Alfred Smith Barnes
Encyclopedia
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Alfred Smith Barnes (January 28, 1817 in New Haven, Connecticut
– February 17, 1888 in Brooklyn, New York) was an American publisher and philanthropist. He was known as "the General".
a farmer and innkeeper, who founded the hamlet of "Barnesville", which is now Fair Haven, Connecticut
. His mother's maiden name was "Morris", and her family came from Morris Cove, Connecticut. Barnes went to primary school in Wethersfield, Connecticut
, but he left when his father died in 1827. At the age of 12, Barnes was placed with an uncle, Deacon Norman Smith, who lived near Hartford, and he was schooled by Prof. Jesse Olney, working on his uncle's farm in the summer.
As a young man, Barnes worked as a clerk in a shoe store, then for D. F. Robinson & Co., a publisher in Hartford, where he learned the publishing trade. While in Hartford, he successfully published books aimed at the educational market by Charles Davies on mathematics and Emma Willard
on history, in a joint venture between the three of them. Barnes then moved to Philadelphia in 1840, where for four years he built a publishing company, which he then transferred to New York City. After passing through a number of partners and company names, Barnes settled on "A.S. Barnes & Co." in 1865.
A.S. Barnes & Co. was a family operation: eventually, his five sons, his brother and one nephew were connected to the firm, which became the leading publisher of textbooks in the United States, as well as issuing general interest books on a wide range of subjects.
Barnes himself became well-connected in New York society. He was a member of the Union League Club of New York
, a long-time member and supporter of the Long Island Historical Society and its Director for 21 years from 1867 until his death, and a trustee of the Clinton Avenue Congregational Church of Brooklyn
, where he lived for many years. He was associated with the Union Pacific Railroad
, the New York Elevated Railroad – for which he was a notable proponent – the Hanover Bank, the Dime Savings Bank
and the Home Insurance Company.
As a philanthropist
, Barnes was a major benefactor of Cornell University
, where he founded Barnes Hall, and was also associated with Fisk University
in Tennessee. He supported academies and churches in Brooklyn as well, and contributed $3000 towards the construction of a building for the Long Island Historical Society.
Barnes managed his company until his retirement in 1880. He was married twice, in 1840 to Harriet E. Burr, with whom he had ten children, and in 1883 to Mary Matthews Smith. His son, Alfred C. Barnes, took over the business after the death of his father, later helping to form the conglomerate
American Book Company, under which "A.S. Barnes" continued as an imprint.
's Fourteen Weeks science book series beginning in 1867 and his Barnes Brief History of the United States in 1871. The company also put out Watson's Readers, Davies' Arithematic, Monteith's Geography and the National Series of Standard Science Books. Barnes occasionally published fiction, such as Joseph Lincoln's first novel, Cap'n Ernie.
The company also published trade magazines (Education Bulletin, National Teacher's Weekly, International Review), manufactured furniture for schools, and sold classroom supplies.
After Alfred Barnes' death, and the takeover of the company by his son, Alfred C. Barnes, and the formation of the American Book Company conglomerate, Ripley Hitchcock
became editor-in-chief, bringing with him Gilbert Parker
, Stephen Crane
and Stewart Edward White
. The new regime published educational books edited by Margaret Sanger
as well as her Woman's Home Library series; the 17-volume Trail Makers series and New Barnes Writing Books, which created a sensation. The company incorporated in 1909, in order to provide fresh working capital, needed after acquiring another publishing firm. In 1917, a merger with Prang Co. was attempted, but abandoned after a few months. The company split up, with John Barnes Pratt acquiring the rights to the company name and much of the back catalog.
In the 1950s, A.S. Barnes & Company became the major publisher of sports reference books, with groundbreaking books such as The Baseball Encyclopedia by Hy Turkin
and S.C. Thompson and Roger Treat's
Football Encyclopedia. Both titles represented the first entry in the genre for their respective sports.
The company, which is not in any way connected to Barnes & Noble
, continued to publish until 1982.
Alfred Smith Barnes (January 28, 1817 in New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
– February 17, 1888 in Brooklyn, New York) was an American publisher and philanthropist. He was known as "the General".
Life and career
Barnes was born to Eli Barnes of Southington, ConnecticutSouthington, Connecticut
Southington is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is part of Connecticut's 1st congressional district. It is situated about 20 miles southwest of Hartford, about 80 miles northeast of New York City, 105 miles southwest of Boston and 77 miles west of Providence...
a farmer and innkeeper, who founded the hamlet of "Barnesville", which is now Fair Haven, Connecticut
Fair Haven, Connecticut
Fair Haven is a neighborhood in the eastern part of the city of New Haven, Connecticut located between the Mill and Quinnipiac rivers. The northeast section of the neighborhood is also known as Chatham Square....
. His mother's maiden name was "Morris", and her family came from Morris Cove, Connecticut. Barnes went to primary school in Wethersfield, Connecticut
Wethersfield, Connecticut
Wethersfield is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. Many records from colonial times spell the name Weathersfield, while Native Americans called it Pyquag...
, but he left when his father died in 1827. At the age of 12, Barnes was placed with an uncle, Deacon Norman Smith, who lived near Hartford, and he was schooled by Prof. Jesse Olney, working on his uncle's farm in the summer.
As a young man, Barnes worked as a clerk in a shoe store, then for D. F. Robinson & Co., a publisher in Hartford, where he learned the publishing trade. While in Hartford, he successfully published books aimed at the educational market by Charles Davies on mathematics and Emma Willard
Emma Willard
Emma Hart Willard was an American women’s rights activist who dedicated her life to education. She worked in several schools and founded the first school for women’s higher education, the Troy Female Seminary in Troy, New York...
on history, in a joint venture between the three of them. Barnes then moved to Philadelphia in 1840, where for four years he built a publishing company, which he then transferred to New York City. After passing through a number of partners and company names, Barnes settled on "A.S. Barnes & Co." in 1865.
A.S. Barnes & Co. was a family operation: eventually, his five sons, his brother and one nephew were connected to the firm, which became the leading publisher of textbooks in the United States, as well as issuing general interest books on a wide range of subjects.
Barnes himself became well-connected in New York society. He was a member of the Union League Club of New York
Union League Club of New York
The Union League Club of New York is a private social club in New York City. Its fourth and current clubhouse, which opened on February 2, 1931, is a building designed by Benjamin Wistar Morris, III, located at 38 East 37th Street between Madison and Park Avenue in the Murray Hill section of...
, a long-time member and supporter of the Long Island Historical Society and its Director for 21 years from 1867 until his death, and a trustee of the Clinton Avenue Congregational Church of Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, where he lived for many years. He was associated with the Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
, the New York Elevated Railroad – for which he was a notable proponent – the Hanover Bank, the Dime Savings Bank
Dime Savings Bank of New York
The Dime Savings Bank of New York, originally Dime Savings Bank of Brooklyn operated from 1859 to the late 20th century. It is not to be confused with Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh, also in Brooklyn...
and the Home Insurance Company.
As a philanthropist
Philanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
, Barnes was a major benefactor of Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, where he founded Barnes Hall, and was also associated with Fisk University
Fisk University
Fisk University is an historically black university founded in 1866 in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. The world-famous Fisk Jubilee Singers started as a group of students who performed to earn enough money to save the school at a critical time of financial shortages. They toured to raise funds to...
in Tennessee. He supported academies and churches in Brooklyn as well, and contributed $3000 towards the construction of a building for the Long Island Historical Society.
Barnes managed his company until his retirement in 1880. He was married twice, in 1840 to Harriet E. Burr, with whom he had ten children, and in 1883 to Mary Matthews Smith. His son, Alfred C. Barnes, took over the business after the death of his father, later helping to form the conglomerate
Conglomerate (company)
A conglomerate is a combination of two or more corporations engaged in entirely different businesses that fall under one corporate structure , usually involving a parent company and several subsidiaries. Often, a conglomerate is a multi-industry company...
American Book Company, under which "A.S. Barnes" continued as an imprint.
A.S. Barnes & Co.
A.S. Barnes published textbooks under the "Library for Teachers" imprint: one of their earlies best sellers was Clark's English Grammar. Barnes published Joel Dorman SteeleJoel Dorman Steele
Joel Dorman Steele was an American educator. He and his wife Esther were important textbook writers of their period, on subjects including American history, chemistry, human physiology, physics, astronomy, and zoology...
's Fourteen Weeks science book series beginning in 1867 and his Barnes Brief History of the United States in 1871. The company also put out Watson's Readers, Davies' Arithematic, Monteith's Geography and the National Series of Standard Science Books. Barnes occasionally published fiction, such as Joseph Lincoln's first novel, Cap'n Ernie.
The company also published trade magazines (Education Bulletin, National Teacher's Weekly, International Review), manufactured furniture for schools, and sold classroom supplies.
After Alfred Barnes' death, and the takeover of the company by his son, Alfred C. Barnes, and the formation of the American Book Company conglomerate, Ripley Hitchcock
Ripley Hitchcock
Ripley Hitchcock, born James Ripley Wellman Hitchcock, was a prominent American editor. He edited the works of Rudyard Kipling, Arthur Conan Doyle, Zane Grey, Joel Chandler Harris, Stephen Crane and Theodore Dreiser.-Biography:...
became editor-in-chief, bringing with him Gilbert Parker
Gilbert Parker
Sir Horatio Gilbert George Parker, 1st Baronet PC , known as Gilbert Parker, Canadian novelist and British politician, was born at Camden East, Addington, Ontario, the son of Captain J. Parker, R.A....
, Stephen Crane
Stephen Crane
Stephen Crane was an American novelist, short story writer, poet and journalist. Prolific throughout his short life, he wrote notable works in the Realist tradition as well as early examples of American Naturalism and Impressionism...
and Stewart Edward White
Stewart Edward White
Stewart Edward White was an American author.-Biography:Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan he attended Grand Rapids High School, and earned degrees from University of Michigan ....
. The new regime published educational books edited by Margaret Sanger
Margaret Sanger
Margaret Higgins Sanger was an American sex educator, nurse, and birth control activist. Sanger coined the term birth control, opened the first birth control clinic in the United States, and established Planned Parenthood...
as well as her Woman's Home Library series; the 17-volume Trail Makers series and New Barnes Writing Books, which created a sensation. The company incorporated in 1909, in order to provide fresh working capital, needed after acquiring another publishing firm. In 1917, a merger with Prang Co. was attempted, but abandoned after a few months. The company split up, with John Barnes Pratt acquiring the rights to the company name and much of the back catalog.
In the 1950s, A.S. Barnes & Company became the major publisher of sports reference books, with groundbreaking books such as The Baseball Encyclopedia by Hy Turkin
Hy Turkin
Hy Turkin was a sportswriter best known for co-editing the first baseball encyclopedia.Turkin was born in New York, one of seven children. He joined the staff of the New York Daily News after graduating from Cooper Union in 1936 with a degree in electrical engineering...
and S.C. Thompson and Roger Treat's
Roger Treat
Roger Treat was an American sportswriter and author. He was a vocal critic of segregation policies in both baseball and football, and was cited by his contemporaries as a key figure in the effort to integrate both sports...
Football Encyclopedia. Both titles represented the first entry in the genre for their respective sports.
The company, which is not in any way connected to Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble, Inc. is the largest book retailer in the United States, operating mainly through its Barnes & Noble Booksellers chain of bookstores headquartered at 122 Fifth Avenue in the Flatiron District in Manhattan in New York City. Barnes & Noble also operated the chain of small B. Dalton...
, continued to publish until 1982.