Reminiscences of Charles Scribner, Jr., 1988
Reminiscences of Charles Scribner, Jr., 1988
- Name
- Scribner, Charles, 1921-1995 (Interviewee)
- Gardner, Joel (Interviewer)
- Title
- Reminiscences of Charles Scribner, Jr., 1988
- Abstract
- 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
- Collection Name
- Individual interviews oral history collection
- Subjects
- Publishers and publishing; World War, 1939-1945--Cryptography; Book industries and trade; Booksellers and bookselling; Authors; Reference books; Encyclopedias and dictionaries; Consolidation and merger of corporations; Buildings--New York (State); Scribner, Charles, Jr., 1921-1995; Princeton University; Scribner & Co
- Format
- oral histories; sound recordings
- Genre
- Interviews
- Date
- 1988
- Note (Biographical)
- Publisher
- Note
- Interviewed by Joel Gardner
- Language
- English
- Library Location
- Columbia Center for Oral History, Columbia University
Browse Location’s Digital Content - Catalog Record
- 15646228
- Also In
- Oral History Archives at Columbia
- Time-Based Media
- Time-Based Media
- Persistent URL
- https://dx.doi.org/10.7916/mz8d-v535
- Related URLs
- Available digital content for this interview.