Scribner's Magazine
Encyclopedia
Scribner's Magazine was an American periodical published by the publishing house of Charles Scribner's Sons
from January 1887 to May 1939. Scribner's Magazine was the second magazine out of the "Scribner's" firm, after the publication of Scribner's Monthly. Charles Scribner's Sons spent over $500,000 setting up the magazine, to compete with the already successful Harper's Monthly and Atlantic Monthly. Scribner's Magazine was launched in 1887, and was the first of any magazine to introduce color illustrations. The magazine ceased publication in 1939.
The magazine contained many engravings by famous artists of the 19th and early 20th centuries, as well as many famous authors of that time, including John Thomason
, Elisabeth Woodbridge Morris and Clarence Cook
, as well as 26th United States president Theodore Roosevelt
.
The magazine had high sales when president Roosevelt started contributing, reaching over 200,000. The magazine had strong sales until the first World War was over, and the magazine ceased publication.
Scribner's Magazine was the second periodical publication of the "Scribner's" firm, after Scribner's Monthly was published from 1870 to 1881. Scribner's Monthly was later moved to another publisher, and was renamed The Century Illustrated Monthly Magazine
. Charles Scribner
announced to a Times
reporter that they would make a new monthly publication "as soon as the necessary arrangements could be perfected." It was also announced that the editor would be Edward Burlingame, the son of Anson Burlingame
, who was already connected to the publishing house as literary adviser. Charles Scribner also noted that the magazine would not be a revival of the formerly published Scribner's Monthly. Charles Scribner's Sons
spent over $500,000 in launching Scribner's Magazine (the second of the Scribner's series), to complete with the already successful pictorials, Atlantic Monthly and Harper's Magazine
. Edward L. Burlingame hired the best artists in his country for the magazine; Howard Pyle
, Howard Chandler Christy
, Charles Marion Russell
, Walter Everett, Maxfield Parrish
and Frederic Remington
. Before the first issue was released, Charles Scribner's Sons had their first annual Scribner's Magazine dinner held at their main offices. Scribner's Magazine was launched in January 1887, the first issue of which was to be published from January to June of that year. The magazine was printed and bound by Trow's Printing and Bookbinding Company. Scribner's Magazine was also the first magazine to introduce color illustrations later on. The first issue opens with the literary article "The Downfall to the Empire." by E.B. Washburne, the former minster to France. An early morning fire on the Charles Scribner's Sons offices heavily burned the third and fourth floors the home of which the Scribner's Magazine was made in 1908. On May 1914, the magazine's editor, Edward L. Burlingame retired and Robert Bridges took over as editor of the publication. During the first World War
, Scribner's Magazine employed authors, Richard Harding Davis
, Edith Wharton
and John Galsworthy
, to write about the major conflict. During the time of 1917, when the United States joined the war, the magazine had four to six articles on the subject. On the date of November 19, 1922 the first editor of the magazine, Edward L. Burlingame died. On January 1928 the magazine had a change in format, with the first of the newly formatted issue having a cover design by Rockwell Kent. The June issue of 1929 was banned in Boston
, Massachusetts
due to the article A Farewell to Arms
by Ernest Hemingway
. The article was deemed salacious by the public and Boston police barred the magazine from book stands. Charles Scribner's Sons issued the statement that:
In 1930 the magazine's editor, Robert Bridges retired to become a literary adviser for the firm and associate editor, Alfred S. Deshiell became the "managing editor" of Scribner's Magazine. By January 1932, the magazine had a second change in format, making the magazine much larger. On October 1936, Harlan D. Logan took over as editor from Alfred S. Dashiell who went on to edit Reader's Digest
. Yet again, on October 1936, the magazine went through a third change of design. In 1938, the magazine was bought from Charles Scribner's Sons and started to be published by Harlan Logan Associates, who still retained an interest. In May 1939, the magazine ceased publication due to low circulation compared to Harper's Monthly and Atlantic Monthly. The magazine was then merged with the pictorial Commentator, to become Scribner's Commentator on November 1939. Scribner's Commentator also ceased publication in 1942 after one of the magazine's staff pleaded guilty to taking payoffs from the Japanese government, in return for publishing propaganda promoting United States isolationism.
, Maxfield Parrish, Ernest Peixotto
, Howard Pyle, Frederic Remington, and Charles Marion Russell. The magazine was also noted for its articles, including work by Jacob Riis
such as How the Other Half Lives
, and The Poor in Great Cities, as well as Theodore Roosevelt
's African Game Trails, John Thomason
, Elisabeth Woodbridge Morris and Clarence Cook
.
editor, William T. Stead, criticized the magazine for relying too much on its illustrations.
Charles Scribner's Sons
Charles Scribner's Sons, or simply Scribner, is an American publisher based in New York City, known for publishing a number of American authors including Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Kurt Vonnegut, Stephen King, Robert A. Heinlein, Thomas Wolfe, George Santayana, John Clellon...
from January 1887 to May 1939. Scribner's Magazine was the second magazine out of the "Scribner's" firm, after the publication of Scribner's Monthly. Charles Scribner's Sons spent over $500,000 setting up the magazine, to compete with the already successful Harper's Monthly and Atlantic Monthly. Scribner's Magazine was launched in 1887, and was the first of any magazine to introduce color illustrations. The magazine ceased publication in 1939.
The magazine contained many engravings by famous artists of the 19th and early 20th centuries, as well as many famous authors of that time, including John Thomason
John Thomason
John William Thomason, Jr. was a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Marine Corps, as well as an author and illustrator of several books and magazine stories....
, Elisabeth Woodbridge Morris and Clarence Cook
Clarence Cook
Clarence Chatham Cook was a 19th-century American author and art critic.Born in Dorchester, Massachusetts, Cook graduated from Harvard in 1849 and worked as a teacher. Between 1863 and 1869, Cook wrote a series of articles about American art for The New York Tribune...
, as well as 26th United States president Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
.
The magazine had high sales when president Roosevelt started contributing, reaching over 200,000. The magazine had strong sales until the first World War was over, and the magazine ceased publication.
History
The Century Magazine
The Century Magazine was first published in the United States in 1881 by The Century Company of New York City as a successor to Scribner's Monthly Magazine...
. Charles Scribner
Charles Scribner
Charles Scribner is the name of several members of a New York publishing family associated with Charles Scribner's Sons:*Charles Scribner I *Charles Scribner II *Charles Scribner III *Charles Scribner IV...
announced to a Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
reporter that they would make a new monthly publication "as soon as the necessary arrangements could be perfected." It was also announced that the editor would be Edward Burlingame, the son of Anson Burlingame
Anson Burlingame
Anson Burlingame wasan American lawyer, legislator, and diplomat, born in New Berlin, Chenango County, New York. In 1823 his parents took him to Ohio, and about ten years afterwards to Michigan...
, who was already connected to the publishing house as literary adviser. Charles Scribner also noted that the magazine would not be a revival of the formerly published Scribner's Monthly. Charles Scribner's Sons
Charles Scribner's Sons
Charles Scribner's Sons, or simply Scribner, is an American publisher based in New York City, known for publishing a number of American authors including Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Kurt Vonnegut, Stephen King, Robert A. Heinlein, Thomas Wolfe, George Santayana, John Clellon...
spent over $500,000 in launching Scribner's Magazine (the second of the Scribner's series), to complete with the already successful pictorials, Atlantic Monthly 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...
. Edward L. Burlingame hired the best artists in his country for the magazine; Howard Pyle
Howard Pyle
Howard Pyle was an American illustrator and author, primarily of books for young people. A native of Wilmington, Delaware, he spent the last year of his life in Florence, Italy.__FORCETOC__...
, Howard Chandler Christy
Howard Chandler Christy
Howard Chandler Christy was an American artist and illustrator famous for the "Christy Girl", similar to a "Gibson Girl".He was born in Morgan County and attended early school in Duncan Falls, Ohio...
, Charles Marion Russell
Charles Marion Russell
Charles Marion Russell , also known as C. M. Russell, Charlie Russell, and "Kid" Russell, was an artist of the Old American West. Russell created more than 2,000 paintings of cowboys, Indians, and landscapes set in the Western United States, in addition to bronze sculptures...
, Walter Everett, Maxfield Parrish
Maxfield Parrish
Maxfield Parrish was an American painter and illustrator active in the first half of the twentieth century. He is known for his distinctive saturated hues and idealized neo-classical imagery.-Life:...
and Frederic Remington
Frederic Remington
Frederic Sackrider Remington was an American painter, illustrator, sculptor, and writer who specialized in depictions of the Old American West, specifically concentrating on the last quarter of the 19th century American West and images of cowboys, American Indians, and the U. S...
. Before the first issue was released, Charles Scribner's Sons had their first annual Scribner's Magazine dinner held at their main offices. Scribner's Magazine was launched in January 1887, the first issue of which was to be published from January to June of that year. The magazine was printed and bound by Trow's Printing and Bookbinding Company. Scribner's Magazine was also the first magazine to introduce color illustrations later on. The first issue opens with the literary article "The Downfall to the Empire." by E.B. Washburne, the former minster to France. An early morning fire on the Charles Scribner's Sons offices heavily burned the third and fourth floors the home of which the Scribner's Magazine was made in 1908. On May 1914, the magazine's editor, Edward L. Burlingame retired and Robert Bridges took over as editor of the publication. During the first World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Scribner's Magazine employed authors, Richard Harding Davis
Richard Harding Davis
Richard Harding Davis was a journalist and writer of fiction and drama, known foremost as the first American war correspondent to cover the Spanish-American War, the Second Boer War, and the First World War. His writing greatly assisted the political career of Theodore Roosevelt and he also played...
, Edith Wharton
Edith Wharton
Edith Wharton , was a Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist, short story writer, and designer.- Early life and marriage:...
and John Galsworthy
John Galsworthy
John Galsworthy OM was an English novelist and playwright. Notable works include The Forsyte Saga and its sequels, A Modern Comedy and End of the Chapter...
, to write about the major conflict. During the time of 1917, when the United States joined the war, the magazine had four to six articles on the subject. On the date of November 19, 1922 the first editor of the magazine, Edward L. Burlingame died. On January 1928 the magazine had a change in format, with the first of the newly formatted issue having a cover design by Rockwell Kent. The June issue of 1929 was banned in 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...
, 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...
due to the article A Farewell to Arms
A Farewell to Arms
A Farewell to Arms is a semi-autobiographical novel written by Ernest Hemingway concerning events during the Italian campaigns during the First World War. The book, which was first published in 1929, is a first-person account of American Frederic Henry, serving as a Lieutenant in the ambulance...
by Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Miller Hemingway was an American author and journalist. His economic and understated style had a strong influence on 20th-century fiction, while his life of adventure and his public image influenced later generations. Hemingway produced most of his work between the mid-1920s and the...
. The article was deemed salacious by the public and Boston police barred the magazine from book stands. Charles Scribner's Sons issued the statement that:
In 1930 the magazine's editor, Robert Bridges retired to become a literary adviser for the firm and associate editor, Alfred S. Deshiell became the "managing editor" of Scribner's Magazine. By January 1932, the magazine had a second change in format, making the magazine much larger. On October 1936, Harlan D. Logan took over as editor from Alfred S. Dashiell who went on to edit Reader's Digest
Reader's Digest
Reader's Digest is a general interest family magazine, published ten times annually. Formerly based in Chappaqua, New York, its headquarters is now in New York City. It was founded in 1922, by DeWitt Wallace and Lila Bell Wallace...
. Yet again, on October 1936, the magazine went through a third change of design. In 1938, the magazine was bought from Charles Scribner's Sons and started to be published by Harlan Logan Associates, who still retained an interest. In May 1939, the magazine ceased publication due to low circulation compared to Harper's Monthly and Atlantic Monthly. The magazine was then merged with the pictorial Commentator, to become Scribner's Commentator on November 1939. Scribner's Commentator also ceased publication in 1942 after one of the magazine's staff pleaded guilty to taking payoffs from the Japanese government, in return for publishing propaganda promoting United States isolationism.
Contributors
The magazine was distinguished both by its images, which focused on engravings, and later color images by artists such as Howard Christy, Walter Everett, Mary Hallock FooteMary Hallock Foote
Mary Hallock Foote was an American author and illustrator. She is best known for her illustrated short stories and novels portraying life in the mining communities of the turn-of-the-century American West.-Overview:...
, Maxfield Parrish, Ernest Peixotto
Ernest Peixotto
Ernest Clifford Peixotto was an American artist, illustrator, and author. Although he was known mainly for his murals and his travel literature, his artwork also regularly appeared in Scribner's Magazine...
, Howard Pyle, Frederic Remington, and Charles Marion Russell. The magazine was also noted for its articles, including work by Jacob Riis
Jacob Riis
Jacob August Riis was a Danish American social reformer, "muckraking" journalist and social documentary photographer. He is known for using his photographic and journalistic talents to help the impoverished in New York City; those impoverished New Yorkers were the subject of most of his prolific...
such as How the Other Half Lives
How the Other Half Lives
How the Other Half Lives: Studies Among the Tenements of New York was an early publication of photojournalism by Jacob Riis, documenting squalid living conditions in New York City slums in the 1880s...
, and The Poor in Great Cities, as well as Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
's African Game Trails, John Thomason
John Thomason
John William Thomason, Jr. was a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Marine Corps, as well as an author and illustrator of several books and magazine stories....
, Elisabeth Woodbridge Morris and Clarence Cook
Clarence Cook
Clarence Chatham Cook was a 19th-century American author and art critic.Born in Dorchester, Massachusetts, Cook graduated from Harvard in 1849 and worked as a teacher. Between 1863 and 1869, Cook wrote a series of articles about American art for The New York Tribune...
.
Reception
Scribner's Magazine sold well until its conclusion in 1939. The circulation of the magazine went up when Theodore Roosevelt started authoring a section of the magazine. Around the time, circulation numbers went up to 215,000. The magazine had strong sales until the end of the first World War, then sales went down to 70,000 and then 43,000 by 1930, which brought the magazine to a closure. Review of ReviewsReview of Reviews
The Review of Reviews was a noted family of monthly journals founded in 1890-93 by British reform journalist William Thomas Stead...
editor, William T. Stead, criticized the magazine for relying too much on its illustrations.
External links
- Scribner's Magazine at Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
and Google Books, various copies (scanned books original editions color illustrated) - Scribner's Magazine at Cornell University Library, vols. 1-19 (1887–1896)
- Scribner's Magazine at the Modernist Journals Project, vols. 47-72 (1910–1922)