Richard Rogers Bowker
Encyclopedia
Richard Rogers Bowker was a journalist, editor of Publishers Weekly
and Harper's Magazine
, and founder of the R.R. Bowker Company.
on September 04, 1848 to a successful, educated family. His paternal grandfather, Joel Bowker, rose from a grocery clerk to a leading merchant and part owner of sailing vessels. His mother, Theresa Maria Savory Bowker, was the daughter of Richard Savory, who owned a large cooperage
in Salem. His father, Daniel Bowker, was a partner in a prestigious business enterprise involving the sale of coal and salt in Salem until the financial panic in 1857
, coupled with the death of the leading partner in the business, caused the business to fail.
The family moved to New York City
where Bowker's father started a barrel-making business. The business never prospered, so the family never regained the affluence it had enjoyed. The plan for Bowker to attend Harvard had to be scrapped. Instead, he attended the Free School in 1863 and entered the City College of New York
in 1866.
Bowker thrived at City College. He founded, edited, managed and published The Collegian, one of the first college newspapers in the country. He was an organizer and member of the student senate. Bowker was instrumental in establishing a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa at the college, but, ironically, was blackballed from membership by the school's president for his "radical" activities in student government and the student newspaper. Years later the injustice was corrected. In 1868 he graduated with a B.A. in journalism.
where he was city editor and literary editor from 1868 to 1874. From 1875 to 1878 he wrote a column for the New York Tribune
and became manager of the New York Times in 1896. Between 1880 and 1882 he lived in London and managed the British edition of Harper's Magazine
.
In addition to journalism, he also became involved in publishing and book sales. He assisted in organizing the first American Book Trade Show and was hired by prestigious London and New York publishers as their representatives at various times. In 1872 Bowker and his friend and mentor, Frederick Leypoldt
, began publishing the Publishers Weekly
, which became the most important book-trade journal in America. Bowker served as an owner and editor of the publication for fifty years.
who played a leading role in enacting of civil service and municipal reforms in New York in the 1880s and in 1880 wrote the civil service reform plank that was adopted in the national Republican platform. In 1879 he was a leading member of the independent Republican Movement, also known as the "Mugwump
" movement in national politics. In 1880 the Mugwumps helped defeat the nomination of Ulysses Grant for a third term because of the scandals during his administrations.
met in New York City to discuss the development of libraries. At the time the country had 3,647 libraries with 300 or more books.
The number of books in these libraries totaled 12,276,964. The libraries operated on a subscription
basis with no access to shelves and no children's sections. No uniform system for classifying books existed. Libraries were shifting from bound-volume catalogues to hand-written catalogue cards of varied sizes. At the meeting the three men agreed to establish a library profession, to publish a library journal and to organize a national library association.
In September 1876 Leypoldt and Bowker published volume one of the Library Journal
. Melvil Dewey was the managing editor of the journal. They organized the American Library Association
in October, 1876. The organization would be used as a model for many European countries. After a few years Dewey left the publication for financial and personal reasons. Bowker remained the heart and soul of the publication for many years despite its lack of financial success. He not only wrote regular editorials, but also numerous essays on the library system for the publication.
In March 1884 Leypoldt died. Despite the fact that Leypoldt's bibliography project had been a time-consuming, financial loss, Bowker, a Chairman of the Committee on Public Documents of the American Library Association, took on the responsibility for the American Catalogue, an index of all books published in the United States. Furthermore, he added three new features, United States government documents, publications of American literary, scientific and other societies and state government publications. During the next fifteen years he published a revised edition of the catalogue every five years.
Bowker worked tirelessly for the benefit of libraries throughout his adult life. More than once he was asked to be president of the American Library Association, but declined because he thought it would be inappropriate since he was not a librarian. He regularly attended A.L.A. conventions and was selected as an honorary member of the organization for all his many contributions to libraries and the library profession.
His efforts in behalf of individual libraries were many. In 1885 Bowker helped organize and was the first president of the New York Library Club. He served as a trustee for the Brooklyn Public Library
from its incorporation in 1902 until his death and gave most of his personal library to it. For twenty-four years he served as president of the Stockbridge Library Association in Massachusetts. He generously donated ten thousand dollars to the Library of Congress
for bibliographical services. It was written of Bowker that "Few in the library world had wider acquaintance, few had more lasting friendships, few were more generous in recognition of new talent, few more cherishing of old memories." All of this and more earned Bowker a spot as one of the “100…most important leaders we had in the 20th century.”
Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly, aka PW, is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers and literary agents...
and 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...
, and founder of the R.R. Bowker Company.
Early life & Education
Richard Rogers Bowker was born in Salem, MassachusettsSalem, Massachusetts
Salem is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,407 at the 2000 census. It and Lawrence are the county seats of Essex County...
on September 04, 1848 to a successful, educated family. His paternal grandfather, Joel Bowker, rose from a grocery clerk to a leading merchant and part owner of sailing vessels. His mother, Theresa Maria Savory Bowker, was the daughter of Richard Savory, who owned a large cooperage
Cooper (profession)
Traditionally, a cooper is someone who makes wooden staved vessels of a conical form, of greater length than breadth, bound together with hoops and possessing flat ends or heads...
in Salem. His father, Daniel Bowker, was a partner in a prestigious business enterprise involving the sale of coal and salt in Salem until the financial panic in 1857
Panic of 1857
The Panic of 1857 was a financial panic in the United States caused by the declining international economy and over-expansion of the domestic economy. Indeed, because of the interconnectedness of the world economy by the time of the 1850s, the financial crisis which began in the autumn of 1857 was...
, coupled with the death of the leading partner in the business, caused the business to fail.
The family moved to 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...
where Bowker's father started a barrel-making business. The business never prospered, so the family never regained the affluence it had enjoyed. The plan for Bowker to attend Harvard had to be scrapped. Instead, he attended the Free School in 1863 and entered the City College of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
in 1866.
Bowker thrived at City College. He founded, edited, managed and published The Collegian, one of the first college newspapers in the country. He was an organizer and member of the student senate. Bowker was instrumental in establishing a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa at the college, but, ironically, was blackballed from membership by the school's president for his "radical" activities in student government and the student newspaper. Years later the injustice was corrected. In 1868 he graduated with a B.A. in journalism.
Career
After graduation Bowker began his successful career in journalism at the newly-established New York Evening MailNew York Evening Mail
The New York Evening Mail was an American daily newspaper published in New York City.The paper was made up of the New York Evening Express, which dated from 1836, and the Daily Advertiser. It was eventually merged with the Evening Telegram, which became the New York World-Telegram in 1927.From New...
where he was city editor and literary editor from 1868 to 1874. From 1875 to 1878 he wrote a column for the New York Tribune
New York Tribune
The New York Tribune was an American newspaper, first established by Horace Greeley in 1841, which was long considered one of the leading newspapers in the United States...
and became manager of the New York Times in 1896. Between 1880 and 1882 he lived in London and managed the British edition of 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...
.
In addition to journalism, he also became involved in publishing and book sales. He assisted in organizing the first American Book Trade Show and was hired by prestigious London and New York publishers as their representatives at various times. In 1872 Bowker and his friend and mentor, Frederick Leypoldt
Frederick Leypoldt
Frederick Leypoldt was a bibliographer, the founder of an ancestor company of Library Journal, Publisher's Weekly, Index Medicus and other publications.-Biography:...
, began publishing the Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly, aka PW, is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers and literary agents...
, which became the most important book-trade journal in America. Bowker served as an owner and editor of the publication for fifty years.
Interests & Activities
Bowker became interested in politics at City College. In 1880 he founded the Society for Political Education to inform the public on social and political issues. He was a liberal RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
who played a leading role in enacting of civil service and municipal reforms in New York in the 1880s and in 1880 wrote the civil service reform plank that was adopted in the national Republican platform. In 1879 he was a leading member of the independent Republican Movement, also known as the "Mugwump
Mugwump
The Mugwumps were Republican political activists who bolted from the United States Republican Party by supporting Democratic candidate Grover Cleveland in the United States presidential election of 1884. They switched parties because they rejected the financial corruption associated with Republican...
" movement in national politics. In 1880 the Mugwumps helped defeat the nomination of Ulysses Grant for a third term because of the scandals during his administrations.
Service to Libraries and Librarians
In May 1876 Bowker, Leypoldt, and Melvil DeweyMelvil Dewey
Melville Louis Kossuth Dewey was an American librarian and educator, inventor of the Dewey Decimal system of library classification, and a founder of the Lake Placid Club....
met in New York City to discuss the development of libraries. At the time the country had 3,647 libraries with 300 or more books.
The number of books in these libraries totaled 12,276,964. The libraries operated on a subscription
Subscription library
A subscription library is a library that is financed by private funds either from membership fees or endowments...
basis with no access to shelves and no children's sections. No uniform system for classifying books existed. Libraries were shifting from bound-volume catalogues to hand-written catalogue cards of varied sizes. At the meeting the three men agreed to establish a library profession, to publish a library journal and to organize a national library association.
In September 1876 Leypoldt and Bowker published volume one of the Library Journal
Library Journal
Library Journal is a trade publication for librarians. It was founded in 1876 by Melvil Dewey . It reports news about the library world, emphasizing public libraries, and offers feature articles about aspects of professional practice...
. Melvil Dewey was the managing editor of the journal. They organized the American Library Association
American Library Association
The American Library Association is a non-profit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 62,000 members....
in October, 1876. The organization would be used as a model for many European countries. After a few years Dewey left the publication for financial and personal reasons. Bowker remained the heart and soul of the publication for many years despite its lack of financial success. He not only wrote regular editorials, but also numerous essays on the library system for the publication.
In March 1884 Leypoldt died. Despite the fact that Leypoldt's bibliography project had been a time-consuming, financial loss, Bowker, a Chairman of the Committee on Public Documents of the American Library Association, took on the responsibility for the American Catalogue, an index of all books published in the United States. Furthermore, he added three new features, United States government documents, publications of American literary, scientific and other societies and state government publications. During the next fifteen years he published a revised edition of the catalogue every five years.
Bowker worked tirelessly for the benefit of libraries throughout his adult life. More than once he was asked to be president of the American Library Association, but declined because he thought it would be inappropriate since he was not a librarian. He regularly attended A.L.A. conventions and was selected as an honorary member of the organization for all his many contributions to libraries and the library profession.
His efforts in behalf of individual libraries were many. In 1885 Bowker helped organize and was the first president of the New York Library Club. He served as a trustee for the Brooklyn Public Library
Brooklyn Public Library
The Brooklyn Public Library is the public library system of the borough of Brooklyn in New York City. It is the fifth largest public library system in the United States. Like the two other public library systems in New York City, it is an independent nonprofit organization that is funded by the...
from its incorporation in 1902 until his death and gave most of his personal library to it. For twenty-four years he served as president of the Stockbridge Library Association in Massachusetts. He generously donated ten thousand dollars to the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
for bibliographical services. It was written of Bowker that "Few in the library world had wider acquaintance, few had more lasting friendships, few were more generous in recognition of new talent, few more cherishing of old memories." All of this and more earned Bowker a spot as one of the “100…most important leaders we had in the 20th century.”
Publications
A selection of writings by R.R. Bowker:-
- Author: Bowker, R. R. 1848-1933.; Rogers, Bruce, Publication: Boston : Houghton, Mifflin and Co. ; Cambridge : Riverside Press, 1900
- Of work and wealth; a summary of economics,
- Author: Bowker, R. R. 1848-1933. Publication: New York, Society for Political Education, 1883
- Author: Pylodet, L. (anagramAnagramAn anagram is a type of word play, the result of rearranging the letters of a word or phrase to produce a new word or phrase, using all the original letters exactly once; e.g., orchestra = carthorse, A decimal point = I'm a dot in place, Tom Marvolo Riddle = I am Lord Voldemort. Someone who...
for Leypoldt); Bowker, R. R. Publication: New York : P. Smith, 1941, 1881- The College of the City of New York : 1847-1895 /
- Author: Bowker, R. R. 1848-1933. Publication: New York? : s.n., 1895
- Author: Bowker, R. R. 1848-1933. Publication: Buffalo, N.Y. : W.S. Hein, 2002, 1912
- Author: Bowker, R. R. 1848-1933.; Rogers, Bruce, Publication: Boston : Houghton, Mifflin and Co. ; Cambridge : Riverside Press, 1900
Further reading
- Bowker, R. R., Edward Atkinson, Daniel Rogers Bowker, Alice G. Mitchell Bowker, Caroline Theresa Bowker, Melvil Dewey, Abraham L. Earle, et al. 1856. Richard Rogers Bowker Papers.
- Library Journal (Firm). 1933. Richard Rogers Bowker, 1848-1933.
- Foster, William E. 1926. Five men of '76. Chicago: American library Association.