A. S. Barnes & Co.
Alfred Smith Barnes | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Died | February 17, 1888 (aged 71) Brooklyn Heights, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Publisher, benefactor |
| Known for | Founder of A. S. Barnes & Co. |
Alfred Smith Barnes (January 28, 1817 – February 17, 1888) was a prominent American publisher and benefactor.
Early life
Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Barnes was the son of Eli Barnes, a farmer and innkeeper who established the village known as "Barnesville," now part of Fair Haven, Connecticut. His mother hailed from Morris Cove, Connecticut. After his father's passing in 1827, Barnes discontinued formal schooling and moved to live with his uncle near Hartford, where he attended classes under Prof. Jesse Olney while assisting with farm work during the summer months.
Career
Barnes began his professional journey working as a clerk in a shoe store before entering the publishing industry with D. F. Robinson & Co., a Hartford-based firm where he gained foundational experience. He co-produced educational textbooks authored by Charles Davies on mathematics and Emma Willard on history, focusing primarily on the academic market. In 1840, Barnes relocated to Philadelphia to launch his own publishing enterprise, which he later transferred to New York City after four years. Through various collaborations and rebrandings, the company was ultimately named "A. S. Barnes & Co." in 1865.
Operating as a family enterprise, A. S. Barnes incorporated his five sons, brother, and nephew into the business, evolving into one of the foremost textbook publishers in the United States while also issuing general interest works spanning multiple disciplines.
Barnes was well integrated into New York's commercial and social spheres, holding membership in the Union League Club of New York, serving as a director of the Long Island Historical Society for over two decades, and acting as trustee for Brooklyn’s Clinton Avenue Congregational Church. His investments extended to ventures including the Union Pacific Railroad, New York Elevated Railroad, Hanover Bank, Dime Savings Bank, and Home Insurance Company.
As a philanthropist, Barnes made significant contributions to institutions such as Cornell University, where he established Barnes Hall, and supported schools like Fisk University in Tennessee. He was also a benefactor to educational institutions and churches in Brooklyn and donated $3,000 toward constructing a building for the Long Island Historical Society.
Family life
Barnes managed his company until his retirement in 1880. He was married twice—first in 1840 to Harriet E. Burr, with whom he had ten children, and later in 1883 to Mary Matthews Smith. His son, Alfred Cutler Barnes, succeeded him at the helm and played a key role in forming the American Book Company consortium, under which "A. S. Barnes" continued as an imprint.
Barnes passed away at his residence in Brooklyn Heights, which subsequently became home to the Brooklyn Women's Club.
A. S. Barnes & Co.
Textbooks published by A. S. Barnes under the "Library for Teachers" label included early popular titles such as Clark's English Grammar. Beginning in 1867, they issued Joel Dorman Steele's Fourteen Weeks series on science along with his Barnes Brief History of the United States (1871). Other notable publications encompassed Watson's Readers, Davies' Arithmetic, Monteith's Geography, and the National Series of Standard Science Books. The company occasionally ventured into fiction publishing, releasing works like Joseph Lincoln’s debut novel Cap'n Ernie.
In addition to books, A. S. Barnes produced trade periodicals including Education Bulletin, National Teacher's Weekly, and International Review, alongside manufacturing school furniture and classroom materials.
Following Alfred Barnes’ death, leadership passed to his son Alfred C. Barnes who helped establish the American Book Company conglomerate. Under editor-in-chief Ripley Hitchcock, the firm attracted distinguished authors such as Gilbert Parker, Stephen Crane, and Stewart Edward White. The company published educational series edited by Margaret Sangster including her Woman's Home Library, the extensive 17-volume Trail Makers, and the influential New Barnes Writing Books. Incorporated in 1909 to facilitate capital growth after acquiring another publisher, A.S. Barnes attempted a merger with Prang Co. in 1917; however, this union was short-lived. Subsequently, John Barnes Pratt acquired rights to the company’s name and much of its backlist.
In 1941, A.S. Barnes expanded by acquiring American Sports Publishing Company, known for its Spalding Athletic Library titles covering more than 30 sports disciplines. By the mid-20th century, A.S. Barnes had become a leading source for sports reference publications with landmark works such as The Official Encyclopedia of Baseball by Hy Turkin and S. C. Thompson, alongside Roger Treat’s pioneering Football Encyclopedia. In 1958, Thomas Yoseloff purchased A.S. Barnes and incorporated his own publishing venture into it as an imprint.