Crowell-Collier Publishing Company

Crowell-Collier Publishing Company
Company type	Private (historical)
Industry	Publishing
Founded	1877 in Springfield, Ohio, United States
Founder	Phineas P. Mast
Fate	Merged with American Macmillan Company in 1960; renamed Macmillan, Inc. in 1973
Headquarters	Springfield, Ohio; New York City, United States
Products	Magazines (Collier's, Woman's Home Companion, The American Magazine), books, encyclopedias (Collier's Encyclopedia, Harvard Classics)

Crowell-Collier Publishing Company was a prominent American publishing firm recognized for magazines like Collier's, Woman's Home Companion, and The American Magazine. Its division, P.F. Collier and Son, was responsible for publishing Collier's Encyclopedia, the Harvard Classics, along with a variety of general interest books.

Established in 1877 in Springfield, Ohio by Phineas P. Mast, an agricultural equipment manufacturer, the company initially launched the magazine Farm & Fireside (which was later renamed Country Home) as a marketing tool for farm implements. By 1881, leadership passed to John S. Crowell, who broadened the company's offerings by acquiring Home Companion, subsequently renamed Woman's Home Companion.

After Mast passed away in 1898, Crowell took full control and rebranded the enterprise as Crowell Publishing Company. The firm expanded its catalog with the introduction of The American Magazine in 1911 and, in 1919, acquired the weekly publication Collier's, which at its height boasted over 1.25 million subscribers.

Following the discontinuation of its magazine titles in 1956, Crowell-Collier merged with the American Macmillan Company in 1960. This merger transformed it into a leading educational publisher, encompassing divisions focused on books, textbooks, correspondence education, and instructional materials. The company adopted the name Macmillan, Inc. in 1973.

Early history

The roots of the company lie with Phineas P. Mast, an industrialist specializing in agricultural tool production based in Springfield, Ohio. To promote his products, Mast launched the bi-monthly periodical Farm & Fireside in 1877 and appointed John S. Crowell—formerly associated with Louisville’s Home and Farm—to oversee its management. By the 1890s, the publication’s circulation had grown beyond 500,000 copies. Although Mast stepped down from executive duties in 1879, he retained an investment stake; subsequently, Crowell and T.J. Kirkpatrick (Mast’s nephew) rebranded the company as Mast, Crowell and Kirkpatrick Publishers.

The business diversified beyond agricultural publications and erected the Farm and Fireside building in Springfield by 1881. In 1883, it expanded into women's publishing by acquiring Home Companion magazine to capture a growing female readership. Combining it with titles such as Youth's Home Library and Our Young People, they revived the name Home Companion, which reached a subscriber base of 100,000 by 1890. The magazine was retitled Woman's Home Companion in 1896 to appeal broadly to women readers. Additionally, regional versions of Farm & Fireside were introduced. Following Mast’s death in 1898, the firm became known as Crowell and Kirkpatrick Publishers.

20th century

At the dawn of the twentieth century, the company transitioned toward mainstream magazine publishing. After P.P. Mast’s passing in 1898, John S. Crowell purchased Kirkpatrick’s shares in 1902 and formed Crowell Publishing Company. In 1906, Crowell sold his interest to Joseph P. Knapp and George Hazen; they incorporated the business in New Jersey while maintaining offices both in New York City and Springfield, Ohio.

In 1908, Crowell Publishing encountered countervailing tariffs on Canadian paper imports following an unsuccessful appeal.

1910s and acquisition of Collier's and other periodicals

In 1911, Crowell Publishing bought The American Magazine from Phillips Publishing Company. Originally known for investigative muckraking journalism, it had evolved into a general interest publication by that time. This acquisition sparked concerns regarding corporate influence over muckraking journalism due to financial backing from investors like Thomas W. Lamont of J.P. Morgan & Co., indicating strategic consolidation within the publishing sector. Nevertheless, some notable authors welcomed the increased reach and resources that came with this change.

That same year, Crowell along with other publishers faced accusations of price-fixing through involvement with the Periodical Clearing House, affecting subscription pricing and library accessibility.

In 1919, Crowell Publishing acquired P.F. Collier and Son including its flagship weekly magazine Collier's the National Weekly, which had approximately one million subscribers per issue. This purchase also brought a substantial book publishing operation producing around six million volumes annually encompassing popular fiction and encyclopedias. P.F. Collier was a pioneer in subscription book sales utilizing affordable monthly installments; operating as a subsidiary under Crowell enhanced both market presence and product diversity for the company.

1920s

By 1924, the weekly circulation of Collier's had grown to 1,250,000 copies. Due to elevated postage expenses associated with operating from a coastal city, Crowell shifted its printing facilities to Springfield, Ohio, while maintaining its editorial and business offices in New York.

1930s

In 1930, Farm & Fireside underwent a title change to become The Country Home. That same year, Crowell Publishing and P. F. Collier and Sons faced a libel lawsuit demanding $500,000 over a political article published in Collier's Weekly, which was ultimately resolved in their favor. By 1939, Crowell consolidated its New York operations and adopted the name The Crowell-Collier Publishing Co., simultaneously discontinuing The Country Home.

1940s

In 1940, the Federal Trade Commission accused Crowell-Collier and its leadership of deceptive sales methods. Throughout World War II, the company issued Victory, a magazine targeted at servicemen. In 1946, Crowell-Collier inaugurated its headquarters in a newly constructed 19-story building located at 640 Fifth Avenue in New York City. By 1949, P.F. Collier and Son introduced Collier's Encyclopedia, an extensive 20-volume reference set completed by 1951, establishing it as a premier English-language encyclopedia alongside Encyclopedia Americana and Encyclopædia Britannica.

1950s magazine closures and book profits

Between the late 1940s and mid-1950s, Crowell-Collier’s magazines—including Collier's and Woman's Home Companion—boasted more than four million subscribers combined. Nevertheless, diminishing advertising income—shifting from print to television—and escalating production and distribution expenses resulted in substantial financial losses. Paul C. Smith, formerly editor of the San Francisco Chronicle, was appointed president in 1953 and later chairman with the goal of revitalizing the magazine division. Despite these efforts, losses surpassed $7 million by 1956, leading to the termination of The American Magazine, Collier's, and Woman's Home Companion by the end of that year. Additionally, the Springfield, Ohio printing plant—employing over two thousand workers—was closed. Although these closures initially shocked industry observers and appeared abrupt, the company’s strategic shift toward books and educational content demonstrated foresight.

During this timeframe, under the leadership of P.F. Collier and Son president John G. Ryan, Collier's Encyclopedia became a significant source of profit. Sales increased dramatically from 46,374 sets in 1953 to 110,688 in 1957. Ryan reported a net profit margin of 20% on $25 million in revenue for 1956, providing vital financial support amid ongoing magazine deficits.

In 1957, external investors assumed full control of Crowell-Collier and appointed a new chairman lacking publishing experience. This executive pressured P.F. Collier and Son to loosen sales protocols and reduce editorial expenditures for Collier's Encyclopedia. Ryan resisted abandoning his proven approach and continued delivering record profits, including a 20% rise early in 1959. Nevertheless, on April 2, 1959, Ryan was removed from his position as chairman took direct command of P.F. Collier and Son.

Ryan’s dismissal precipitated considerable repercussions: during an April 1959 shareholders’ meeting, the chairman failed to satisfactorily respond to operational inquiries. Subsequently, Ryan became president of a Grolier subsidiary responsible for publishing Encyclopedia Americana, attracting numerous sales and administrative personnel from P.F. Collier and Son. In December 1960, Crowell-Collier merged with P.F. Collier and Son, ending the latter’s independent existence after eighty-five years. The newly formed subsidiary—P.F. Collier, Inc.—concentrated exclusively on sales efforts and expanded encyclopedia distribution throughout the 1960s. However, aggressive door-to-door sales tactics encouraged by Crowell-Collier’s chairman resulted in a Federal Trade Commission complaint that imposed regulatory constraints on such sales practices.

1960s and growth as an educational publisher

The financial success of Collier's Encyclopedia enabled Crowell-Collier to rebound from earlier magazine losses, facilitating a strategic pivot under the guidance of Armand G. Erpf, a principal director and senior partner at Loeb, Rhoades & Co. The company utilized profits from the encyclopedia to fund mergers and acquisitions, concentrating on the burgeoning U.S. educational sector fueled by the baby boom generation. This period saw a significant increase in sales of reference works, textbooks, and encyclopedias, exemplified by the release of a new 24-volume Collier's Encyclopedia edition in 1962.

Merger with Macmillan

In December 1959, Crowell-Collier purchased a 29% interest in the Macmillan Company, which published fiction, nonfiction, textbooks, religious literature, and children's books. By August 1960, Crowell-Collier had acquired majority control with 52.8% ownership and finalized the merger by the end of that year. Macmillan, originally the American branch of British Macmillan Publishers and managed by the Brett family since 1896, had shifted its primary revenue source to textbooks by 1960.

The merger provided Macmillan with capital resources to broaden its textbook offerings. Crowell-Collier maintained Macmillan as a subsidiary and in 1965 rebranded itself as Crowell Collier & Macmillan, Inc., omitting "Publishing" to signify its expanded educational focus.

Post-merger, Crowell-Collier pursued numerous acquisitions largely financed through Loeb, Rhoades & Co., with Erpf prioritizing investment strategy over day-to-day operations. Chairman Raymond C. Hagel described the company’s goal as creating integrated educational systems—a cohesive instructional package combining various tools—positioning education as a central growth industry.

By the late 1960s, Crowell Collier & Macmillan had evolved into a highly leveraged conglomerate encompassing diverse subsidiaries such as book publishers, educational institutions, magazines, instructional products, bookstores, book clubs, and radio stations. Annual revenues reached $390 million. Nonetheless, analysts observed that while management excelled at acquisition strategies supported by accessible credit, challenges remained in effectively integrating operations.

As profits from encyclopedias declined in the early 1970s, the heavily indebted conglomerate encountered financial difficulties. In 1973, Macmillan’s core domestic publishing represented only 25% of total revenue and produced $16.7 million in profit on $420 million sales—marking a significant decrease compared to earlier profitability at P.F. Collier and Son. With $75 million in debt and high interest obligations, Crowell Collier & Macmillan faced mounting financial pressures despite its broad portfolio.

Encyclopedias, books and educational materials

Since 1909, P.F. Collier and Son had published the 50-volume Harvard Classics, which expanded to 51 volumes by 1914. The company continued this series and developed an extensive multi-volume collection on social science topics.

In 1969, the Federal Trade Commission mandated that the company halt deceptive marketing practices related to Collier's Encyclopedia, which involved misleading promotions about free or discounted sets contingent on annual supplement purchases.

In 1960, Crowell entered general book markets through Collier Books, its paperback division launched in 1961 producing approximately 50 titles monthly across scholarly works, nonfiction, and fiction categories. Established in 1962, Crowell-Collier Press focused on adult nonfiction and children's literature, including the notable Modern Masters Books for Children series edited by anthologist Louis Untermeyer.

Also in 1962, Crowell acquired Scientific Materials, Inc., gaining control over multiple book clubs such as Library of Science and Science Book Club along with youth-oriented divisions. That same year saw the divestiture of its toy manufacturing unit to Allis-Chalmers.

The company expanded retail presence by acquiring 16 Brentano's bookstores in 1962; by 1967 this chain had grown to 21 stores generating $7 million in sales. Additionally in 1967, Crowell-Collier Educational Corporation was founded to create instructional materials serving schools, colleges, adult education programs, business training, and industrial learning.

Between 1962 and 1969, numerous acquisitions strengthened Crowell-Collier’s position across educational publishing and media sectors:

English Language Services, Inc. (1962), specializing in English-as-a-second-language instruction internationally
Publication Corporation (1968)
Associated Films, Inc. (1968), distributor of educational films
Bruce Publishing Company (1968) and P.J. Kenedy & Sons (1968), publishers focusing on Catholic religious and educational content
Hagstrom Company (1968), provider of educational materials
Fleetwood Films, Inc. (1968), producer of home and instructional films
Pandex, Inc. (1968), reference book publisher
Brandon (1968), distributor of educational materials and films
G. Schirmer, Inc. (1968), music publishing house
Studio Vista, Ltd. (1968), British publisher specializing in graphic arts and design books
Geoffrey Chapman, Ltd. (1968), British publisher focused on Catholic literature
Benziger Brothers (1969), publisher of religious and educational books
Cassell & Co. Holdings Ltd. (1969), British publishing firm
Standard Rate & Data Services, Inc., provider of advertising and marketing data
National Register Publishing, directory publisher

These targeted acquisitions broadened Crowell-Collier’s footprint within educational content markets while diversifying its product offerings across international operations.

Home study and vocational education

The 1960s saw vocational training rise as a key business area, bridging the gap between secondary education credentials and university degrees. Crowell-Collier made significant inroads into this sector through strategic acquisitions. In 1960, it took over La Salle Extension University, a school specializing in correspondence courses. Five years later, in 1965, Crowell Collier & Macmillan acquired Berlitz Schools of Languages of America, Inc. along with Berlitz Publications for $5 million. The company also purchased Katherine Gibbs School, Inc., known for secretarial training, and briefly held a 25% interest in Famous Artists Schools, Inc., which provided correspondence courses in writing and art, before divesting that stake in 1968.

In 1969, Crowell initiated legal action against the National Home Study Council, accusing it of monopolistic behavior after the council refused to renew accreditation for La Salle Extension University and U.S. School of Music, Inc. By this time, nearly 22% of Crowell’s income was generated from La Salle Extension University, Berlitz, and Katherine Gibbs combined. Although the dispute was eventually resolved, the mail-order education industry faced scrutiny due to aggressive sales methods and concerns about educational quality, which affected the sector’s overall reputation.

This emphasis on distance learning and vocational programs broadened Crowell-Collier’s business portfolio and played a vital role in enhancing its financial results during this era.

Resumption of magazine publishing

In 1968, Crowell merged with Publication Corporation, a prominent printer of Sunday magazines and publisher of This Week magazine. Publication Corporation shared historical connections with Crowell through its founder Joseph P. Knapp and had previously owned a 24% share in Crowell-Collier. The merger intended to strengthen periodical distribution within the educational market segment. By 1969, Crowell discontinued This Week, which had reached a circulation of 9 million as a weekend newspaper supplement for titles such as The Providence Journal and the Kansas City Star.

That same year marked Crowell Collier & Macmillan’s reentry into magazine publishing with an educational concentration by acquiring six titles: Grade Teacher, Catholic School Journal, Industrial Arts, and Vocational Education, alongside management-oriented publications like College Management and Business Management. These titles were consolidated under the subsidiary CCM Magazines headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Expansion into other media

Crowell-Collier Broadcasting managed radio stations in major markets including Los Angeles (KFWB), San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose (KEWB), and Minneapolis-St. Paul (KDWB).

In 1969, the company broadened its retail operations by purchasing the San Francisco-based Gump's store. Moreover, in 1968 Crowell-Collier diversified its holdings further by acquiring C.G. Conn, a manufacturer of musical instruments.

By 1966, approximately 1,400 employees had been consolidated into new corporate offices located at 866 3rd Avenue—the Crowell Collier & Macmillan building—reflecting the company’s ongoing structural evolution and expansion strategy.

1970s

By the early part of the 1970s, Crowell Collier & Macmillan had expanded into a $400 million global publisher specializing in books and educational content. The corporation adopted the name Macmillan, Inc. but encountered a legal conflict with London-based Macmillan Publishers Ltd. over the use of the Macmillan name. This dispute was settled through agreements to clearly distinguish their businesses, such as the American Canadian branch rebranding as Collier Macmillan Canada to prevent confusion with the British Macmillan affiliate. The UK company raised trademark issues under the Lanham Act, concerned about potential market confusion and unfair competition.

Macmillan, Inc. also faced other legal disputes, including litigation against Charles F. Berlitz concerning his name's use on travel and language publications. Berlitz won the case, obtaining $376,000 in damages and retaining rights to use his name as an author. In 1970, the U.S. Department of Justice initiated an antitrust lawsuit against Crowell Collier & Macmillan, demanding that it divest subsidiaries C.G. Conn, Ltd., a musical instrument manufacturer, and Uniforms by Ostwald, Inc., which produced band uniforms.

In 1972, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charged Crowell Collier with deceptive marketing related to sales of The Harvard Classics and its encyclopedias. The FTC claimed the company engaged in misleading bulk shipment offers and aggressive billing practices for encyclopedia supplements known as Yearbooks. Although the company denied wrongdoing, it agreed to enter negotiations for a consent order. Furthermore, Crowell Collier was criticized for inaccurately describing encyclopedia sales jobs as administrative or marketing positions.

A notable incident involved Martin Gardner withdrawing his work from publication in protest against Crowell Collier’s release of John G. Fuller's book Arigo, which focused on psychic surgery.

Magazines

Farm & Fireside (1877–1939): Originally created to promote agricultural equipment by P. P. Mast & Co., this magazine evolved to cover commercial and economic farming topics, reflecting America’s transition from rural landscapes to urban markets.
Woman's Home Companion (1883–1950): Emerging from the popular women's section of Farm & Fireside, the company acquired The Home Companion in 1883 and rebranded it to appeal to a growing female readership.
The American Magazine (1911–1956): Previously known as Leslie's Popular Monthly, this title was purchased by Crowell-Collier in 1911 and centered on themes relevant to everyday Americans, aligning with the publisher’s focus on mass-market engagement.
Collier's (1919–1956): Founded by Peter Fenelon Collier and acquired by Crowell Publishing in 1919, this publication remained a significant asset until its closure in 1956.
The Mentor (1921–1930): Featuring content on science, art, history, literature, and travel, this magazine merged with World Traveler in 1930 before ceasing publication later that year.

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