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Reminiscences of Charles Scribner, Jr., 1988.

Creator: Scribner, Charles, 1921-1995
Project: Individual interviews oral history collection.
(see all project interviews)
Phys. Desc. :Transcript 728 pages Sound recording 17 audiocassettes
Location: Columbia Center for Oral History
Full CLIO record >>

Biographical Note

Publisher

Scope and Contents

Childhood in Far Hills, New Jersey; intellectual interests, development; classics major at Princeton, 1939-43; discussion of instructors, professors, future academic interests; service in United States Navy as cryptanalyst, 1943-46; first years at Scribner and Sons, Inc.: adjustment problems, perceptions of company's departmental weaknesses, over-emphasis on literature, father's management of firm, personalities, publishing interests of Scribner staff, editors; takeover as president, chairman, and chief executive officer of company after father's death, circa 1950; initial organization of the firm, recruiting new writing talent, advertising, sales department, publishing problems in 1950s, Scribner Bookstore: problems of independent bookstore, as New York City architectural landmark; professional and personal relationships with Ernest Hemingway; editing and publishing of Hemingway's novels during lifetime, posthumous works; personal and professional relationships with authors; publishing of dictionaries and multi-volume reference works; personal interest in history of science, development and editing of various works; plans for future publishing; joint ownership of Grosset and Dunlap: advisory role, problems, decisions to leave; meetings with Book Table, publisher's group; disussion of major publishing houses and figures, primarily from 1950s to 1970s; Scribner and Sons, Inc. merger with Atheneum Books; decision to sell company to Macmillan Books, Inc.; Scribner's changing role after sale; involvement with National Book Publishers Council, American Library Association

Subjects

Access Conditions

Copyright by The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York, 1990

Using this collection

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