Crocker & Brewster
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 1818 |
| Founder | Uriel Crocker, Osmyn Brewster, Samuel Turell Armstrong |
| Defunct | 1876 |
| Fate | Transferred publishing assets to H. O. Houghton and Company |
| Headquarters | Boston, Massachusetts , United States |
| Products | Books, educational literature |
Crocker & Brewster (1818–1876) was a well-known publishing house headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, with a history spanning 58 years. For nearly five decades, the company operated out of 173–175 Washington Street before relocating in 1864 to the neighboring building, where it continued until its eventual closure.
Origins and Initial Development
The enterprise was established by Uriel Crocker and Osmyn Brewster, alongside Samuel Turell Armstrong—who later served as Boston's mayor and acting governor. The company’s roots trace back to 1815 when Crocker assumed the role of foreman at Armstrong's printing establishment. By 1818, Crocker and Brewster became partners with Armstrong, deciding to name the bookstore after Armstrong and the printing division as Crocker & Brewster.
In 1821, they expanded by opening a branch in New York City; however, this was sold in 1826 to Daniel Appleton and Jonathan Leavitt, laying the foundation for what became D. Appleton & Sons.
Development of Crocker & Brewster
After 1825, the firm operated exclusively under the Crocker & Brewster name, with Armstrong maintaining partnership status until 1840. Crocker directed the printing operations while Brewster managed the bookstore side of the business. The company sustained robust sales through 1876, when it transferred its publishing assets—including stereotype plates, copyrights, and stock—to H. O. Houghton and Company (a precursor to Houghton Mifflin). The original partnership formally concluded following Crocker's death in 1887.
Publications
Crocker & Brewster focused on producing authoritative and educational literature, most notably issuing Scott's Family Bible in six royal octavo volumes—recognized as the first significant stereotyped publication in America.
Over 150 of their printed materials are currently housed at the Boston Athenaeum.