Zadok Cramer
Zadok Cramer | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1773 New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died | Error: Need valid birth date (second date): year, month, day Pensacola, Florida, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Writer, publisher, printer, bookseller |
| Years active | Early 1800s–1813 |
| Known for | The Navigator |
Zadok Cramer (1773–1813) was a writer, publisher, printer, and bookseller based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His publication The Navigator served as an essential resource for pioneers and travelers navigating the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers during the early 1800s.
Early life and career beginnings
Cramer was born in 1773 in New Jersey and spent a significant portion of his early years in Washington, Pennsylvania. Although he was raised in a Quaker household, he eventually distanced himself from the religious community but continued to wear attire characteristic of Quaker tradition.
He apprenticed as a bookbinding craftsman in Washington before relocating to Pittsburgh in 1800, where he initially practiced bookbinding. Shortly thereafter, he took ownership of a bookstore on Market Street, originally founded in 1798 by John C. Gilkison. Cramer named his establishment the "Sign of the Franklin Head," promoting an inventory approaching 800 titles.
His inaugural publication was an almanac for the year 1801, printed at the end of 1800. His second work documented the contentious election of 1800, focusing on the decisive House of Representatives vote; this was released soon after Thomas Jefferson assumed office.
Additionally, he founded a thriving circulating library containing approximately two thousand volumes, mainly consisting of romantic literature alongside some periodicals.
Almanacs
The 1803 edition of Cramer's Almanac included astronomical data; excerpts from British writers; a remedy for the Ague, prevalent near Pittsburgh; an "Advertisement to Farmers"; the complete text of the Constitution of the United States; and vital statistics such as marriages and deaths, often serving as rare historical records.
From 1804 onward, Cramer issued two varieties of almanacs: the Common Almanac and the Magazine Almanac, the latter offering additional literary content. That year also saw the first inclusion of a summary detailing Pittsburgh’s manufacturing industries. His almanacs were published continuously for 27 years, providing valuable insights into regional history and commerce.
Cramer's most notable work was The Navigator, a navigational manual and regional directory for the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. It fulfilled growing demand among traders and settlers passing through Pittsburgh in the early nineteenth century for comprehensive river and area information. The guide also supplied practical tips on purchasing riverboats and preparing for voyages.
Although the original 1801 edition is lost, the 1802 version—entitled The Ohio and Mississippi Navigator—referenced two earlier editions that focused exclusively on Ohio River navigation, both of which sold out rapidly.
Over less than 25 years, Cramer issued twelve updated editions of The Navigator. Initial versions concentrated on detailed Ohio River navigation, with directions for the Mississippi River appended after the 1803 Louisiana Purchase, reflecting expanded U.S. control over western waterways. The 1808 edition incorporated data from the Lewis and Clark Expedition concerning the Missouri and Columbia Rivers. The eighth edition (1814) was the most extensive at 360 pages; later editions gradually decreased in length, with the final 1824 edition containing 275 pages.
Sold at one dollar each, The Navigator was distributed through Cramer's bookstore as well as boatyards along the Monongahela River. Its commercial success earned him recognition as "probably the best known publisher in the United States."
Because of its importance, The Navigator was frequently copied without authorization by authors including Thaddeus Mason Harris (1805), Thomas Ash (1808), Samuel Cumings (1825), and appeared in Lloyd's Steamboat Directory (1856).
Bookselling and publishing
During the early 19th century, Cramer's "Pittsburgh Bookstore" stood as the city's only enterprise dedicated to selling books, offering a diverse selection of works in English, German, French, Greek, Latin, and Spanish. His stock comprised dictionaries, almanacs, Bibles, educational materials, music and legal texts, along with stationery, playing cards, patent medicines, and notably, he was the pioneer in retailing wallpaper within Pittsburgh.
While he was not the first to publish books in Pittsburgh, Cramer emerged as the leading publisher in terms of both quantity and diversity. Initially dependent on the printing presses of local newspapers, he procured his own press in 1805, which significantly expanded his publishing capabilities. His publications encompassed school textbooks, religious writings, travel accounts, poetry anthologies, biographies, historical works, philosophical treatises, legal literature, plays, belles-lettres, and books related to local interests.
In 1808, Cramer joined forces with John Spear to establish Cramer & Spear. Two years later, William Eichbaum Jr., after completing a seven-year apprenticeship, became a partner resulting in the firm Cramer, Spear & Eichbaum. This collaboration persisted until 1818 when Eichbaum exited following the passing of Elizabeth Cramer. Subsequently, the business operated under the name Johnston & Stockton until its closure in 1850.
Travels and death
Cramer undertook extensive journeys to collect material for The Navigator, including a voyage down the Ohio River in 1806 and a trip to Kentucky in 1810. He also traveled twice aboard the New Orleans, recognized as the first steamboat on western American rivers launched from Pittsburgh in 1811, integrating its routes into his publication's content.
His commitment to these travels took a toll on his health; after being diagnosed with tuberculosis and advised to recuperate in Havana, he died en route in Pensacola, Florida, on August 1, 1813. Following his death, his widow and business partners continued operations and endeavored to realize his vision of starting a magazine. This effort resulted in the launch of The Western Gleaner or Repository for Arts, Sciences, and Literature in December 1813; however, financial challenges led to its discontinuation by June 1814.