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Dodd, Mead & Co.

January 01, 1970

Dodd, Mead and Company was one of the pioneer publishing houses of the United States, based in New York City. Under several names, the firm operated from 1839 until 1990.

Dodd, Mead & Co.
Founded1839 (1839)
Founder
Defunct1989
Country of originUnited States
Headquarters locationNew York City
Key people
Publication typesBooks

History edit

Origins edit

 
Moses Woodruff Dodd

In 1839, Moses Woodruff Dodd (1813–1899) and John S. Taylor, at that time a leading publisher in New York,[1] formed the company of Taylor and Dodd as a publisher of religious books.[2] In 1840, Dodd bought out Taylor and renamed the company as M.W. Dodd. Frank Howard Dodd (1844–1916) joined his father in business in 1859 and became increasingly involved in the publishing company's operation.

 
Frank Howard Dodd

With the retirement of founder Moses Dodd in 1870, control passed to his son Frank Howard Dodd, who joined in partnership with his cousin Edward S. Mead (1847–1894), and the company was reorganized as Dodd and Mead.[3] In 1876, Bleecker Van Wagenen became a member of the firm and the name was changed to Dodd, Mead and Company.[4][3][1]

Growth and prominence edit

The company was well known for the quality of its publications, including many books on American history and contemporary literature.[5] As a bookseller, the firm was a dealer and leading authority in rare books.[1]

As head of Dodd, Mead and Company, Frank Dodd established The Bookman in 1895, and The New International Encyclopedia in 1902. He was president of the American Publishers Association for a number of years. The firm built the Dodd Mead Building (1910) at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Thirtieth Street, and the 11-story building was heralded as creating a new trade center in New York City.[6][7]

Dodd, Mead and Company published the work of new poets including Robert W. Service, Bliss Carman and Paul Laurence Dunbar.

When Frank Dodd died in 1916, the partnership was dissolved and the business was incorporated. Dodd's only son, Edward H. Dodd, succeeded him as president.[8]

In 1922 Dodd, Mead and Company began a period of great expansion with the purchase of the American branch of John Lane Company, publisher of Anatole France, William John Locke and many prominent poets. Other authors included Aubrey Beardsley, Max Beerbohm, Rupert Brooke, G. K. Chesterton, Agatha Christie, Theodore Dreiser, and Stephen Leacock. In 1924 Dodd purchased Moffat, Yard & Co., adding books by William James, Sigmund Freud, and Carl Jung to their list. Dodd, Mead's New International Encyclopedia was sold in 1931 to Funk & Wagnalls. In 1934, Dodd, Mead acquired Duffield and Green, publisher of Elinor Glyn, Emma Gelders Sterne, and General Krasnov; and the Sears Publishing Company.[9][10] Dodd, Mead acquired the complete works of George Bernard Shaw.[11]

Acquisition and end edit

In December 1981, Dodd, Mead and Company became a subsidiary of Thomas Nelson Inc. One of the last family-owned publishers in the United States, it was purchased for $4 million.[12] The company was sold again in 1986 to Gamut Publishing Company, a partnership founded by Jon B. Harden and Lynne A. Lumsden for the purpose of acquiring book publishing companies, for $4.7 million. To retire some of its debt, the owners of the 149-year-old publishing house sold its greatest assets – the U.S. rights to books by Agatha Christie and Max Brand — to the Putnam Berkley Group in 1988.[13]

The business operations of Dodd, Mead and Company were suspended in March 1989 pending the outcome of arbitration with its fulfillment house, Metro Services, Inc.[14] By the end of 1990 the company ceased publications.

Authors edit

 
A map of the British Empire in India, printed by Dodd, Mead & Co., from 1903

Authors' names are followed by their known dates of association with Dodd, Mead and Company.

Book series edit

  • Ajax Series
  • American Political Leaders
  • Astor Library[15]
  • Ebony Library[16]
  • Great Illustrated Classics
  • International Classics
  • Modern American Writers
  • Quill Library
  • Red Badge Detective

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b c Gilman, D. C.; Peck, H. T.; Colby, F. M., eds. (1905). "Dodd, Moses Woodruff" . New International Encyclopedia (1st ed.). New York: Dodd, Mead.
  2. ^ "India". World Digital Library. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
  3. ^ a b Tebbel, John, Between Covers: The Rise and Transformation of Book Publishing in America. New York: Oxford University Press, 1987, ISBN 0-19-504189-5, p. 111. Dodd, Mead and Company, Papers, 1836–1939, American Antiquarian Society (retrieved January 22, 2011).
  4. ^ Lilly Library Manuscript Collections, Indiana University (retrieved January 25, 2011).
  5. ^ "Removal to a New Store". The New York Times. October 11, 1894. p. 8. Retrieved February 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Frank H. Dodd Dies After Grip Attack; Head of Dodd, Mead & Co. Had Been in the Publishing Business for 56 Years. Active in Civic Bodies; Ex-President of American Publishers' Association Was a Leader In Fourth Avenue Development". The New York Times. January 11, 1916. p. 11. Retrieved February 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Fourth Avenue's Newest Improvement". The New York Times. May 9, 1909. p. 20. Retrieved February 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Tebbel, John, Between Covers: The Rise and Transformation of Book Publishing in America. New York: Oxford University Press, 1987, ISBN 0-19-504189-5, p. 114.
  9. ^ Humphrey, Laura Masotti (1986). "Duffield and Green". In Peter Dzwonkoski (ed.). American literary publishing houses, 1900–1980. Dictionary of Literary Biography. Vol. 46. Detroit, Mich.: Gale Research Company. pp. 131. ISBN 0-8103-1724-9.
  10. ^ Raymond, David W. (1986). "Sears Publishing Company". In Peter Dzwonkoski (ed.). American literary publishing houses, 1900-1980. Dictionary of Literary Biography. Vol. 46. Detroit, Mich.: Gale Research Company. pp. 331. ISBN 0-8103-1724-9.
  11. ^ Tebbel, John, Between Covers: The Rise and Transformation of Book Publishing in America. New York: Oxford University Press, 1987, ISBN 0-19-504189-5, pp. 209–210.
  12. ^ McDowell, Edwin, "Nelson Buys Dodd, Mead – Price Is Put at $4 Million"; The New York Times, December 18, 1981 (retrieved January 22, 2011).
  13. ^ "Dodd, Mead to Return to Private Ownership"; The New York Times, January 2, 1986 (retrieved January 22, 2011). McDowell, Edwin, "Agatha Christie Rights Change Hands"; The New York Times, May 3, 1988 (retrieved January 22, 2011).
  14. ^ Calvin Reid; "Dodd, Mead Operations Suspended over Arbitration", Publishers Weekly, March 31, 1989; p. 11.
  15. ^ The Astor Library (Dodd, Mead & Co.) – Book Series List, publishinghistory.com. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  16. ^ Ebony Library, seriesofseries.com. Retrieved November 19, 2019.

References edit

  • Ames, Gregory (1986). "Dodd, Mead and Company". Dictionary of Literary Biography. Vol. 49: American Literary Publishing Houses, 1638–1899. Detroit: Gale Research Co. pp. 126–130 – via Internet Archive.

Further reading edit

  • Edward H. Dodd, Jr., The First Hundred Years A History Of The House Of Dodd, Mead 1839–1939, New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1939.

External links edit

 
Wikisource has original works published by or about: Dodd, Mead & Company
 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dodd, Mead and Company.

January 01, 1970
dodd, mead, dodd, mead, company, pioneer, publishing, houses, united, states, based, york, city, under, several, names, firm, operated, from, 1839, until, 1990, founded1839, 1839, foundermoses, woodruff, dodd, john, taylordefunct1989country, originunited, stat. Dodd Mead and Company was one of the pioneer publishing houses of the United States based in New York City Under several names the firm operated from 1839 until 1990 Dodd Mead amp Co Founded1839 1839 FounderMoses Woodruff Dodd John S TaylorDefunct1989Country of originUnited StatesHeadquarters locationNew York CityKey peopleFrank Howard Dodd Edward S MeadPublication typesBooks Contents 1 History 1 1 Origins 1 2 Growth and prominence 1 3 Acquisition and end 2 Authors 3 Book series 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksHistory editOrigins edit nbsp Moses Woodruff Dodd In 1839 Moses Woodruff Dodd 1813 1899 and John S Taylor at that time a leading publisher in New York 1 formed the company of Taylor and Dodd as a publisher of religious books 2 In 1840 Dodd bought out Taylor and renamed the company as M W Dodd Frank Howard Dodd 1844 1916 joined his father in business in 1859 and became increasingly involved in the publishing company s operation nbsp Frank Howard Dodd With the retirement of founder Moses Dodd in 1870 control passed to his son Frank Howard Dodd who joined in partnership with his cousin Edward S Mead 1847 1894 and the company was reorganized as Dodd and Mead 3 In 1876 Bleecker Van Wagenen became a member of the firm and the name was changed to Dodd Mead and Company 4 3 1 Growth and prominence edit The company was well known for the quality of its publications including many books on American history and contemporary literature 5 As a bookseller the firm was a dealer and leading authority in rare books 1 As head of Dodd Mead and Company Frank Dodd established The Bookman in 1895 and The New International Encyclopedia in 1902 He was president of the American Publishers Association for a number of years The firm built the Dodd Mead Building 1910 at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Thirtieth Street and the 11 story building was heralded as creating a new trade center in New York City 6 7 Dodd Mead and Company published the work of new poets including Robert W Service Bliss Carman and Paul Laurence Dunbar When Frank Dodd died in 1916 the partnership was dissolved and the business was incorporated Dodd s only son Edward H Dodd succeeded him as president 8 In 1922 Dodd Mead and Company began a period of great expansion with the purchase of the American branch of John Lane Company publisher of Anatole France William John Locke and many prominent poets Other authors included Aubrey Beardsley Max Beerbohm Rupert Brooke G K Chesterton Agatha Christie Theodore Dreiser and Stephen Leacock In 1924 Dodd purchased Moffat Yard amp Co adding books by William James Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung to their list Dodd Mead s New International Encyclopedia was sold in 1931 to Funk amp Wagnalls In 1934 Dodd Mead acquired Duffield and Green publisher of Elinor Glyn Emma Gelders Sterne and General Krasnov and the Sears Publishing Company 9 10 Dodd Mead acquired the complete works of George Bernard Shaw 11 Acquisition and end edit In December 1981 Dodd Mead and Company became a subsidiary of Thomas Nelson Inc One of the last family owned publishers in the United States it was purchased for 4 million 12 The company was sold again in 1986 to Gamut Publishing Company a partnership founded by Jon B Harden and Lynne A Lumsden for the purpose of acquiring book publishing companies for 4 7 million To retire some of its debt the owners of the 149 year old publishing house sold its greatest assets the U S rights to books by Agatha Christie and Max Brand to the Putnam Berkley Group in 1988 13 The business operations of Dodd Mead and Company were suspended in March 1989 pending the outcome of arbitration with its fulfillment house Metro Services Inc 14 By the end of 1990 the company ceased publications Authors edit nbsp A map of the British Empire in India printed by Dodd Mead amp Co from 1903 Authors names are followed by their known dates of association with Dodd Mead and Company Edward Abbey Amelia Edith Huddleston Barr 1885 1911 Caroline French Benton 1901 Gala day luncheons N J Berrill 1951 1966 Don Blanding 1928 1955 Max Brand Anna Alice Chapin September 1912 Agatha Christie 1922 1976 Winston Churchill Paul Laurence Dunbar 1896 1914 Norman A Fox 1911 1960 Ernest Holmes 1953 publication of The Science of Mind W W Jacobs Charles Kingsley Ross Macdonald Addison Mizner 1932 Ruth Bryan Owen 1935 1942 John Cowper Powys 1920 1925 Arthur Ransome 1907 published his Bohemia in London Vincent Scuro 1974 1986 Robert W Service 1911 1954 Anthony Trollope Bettina Riddle von HuttenBook series editAjax Series American Political Leaders Astor Library 15 Ebony Library 16 Great Illustrated Classics International Classics Modern American Writers Quill Library Red Badge DetectiveSee also editBooks in the United StatesNotes edit a b c Gilman D C Peck H T Colby F M eds 1905 Dodd Moses Woodruff New International Encyclopedia 1st ed New York Dodd Mead India World Digital Library Retrieved January 24 2013 a b Tebbel John Between Covers The Rise and Transformation of Book Publishing in America New York Oxford University Press 1987 ISBN 0 19 504189 5 p 111 Dodd Mead and Company Papers 1836 1939 American Antiquarian Society retrieved January 22 2011 Lilly Library Manuscript Collections Indiana University retrieved January 25 2011 Removal to a New Store The New York Times October 11 1894 p 8 Retrieved February 24 2024 via Newspapers com Frank H Dodd Dies After Grip Attack Head of Dodd Mead amp Co Had Been in the Publishing Business for 56 Years Active in Civic Bodies Ex President of American Publishers Association Was a Leader In Fourth Avenue Development The New York Times January 11 1916 p 11 Retrieved February 24 2024 via Newspapers com Fourth Avenue s Newest Improvement The New York Times May 9 1909 p 20 Retrieved February 24 2024 via Newspapers com Tebbel John Between Covers The Rise and Transformation of Book Publishing in America New York Oxford University Press 1987 ISBN 0 19 504189 5 p 114 Humphrey Laura Masotti 1986 Duffield and Green In Peter Dzwonkoski ed American literary publishing houses 1900 1980 Dictionary of Literary Biography Vol 46 Detroit Mich Gale Research Company pp 131 ISBN 0 8103 1724 9 Raymond David W 1986 Sears Publishing Company In Peter Dzwonkoski ed American literary publishing houses 1900 1980 Dictionary of Literary Biography Vol 46 Detroit Mich Gale Research Company pp 331 ISBN 0 8103 1724 9 Tebbel John Between Covers The Rise and Transformation of Book Publishing in America New York Oxford University Press 1987 ISBN 0 19 504189 5 pp 209 210 McDowell Edwin Nelson Buys Dodd Mead Price Is Put at 4 Million The New York Times December 18 1981 retrieved January 22 2011 Dodd Mead to Return to Private Ownership The New York Times January 2 1986 retrieved January 22 2011 McDowell Edwin Agatha Christie Rights Change Hands The New York Times May 3 1988 retrieved January 22 2011 Calvin Reid Dodd Mead Operations Suspended over Arbitration Publishers Weekly March 31 1989 p 11 The Astor Library Dodd Mead amp Co Book Series List publishinghistory com Retrieved November 19 2019 Ebony Library seriesofseries com Retrieved November 19 2019 References editAmes Gregory 1986 Dodd Mead and Company Dictionary of Literary Biography Vol 49 American Literary Publishing Houses 1638 1899 Detroit Gale Research Co pp 126 130 via Internet Archive Further reading editEdward H Dodd Jr The First Hundred Years A History Of The House Of Dodd Mead 1839 1939 New York Dodd Mead amp Company 1939 External links edit nbsp Wikisource has original works published by or about Dodd Mead amp Company nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dodd Mead and Company Dodd Mead mss 1855 1992 Finding Aid Lilly Library Indiana University Dodd Mead amp Company Archive 1896 1974 Finding Aid University of Delaware Library Special Collections Dodd Mead amp Company Records at New York Historical Society Library Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dodd Mead 26 Co amp oldid 1210060600, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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