McLoughlin Brothers

McLoughlin Bros., Inc.

Company type	Private
Industry	Publishing, Toys and games manufacturing
Founded	1858 (1858)
Founder	John McLoughlin, Jr.
Defunct	1951
Fate	Acquired by Milton Bradley Company (1920); brand discontinued in 1970s
Headquarters	New York City , United States
Area served	United States
Key people	John McLoughlin, Jr., Edmund McLoughlin
Products	Children's books, board games, puzzles, paper toys
Parent	Milton Bradley Company (from 1920)

McLoughlin Bros., Inc. was a New York-based manufacturing company operating between 1858 and 1920, known for pioneering the use of color printing in children's literature. The firm focused on producing adapted or bowdlerized versions of traditional tales for young audiences, alongside manufacturing board games, puzzles, and paper toys.

History

Established by John McLoughlin, Jr. (1827–1905) with his brother Edmund McLoughlin (1833/4–1889) joining as a partner in 1855, by 1886 the enterprise provided a variety of affordable chapbooks, large folio picture books, linen-bound volumes, as well as puzzles, games, paper soldiers, and paper dolls. Notably, their 1884 typewriter was priced at $10.

McLoughlin Brothers became one of the earliest American producers of collectible board games. In 1920, the company was acquired by the Milton Bradley Company, which halted game manufacturing but maintained picture book publication. Milton Bradley itself was later purchased by Hasbro in 1984 and subsequently merged with Parker Brothers in 1998; both brands were discontinued by Hasbro in 2009.

The company worked with illustrators such as Sarah Noble Ives, William Bruton, Edward P. Cogger, Enos Comstock, Frances Bassett Comstock, Georgina A. Davis, Henry Walker Herrick, Justin H. Howard, May Audubon Post, Victor Renwick, Ida Waugh, and Lois Williams. These artists’ creations were adapted for mass production using advanced printing techniques.

The passing of John McLoughlin, Jr. in 1905 marked a significant loss of leadership for the firm; following its acquisition by Milton Bradley in 1920, the Brooklyn facility was closed and operations relocated to Springfield, Massachusetts. While game production ceased, picture book publishing continued successfully. During the 1930s, the company found success with mechanical paper toys called "Jolly Jump-Ups," production of which ended during World War II.

In 1951, the "McLoughlin Brothers" trademark was sold to toy maker Julius Kushner; meanwhile, original artwork collections were distributed among board members with some pieces donated to the American Antiquarian Society. By 1954, McLoughlin Brothers' children’s book catalog was sold to Grosset & Dunlap. Kushner continued producing popular items such as Jolly Jump-Ups. The McLoughlin imprint remained on publications until the 1970s before going out of circulation.

Works published

• Beverly Gray

1886 McLoughlin Bros' Catalog

• 2 Cent Books
  • May Bell Series (Plain and Colored)
  • Little Red Hen Series
  • Dr. Watts' Divine and Moral Songs
• 3 Cent Books
  • Little Object Finders' ABC
  • Farm Yard ABC
  • Rebus ABC
  • Little Pet's Primer
  • Golden ABC
  • Mother's Series
  • Father's Series
  • Uncle Dick's Series
• 5 Cent Books
  • Peter Prim's Series--New Edition. England
  • Fairy Moonbeam Series
  • Susie Sunshine's Series--New Edition. England
  • Slovenly Peter Series
• 6 Cent Books
  • Every Baby's ABC
  • Little Boys' and Girls' ABC
  • Noah's Ark ABC
  • Major's Alphabet
  • Nursery ABC and Simple Speller
  • Crowquills Fairy Tales
  • Miss Merryheart Series
  • Aunt Mary's Series--Old Books Re-printed
  • Aunt Mavor's Series
  • Willie Winkie's Series
  • Yellow Dwarf Series
  • Natural History Series
  • Cinderella Series
  • Dame Dingle's Series
  • Joyful Tales
• 10 Cent Books
  • Parlor Plays
  • ABC of Animals
  • ABC of Nature
  • Aunt Jenny's Series--Old Books Re-printed
  • Mamma Lovechild's Series
  • Home Primer
  • Kate Greenaway Series
  • Over the Hills Series
  • Painting Books
  • Greenaway Mother Goose
  • The Ark Alphabet
  • Aunt Mayflower's Alphabet
  • Arthur's Alphabet
  • Child's First Book
  • Darling's ABC
  • The Child's Home ABC Book
  • Picture Alphabet
  • The Great Big ABC
  • Half-Hours with the Bible
  • Golden Light Series
  • Aunt Matilda's Series--New Editions--New Covers
  • Grandmother Goose Series
  • Uncle John's Drolleries
  • Uncle Ned's Picture Books
  • Aunt Kate's Series--New
  • Gilt Cover Picture Books

External links

• Mother Goose in an Air-Ship: McLoughlin Bros. 19th Century Children’s Books from the Liman Collection (exhibit), Brooklyn Historical Society, September 2007 – February 2009
• The McLoughlin Bros. of New York, The Gottesman Libraries, Columbia University
• Uncle Tom's Cabin
• Toy and Picture Books collection at the University of South Florida
• Archival Drawings and Prints of the McLoughlin Brothers at the American Antiquarian Society
• McLoughlin Brothers’ Catalogs, Price Lists, and Order Forms (1860–1949) held by the American Antiquarian Society