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.