Harper brothers

Harper brothers
U.S. printers and publishers.

The two oldest brothers, James (1795–1869) and John (1797–1875) established J. & J. Harper in 1817; their siblings Joseph (1801–70) and Fletcher (1806–77) joined in 1823 and 1825. The firm took the name Harper & Brothers in 1833. The company began publishing periodicals in 1850 with Harper's New Monthly Magazine (see Harper's Magazine), which was followed by Harper's Weekly (1857) and Harper's Bazaar (1867). In 1900 the business passed out of family hands. Two of the Harper magazines are still being published; the name Harper also survives in the international book-publishing firm HarperCollins.

* * *

▪ American publishers
      printers and members of a distinguished American publishing firm which exerted a significant influence on letters and politics throughout the 19th century.

      The Harper family had settled on Long Island before the American Revolution, and the four brothers were reared in a stern and pious home where circuit-riding Methodist preachers often spent the night.

      James Harper (b. April 13, 1795, Newton, N.Y., U.S.—d. March 27, 1869, New York City) was apprenticed when he was 16 years old to a printer in New York City who was a friend of the family and a faithful Methodist. He went into business with his brother John in 1817.

      John Harper (b. Jan. 22, 1797, Newton, N.Y.—d. April 22, 1875, New York City) was apprenticed to a New York City printer named Jonathan Seymour, and when he reached journeyman status he entered the printing business with his brother James, as J. & J. Harper. In 1818, a year after they launched their business, the two brothers published John Locke's Essay on Human Understanding, their first publishing venture. They quickly developed a reputation for fast work of high quality.

      Joseph Wesley Harper (b. Dec. 25, 1801, Newton, N.Y.—d. Feb. 14, 1870, New York City) purchased a partnership in the brother's firm in 1823. He was the brother whose literary judgment was relied on by the others.

      Fletcher Harper (b. Jan. 31, 1806, Newton, N.Y.—d. May 29, 1877, New York City), the youngest, was 10 years old when his parents moved to New York City from Long Island in 1816. He was apprenticed to his brothers and was admitted to the firm in 1825.

      The name of their company, Harper & Brothers, was adopted in 1833. The brothers divided the duties of the company informally, with James serving as pressroom supervisor, John as business manager and production overseer, Wesley as the firm's chief editor and critic, and Fletcher as a general executive officer. Allocation of alms and contributions to churches and other worthy causes devolved upon Wesley.

      Harper & Brothers went into periodical publishing with the establishment of Harper's New Monthly Magazine (Harper's Magazine) in 1850. Harper's Weekly followed in 1857 and Harper's Bazar—later Bazaar—in 1867. The New Monthly Magazine serialized many novels and carried articles by leading American writers. In 1925 it became Harper's Magazine. Harper's Weekly attracted readers by printing outstanding illustrations, including Thomas Nast's (Nast, Thomas) cartoons, and by crusading for political and civic reforms. Fletcher had managed to sell very large orders of textbooks to the New York City schools under the Tweed administration, and the brothers demonstrated their integrity repeatedly as they gave Nast complete freedom in his devastating attacks on the corruption of “Boss Tweed” and his ring. The firm faced a financial crisis in 1899 but was rescued by the financier J. Pierpont Morgan. In 1900 the business passed out of the family's hands.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Harper & Brothers — was a prominent New York City book and magazine publishing firm which founded Harper s Magazine .James Harper and his brother John, printers by training, started their book publishing business J. J. Harper in 1817. Their two brothers, Joseph… …   Wikipedia

  • Harper's Weekly — ( A Journal of Civilization ) 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. During its most… …   Wikipedia

  • Harper's Weekly — (A Journal of Civilization) est un magazine hebdomadaire politique américain publié à New York par la maison d édition Harper Brothers de 1857 à 1916. Ses centres d intérêts sont l actualité étrangère et domestique, la fiction, la publication d… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Harper\'s Weekly — Юбилейный номер Harper’s Weekly 1897 года. Harper’s Weekly  американский политический журнал, печатавшийся в Нью Йорке издательством Harper Brothers в 1857 1916 годах. В журнале печатались международные и местные новости, эссе, политический… …   Википедия

  • Harper's Weekly — Юбилейный номер Harper’s Weekly 1897 года. Harper’s Weekly  американский политический журнал, печатавшийся в Нью Йорке издательством Harper Brothers в 1857 1916 годах. В журнале печатались международные и местные новости, эссе, полит …   Википедия

  • Harper's (disambiguation) — Harper s may refer to:* Harper s Magazine (1850 to present), American monthly general interest magazine * Harper s Bazaar (1867 to present), American fashion magazine * Harper s Weekly (1857 ndash;1916), American political magazine published by… …   Wikipedia

  • Harper — or Harpers may refer to: *Harpist or harper, someone who plays the harpPeople*Harper (name), a family name and a given name; see this link for people with that namePlaces*Harper, Prince Edward Island, Canada *Harper, Liberia *Harper, Iowa, USA… …   Wikipedia

  • Harper’s Bazaar — Harper’s Bazar Titelseite 3. Oktober 1868 Harper’s Bazaar ist der Titel eines US amerikanischen Modemagazins, das weltweit in 19 Ländern erscheint. Jeden Monat werden herausragende Fotografen, Künstler, Designer und Autoren eingeladen, ihre Sicht …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Harper's Bazaar — Pays  États Unis …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Harper & Row — Harper Row Harper Row était une entreprise d édition située à New York City. Elle avait été constituée en 1962 par fusion de Harper Brothers avec Row, Peterson Company. Elle a été acquise par News Corporation en 1987 puis s est alliée en 1990… …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”