Commercial Information (1883, Editor Nugent Robinson), the New American Encyclopedia of Social and Commercial Information (1908, Editor James E. Homans) and the 10 volume Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921, 1926, 1928, Editor Francis J. Reynolds, Chairman William A. Neilson).
Biography
He was born in MyshallMyshall
Myshall is a small village 22 km southeast of Carlow town, on the slopes of Mount Leinster, in County Carlow, Ireland. It is situated on the R724 regional road.-Adelaide Memorial Church:...
, County Carlow
County Carlow
County Carlow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Carlow, which lies on the River Barrow. Carlow County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
on December 12, 1849 to Catherine Fenelon and Robert Collier. He emigrated to Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
in 1866 when he was seventeen years old. He attended St. Mary's Seminary in Cincinnati for four years. He then worked for Sadler and Company a publisher of schoolbooks. With $300 that he saved as a salesman, he bought the printing plates to Father Burke's Lectures. In a single year, his sales were $90,000. In July 1873 he married Catherine Dunne.
In 1874, he published a biography of Pius IX and later published Chandler's Encyclopedia and Chamber's Encyclopedia. He then began publishing Collier's Library, a series of popular novels.
He later formed his own publishing company printing books for the Roman Catholic market. He founded Collier's Once a Week in April of 1888. It was advertised as a magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
of "fiction, fact, sensation, wit, humor, news". By 1892, Collier's Once a Week had a circulation of over 250,000, and was one of the largest selling magazines in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In 1895, the name was changed to Collier's Weekly
Collier's Weekly
Collier's Weekly was an American magazine founded by Peter Fenelon Collier and published from 1888 to 1957. With the passage of decades, the title was shortened to Collier's....
: An Illustrated Journal.
Peter Collier died on April 23, 1909.
Legacy
His son, Robert Joseph CollierRobert Joseph Collier
Robert Joseph Collier was the son of Peter Fenelon Collier, and a principal in the publishing company "P.F. Collier & Son". Upon his father's death, he became head of P.F. Collier & Son Company, and for a time was editor of Collier's Weekly...
, took over as publisher of Collier's Weekly. When Norman Hapgood joined 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...
in 1912, Robert Collier became the new editor. Circulation continued to grow, and by 1917, circulation reached one million. Robert Collier (author)
Robert Collier (author)
Robert Collier was an author of self help, and New Thought metaphysical books in the 20th century.Collier was born in St. Louis, Missouri on April 19, 1885. He was the nephew of Peter Fenelon Collier, founder of Collier's Weekly. He was involved in writing, editing, and research for most of his...
(1885-1950), his nephew, founded Robert Collier Publications.