Children's Books

I recently came across on oral history about children's book publishing at McGraw-Hill. Some other resources that could help that project, if it ever happens, include:

Marcus, Leonard (2008). Minders of make-believe. DBW Z480.C48M37 2008.
Eddy, Jacalyn (2006). Bookwomen: creating an empire in children's book publishing, 1919-1939. DBW Z480.C48E33 2006.

The History of Audel's. To be continued...

My father had a set of books that always intrigued me. They sat on some bookshelves in the hall. The five volume set was bound in leather with gilt work on the covers. Each book was of a modest size and they somehow looked more like prayerbooks than textbooks. The set was about carpentry and was published by a long forgotten company, Theo. Audel and Co. So what is the history of Audel's?

We'll start with a very early trade journal. Power, was once Steam, and was founded by N. Hawkins, who wrote under the name Theodore Audel. The publication was established in October 1882. It eventually became the cornerstone of the McGraw-Hill empire but it's N.Hawkins that is most interesting. And so I'll turn to the NY Times.

Hmmm... not much there. A note in the 14 January 1963 edition of the NY Times (p.3) noted that Howard W. Sams and Co. "publishers of technical and trade manuals, books, and magazines" had acquired New York based American Handbook and Textbook Co., and its subsidiary Theodore Audel and Co.

Now the Howard W. Sams Company has an odd history. The founder sold the company in 1967 to ITT corporation. In 1985, ITT sold the company to Macmillan Publishing. In 1987, Macmillan was acquired by Robert Maxwell who sold off many of the divisions. The remaining assets were put on the block in 1989 and it was acquired by two executives who then sold the company to Bell Atlantic in 1995. In 2000 the company was sold again to a startup called eCatalogs, who spun off all assets that weren't catalog-related. The were acquired by Damon Davis who established Sams Technical Publishing. After a variety of transactions with Thomson Learning, the remaining assets were acquired by AGS Capital. Now that history is of some interest since I remember the Sams manuals from the early days of the Internet. But it doesn't get me to a history of Audel's. Back to N. Hawkins.

Was he Nehemiah Hawkins? Who apparently also wrote under the name of William Rogers? And may have been born in 1833? He may even be credited with the first usage of the word "bug" for a technical problem. A Nehemiah Hawkins was also instrumental in the establishment of Highland Park Illinois.

An engagement accouncement noted that a Harriet R. Hawkins, daughter of Nehemiah Hawkins, was betrothed to Herbert W. Todd (Sept. 27 1905, p. 9. NY Times). Another daughter, Mildred, seems to have been married to Walter Edward Jarvis on 12 December 1911 (13 December 1911, p. 11, NY Times). Maria Virginia, "beloved wife of Nehemiah Hawkins," died on 22 November 1913 (23 November 1913, p. c7, NY Times). The obit notes some connection to Springfield MA and Chicago. She died on her 70th birthday. A more detailed notice the next day (p.7) notes that she was the wife of Hawkins, "author and publisher of many scientific works." Nehemiah apparently lived a great deal longer.

The obituary for Hawkins from 17 January 1928 (p.29 NY Times) reads:

Nehemiah Hawkins Dies.

Publisher, Author and Inventor -- Descendant of Roger Williams.

Nehemiah Hawkins, retired publisher, author and inventor, seventh in descent from Roger Williams, founder of the Providence Plantation, died on Sunday in Scarsdale at the age of 94.

He was born in Providence, RI, and spent his youth in Springfield, Mass., where he began his career with the Merriam Company, publishers of Webster's Dictionary. Later, while residing in Chicago he was influential in the founding of the original Chicago University. Coming to this city, he published technical books for industrial works. He was one of the founders of Power, an engineering periodical. He belonged to the Park Avenue Baptist Church. He left a son, Victor, and two daughters, Mrs. Mildred H. Jarvis and Mrs. Herbert W. Todd.

The obituary in the Chicago Daily Tribune (18 January 1928, p.33) gives some more details. Apparently, he was "a pioneer Chicago railway construction engineer and bridge builder.... Mr. Hawkins came to Chicago in 1856 with the firm of Stone & Boomer. Later he entered the milling business and became a member of the Board of Trade. He was a brother of F.P. Hawkins of the Moraine hotel, Highland Park." F.P. Hawkins was perhaps Frank Hawkins, manager of the Highland Park Building Company. 

In addition to his various books, Hawkins had some patents to his credits. He was issued #156,421 for "Improvement in bucket-elevators" (3 November 1874), #85930 (19 January 1869) for "Improvement in construction of elevator-buckets", #372,467 (1 November 1887) for "Binder" -- a way of putting together books, #172,247 (28 March 1876) for "Improvement in coal-hods", and #234,868 (3 November 1880) for "Screw conveyor."

So we have the typical tech works. And then there's this very odd thing: "The mormon of the little manitou island: an historical romance by the Knight of Chillon of Switzerland and Associates." It was published by the Uplift Company. The listed address -- 253 West 88th Street in New York -- matches the address provided in the various obituaries and marriage notices. The book was published in 1916, three years after the death of his wife and is dedicated to "Roger Williams", the author of "Religious Liberty." 

Who was Richard F. Hawkins? A brother perhaps? There's an advertisement in the "Northampton and Easthampton Directory" (1883/1884) for the R.F. Hawkins' Iron Works, "Successor to Wm. Howe, Stone & Harris, and Harris & Hawkins." It notes that the company does "Howe Truss, Pin and Link, Riveted Lattice and Solid Plate Girder Bridges, Draw Bridges, Turn Tables, Bolts, Forgings, R.R. Frogs and Switches, Steam Boilers, Tanks, and all Riveted Work, Iron and Brass Castings Building Fronts, Etc. Machine and Blacksmith Work to Order." It provides a Springfield MA address. 

Are there other hints? Hawkins' Indicator Catechism is dedicated to Henry Raabe, M.E. The Progressive Machinist was dedicated to "the late Gustave Kemmerling M.E. of Berlin, my first instructor in the noble art of which he was master." Aids to Engineers' Examinations was dedicated to Victor Hawkins (who also assisted with the Mechanical Dictionary). The Handbook of Calculations for Engineers and Fireman was dedicated to "C.A.H. with filial affection." Maxims and Instructions for the Boiler Room was "Fraternally inscribed to W.R. Hawkins, R.F. Hawkins, and F.P. Hawkins."

It seems that Frank P. Hawkins was quite a popular guy in Chicago. 

Nehemiah gets a write up in "A dictionary of North American authors deceased before 1950" and Richard Fenner gets some treatment in "The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography, Volume 3, 1891." He also gets some mention in a book called "Massachusetts of today: a memorial of the state, historical and biographical, issued for the World's Columbian exposition at Chicago":

RICHARD F. HAWKINS is a man whom the citizens of Springfield have time and again sought to honor with political office, but who has steadfastly refused to step beyond the bounds of private life, excepting in two or three instances where he considered it his duty to do so. Mr. Hawkins is a representative man of the times. He was born in Lowell, Mass., March 9, 1837, but removed to Springfield with his family at an early age. When sixteen years old he was graduated from the Springfield High School and began work as an office boy for Stone & Harris, railroad bridge builders. He continued with them until 1862, when Mr. Stone retired and Mr. Hawkins, in partnership with D. L. Harris, continued the business. In 1867 Mr. Harris retired, and Mr. Hawkins absorbed the entire business, under the name of the R. F. Hawkins Iron Works. He has since continued the business without a change, and has greatly increased the volume of the business. When Mr. Hawkins first became a member of the firm the building of the Howe truss bridge was the principal business carried on. Prior to this time nothing but wooden bridges had been built. Mr. Hawkins began the construction of iron bridges, and for many years has constructed only those. Mr. Hawkins is a natural mechanic, and to him should be credited in considerable measure the development of the use of iron as a building commodity in New England. In addition to bridges he has conceived and turned out a large quantity of the iron and steel material used in the construction of the railroads and locomotives of today. 

His business has grown until he is proprietor of one of the leading industries of the city. Among the structures that stand as fair examples of his work are the New Bedford and Springfield jails, which are constructed largely of iron. Among the other notable structures for which Mr. Hawkins is responsible is the Willimansett bridge, near Holyoke, eight hundred feet in length. This bridge is built of iron, and was constructed at the expense of the city of Holyoke and neighboring towns. 

He also constructed the North Hampton bridge for the Massachusetts Central Railroad. This is an iron bridge, and is one thousand five hundred feet in length. Mr. Hawkins is a Republican, and has frequently been the choice of the party managers for mayor, but he has never been induced to accept the nomination, for the reason that he would be compelled to neglect either the office or his private business. He was an alderman for three years, and is at the present time a watercommissioner. Mr. Hawkins is one of the most active members of the Board of Trade and one of the directors. He is also a member of the Financial Committee of the Hampden Savings Bank. Mr. Hawkins was married on Sept. 3, 1862, to Cornelia Morgan, daughter of A. B. and Sarah (Cadwell) Howe. They have five children, Paul, Florence, Edith, Ethel and David Hawkins. In all matters relating to the scientific construction of iron bridges Mr. Hawkins is considered one of the best authorities in the country, and his opinion is held in high esteem by experts in the same line of work.  

There is some information on Stone and Boomer. There is apparently even a manuscript by Frank F. Fowle entitled "Memoir of General George Boardman Boomer Bridge Builder and Soldier" that was "compiled from private sources for the Engineering History Division of the Western Society of Engineers." A copy -- or perhaps the original source materials -- are now housed in the Ambraham Lincoln Library and Museum (#94-0049). The scope notes provide some other names of potential interest: Amasa Stone, Andros B. Stone, and Lucius B. Boomer. His sister, Amelia Stone, also wrote a book about him called "Memoir of George Boardman Boomer" in 1864. It was the general's brother -- Lucius B. Boomer and A.B. Stone (Andros B. perhaps?) who established a bridge building business in the winter of 1851. He went to St. Louis to manage the business. He became a partner in the firm about 1853-54.

So who were Andros B. Stone and Lucius B. Boomer? Lucius B. Boomer also established the American Bridge Company in 1870. It was liquidated in 1878 but reemerged in 1891 as the American Bridge Works, which was eventually acquired by the American Bridge Company (eventually acquired by U.S. Steel). 

So I'm not getting any closer to a history of Audels but some pieces are starting to fall into place.

Fedor Emelienenko vs. Brock Lesnar

It's rare for me to stray beyond my typical academic haunts of handbooks and history. But I sometimes have to entertain my other passions. And I am a fan of mixed martial arts, in all of its various incarnations.

There was an important event this last weekend. Brock Lesnar, former NCAA and WWE wunderkind, defeated the sport's heavyweight godfathers: Randy Couture. This result wasn't totally unexpected. Vegas had it called on the betting line and a number of prominent analysts called for a relatively early KO. In beating Mr. Couture, Mr. Lesnar has become the heavyweight champion of the UFC and has gained a considerably amout of respect from fans. But he's still not top of the heap. During a contract dispute Mr. Couture refused to defend his title so an interim champion was named. There is an upcoming fight between Frank Mir and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira for this particular title. There will then be a unification bout to finally establish the heavyweight champion. The outcome of this eventual fight is far from certain. Mr. Mir was victorious in Mr. Lesnar's debut -- although Mr. Lesnar has improved considerably since then -- and Mr. Nogueira is an MMA legend having fought and defeated many of the greatest fighters in both the UFC and in the now-defunct Japanese promotion, PRIDE. Mr. Nogueira's striking, jiu-jutsu, and ability to withstand massive amounts of punishment will make him a very difficult opponent for Mr. Lesnar.

The UFC is not, however, the only promotion for MMA. Perhaps the best heavyweight fighter in the world, for example, has never fought in the UFC. Fedor Emelienenko, from Russia, was the dominant force in PRIDE and decisively won his first fight against former UFC champion Tim Sylvia in the upstart Affliction promotion. Much conversation has now turned to the discussion of a potential fight between Mr. Lesnar and Mr. Emelienenko. The Russian has even expressed some interest in the matchup and it is well worth considering the outcome.

There is currently a great deal of miniformation in the discussion forums of various blogs. WWE fanboys claim that Mr. Lesnar is the greatest fighter ever while MMA hardliners take the view that Mr. Emelienenko is undefeatable.

Let's first consider Mr. Lesnar. Physically, the man is a monster and has to cut weight to make the 265 pound heavyweight cutoff. He is also incredibly agile and fast for such a large man. His wrestling and ability to control an opponent is very strong and his striking skills are developing rapidly. Could Mr. Emelienenko defeat such an opponent?

The Russian has certainly fought big men: Kerry Schall, Semmy Schilt, Zuluzhino, Mark Hunt, Hong-Man Choi, and Tim Sylvia. This list does, however, require some commentary. Schall, a wrestler, lacked the speed, power, and agility of Lesnar. Zuluzhino is a very large man, but lacked any discernible fighting skills in his encounter with Fedor. Hong-Man Choi is an incredibly huge individual but is a striker with limited wrestling skills. Schilt is also a striker. Fedor was able to win these bouts by controlling his opponents on the ground and forcing either a ground and pound or a submission. Fedor would have tremendous difficulty in using such a strategy against Lesnar. 

The prospect of a Fedor/Lesnar fight introduces some other issues. Would the cage be an issue? Fedor always fights in a ring and has rarely had to use clinch or Greco-Roman skills. Lesnar may have a big advantage in the cage. Other PRIDE fighters -- notably Mirko Cro Cop Filipovic -- have struggled with the limits of the cage. 

Another big question is the issue of weight class. The UFC has resisted efforts to reform weight classes, establishing light heavyweight from 205 to 225 and heavyweight from 225 to 265. According to this scheme, many of the dominant heavyweights would more realistically be light heavyweights (e.g., Fedor, Nogueira, Arlovski, etc.). This reform would then open heavyweight to the likes of Lesnar and Shane Carter.

Hawkins and Audel

Whoa... a very odd thing. In looking up the history of Platts I discovered a reference to Mr. N. Hawkins. It notes that in 1882, under the name of Theodore Audel, he established a magazine called "Steam." The next year, two advertising salesmen from Boston -- Emerson Harris and Horace Swetland -- buy out Audel and rename the publication "Power, and which is incorporated Steam." James H. McGraw was hired as an advertising manager of Power two years later. In 1902, John A. Hill bought Power Magazine and Warren Cumming Platt dropped out of school to become a reporter. He established National Petroleum News as in 1909 as a means of distributing independent information.

Oral Histories of Note

I've come across some interesting histories that have -- apparently -- been way understudied. The following interviews are of particular interest to me:

7. Title: Reminiscences of Moses Nelson Baker
RLIN number: NXCP86-A7
Document type: Oral history
Accessibility: Free Only
Repository: Columbia University. Oral History Research Office
Collection: McGraw-Hill Project
Description: Associate editor, ENGINEERING NEWS; editing MANUAL OF AMERICAN WATERWORKS; public vs. private water rights ownership, water and sewage purification plants; purchase of ENGINEERING NEWS by John A. Hill, editorial policies; George Frost; publication of MUNICIPAL YEARBOOK.
Extent: Transcript: 23 leaves/23

6. Title: Reminiscences of Carl Nagel
RLIN number: NXCP88-A86
Document type: Oral history
Accessibility: Free Only
Repository: Columbia University. Oral History Research Office
Collection: McGraw-Hill Project, Part II
Description: Professional books at McGraw-Hill; characteristics of book authors; competition for authors; keeping abreast of developments in engineering; criteria for book selection; experts in the technical field as book judges; keeping titles alive; publication of engineering reference works; revisions and book lists.
Extent: Transcript: 29 leaves/52

6. Title: Reminiscences of Wallace Francis Traendly
RLIN number: NXCP88-A129
Document type: Oral history
Accessibility: Free Only
Repository: Columbia University. Oral History Research Office
Collection: McGraw-Hill Project, Part IV
Description: Dodge division of McGraw-Hill Information Services; reorganization, expansion; acquisition of Photronics; Sweet's enterprises; advantages of new management organization of publications company; specialized industry magazines, trend toward centralization; revenue forecast.
Extent: Transcript: 36 leaves/88

6. Title: Reminiscences of Alton Walker Kitchens
RLIN number: NXCP89-A36
Document type: Oral history
Accessibility: Free Only
Repository: Columbia University. Oral History Research Office
Collection: McGraw-Hill Project, Part IV
Description: Background with Dodge Reports; acquisition by McGraw-Hill; Dodge expansion into western United States; services provided for evaluating markets and information dissemination; employment of computers; Photronics-SCAN operation and reorganization; adjustment of Sweet's interior design file; postal delivery problems; the energy crisis.
Extent: Transcript: 45 leaves/133

5. Title: Reminiscences of Bela Z. Reiter
RLIN number: NXCP87-A110
Document type: Oral history
Accessibility: Free Only
Repository: Columbia University. Oral History Research Office
Collection: McGraw-Hill Project, Part I
Description: Education and early experiences; illustrator for McGraw-Hill from 1913; technical innovations and experiments in illustration; head of McGraw-Hill illustration department, 1943; impressions of executives.
Extent: Transcript: 46 leaves/179

*. Title: Reminiscences of Helene Frye
RLIN number: NXCP89-A6
Document type: Oral history
Accessibility: Free Only
Repository: Columbia University. Oral History Research Office
Collection: McGraw-Hill Project, Part II
Description: Development of juvenile division of trade department, early 1940s; first list of seven books published 1944; effects of World War II on department ; children's tastes; getting good authors for children's books; the Miss Pickerel series; organization of the department; book illustration.
Extent: Transcript: 24 leaves/203

5. Title: Reminiscences of Fred Herbert Colvin
RLIN number: NXCP87-A35
Document type: Oral history
Accessibility: Free Only
Repository: Columbia University. Oral History Research Office
Collection: McGraw-Hill Project, Part I
Description: Family background: father worked for company which advertised in AMERICAN MACHINIST; John A. Hill as editor of LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEER; first editor of MACHINERY, 1894; recollections of John A. Hill; McGraw-Hill merger.
Extent: Transcript: 21 leaves

5. Title: Reminiscences of Harold Whittlesey McGraw, Jr.
RLIN number: NXCP88-A138
Document type: Oral history
Accessibility: Free Only
Repository: Columbia University. Oral History Research Office
Collection: McGraw-Hill Project, Part II
Description: Beginning at McGraw-Hill 1946; trade department Whittlesey House later continued as juvenile books; development of market for technical books; sales force and executives of Trade Department; publishing fiction, how to do it books; literature in the Trade Department, longevity of books; gauging sales of a book.

4. Title: Reminiscences of Paul Abbott
RLIN number: NXCP86-A
Document type: Oral history
Accessibility: Free Only
Repository: Columbia University. Oral History Research Office
Collection: McGraw-Hill Project, Part III
Description: F.W. Dodge Corporation history prior to merger with McGraw-Hill; merger negotiations; influence of merger on McGraw-Hill's philosophy; Dodge's growth potential within McGraw-Hill.
Extent: Transcript: 20 leaves

4. Title: Reminiscences of S. T. Henry and Willard T. Chevalier
RLIN number: NXCP88-A71
Document type: Oral history
Accessibility: Free Only
Repository: Columbia University. Oral History Research Office
Collection: McGraw-Hill Project, Part I
Description: McGraw-Hill from 1904: early association with James H. McGraw, Horace M. Swetland, and John A. Hill; McGraw's abilities as engineer and editor; McGraw and Hill firms in World War I, merger after Hill's death; innovations in civil engineering in early 20th century.

4. Title: Reminiscences of Hugh Joseph Kelly
RLIN number: NXCP89-A41
Document type: Oral history
Accessibility: Free Only
Repository: Columbia University. Oral History Research Office
Collection: McGraw-Hill Project, Part I
Description: Family background; editorship of Columbia University daily, THE SPECTATOR; Columbia University Press; McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1927, Martin Foss and Edward Caldwell; relationship between Book Company and parent company; sales and promotion; buying on approval; expansion of college traveling system; merger with Shaw Company, vocational and textbook publishing; publications dates and revisions; Whittlesey House; international business; Gregg merger; book printing, binding, storage and distribution; paper supply.

3. Title: Reminiscences of Edward E. Booher
RLIN number: NXCP86-A30
Document type: Oral history
Accessibility: Free Only
Repository: Columbia University. Oral History Research Office
Collection: McGraw-Hill Project, Part I
Description: School Department at McGraw-Hill, five-year program 1947, relationship with College Department, finances from 1930 to 1950, quality of personnel, acquisition of Harper's list, 1952, potential market; agricultural publishing; educational film, film-book series; experience as college traveler; Gregg merger: Gregg staff, sales volume, financial success 1949, type-writing publications, bookkeeping program, revision of business English, business mathematics, office management programs, Gregg magazines, stationery, schools; Gregg College in Chicago, Gregg Schools in England, Gregg hold on South American market; establishment of Technical and Business Education Dept., 1941; technical training manuals during World War II; engineering training in United States, 1931 to postwar period; correspondence courses, authors in technical education field.

3. Title: Reminiscences of Sidney Dale Kirkpatrick
RLIN number: NXCP89-A36
Document type: Oral history
Accessibility: Free Only
Repository: Columbia University. Oral History Research Office
Collection: McGraw-Hill Project, Part II
Description: Childhood and education in Illinois; Illinois State Water Survey; Assistant editor, CHEMICAL AND METALLURGICAL ENGINEERING, 1921; James D. Ross, Dr. Fritz Haber; World War II organizing technical industrial intelligence, Manhattan Project, witness to atomic explosions in Japan; development of CHEMICAL WEEK, Perry's HANDBOOK; recollections of James H. McGraw, Sr.

2. Title: Reminiscences of Mason Britton
RLIN number: NXCP86-A39
Document type: Oral history
Accessibility: Free Only
Repository: Columbia University. Oral History Research Office
Collection: McGraw-Hill Project, Part I
Description: Work with Atlantic Coastline Railroads; employment by AMERICAN MACHINIST, 1901; recollections of John A. Hill; honest circulation, changes in advertising, expansion and reorganization after purchase of POWER; Hill's publishing philosophy, competition with James H. McGraw, and merger; effects of World War I, the Depression and World War II on McGraw-Hill, consolidation of book companies; work for government during World War II; recollections of Arthur Baldwin.

2. Title: Reminiscences of George M. MacMurray
RLIN number: NXCP88-A135
Document type: Oral history
Accessibility: Free Only
Repository: Columbia University. Oral History Research Office
Collection: McGraw-Hill Project, Part I
Description: Recollections of very early days of McGraw Publishing Company when it was known as The Street Railway Publishing Company, work as an office boy; engineering courses at School of Science and Technology at Pratt Institute, business courses at New York University; general editorial issues; financial panic of 1907; ELECTRIC RAILWAY REVIEW'S journalistic achievements; purchase of SUCCESS magazine; growth of city bus systems and start of BUS TRANSPORTATION.

2. Title: Reminiscences of Robert Forrester Boger
RLIN number: NXCP87-A5
Document type: Oral history
Accessibility: Free Only
Repository: Columbia University. Oral History Research Office
Collection: McGraw-Hill Project, Part II
Description: McGraw-Hill and American business: changes from ownership management to professional management, the creation of a science of business management thorugh graduate business education, editorial responsibility, continuity; McGraw-Hill's three aviation magazines from 1945: creation of AVIATION WEEK and its editorial formula; editorial hierarchy and authority; definition of civil engineering; social consequences of building in New York City.

2. Title: Reminiscences of Hugh Joseph Kelly
RLIN number: NXCP89-A41
Document type: Oral history
Accessibility: Free Only
Repository: Columbia University. Oral History Research Office
Collection: McGraw-Hill Project, Part III
Description: Mergers with Dodge, Webster, and Breskin; printing advances; use of offset and computer; information explosion; sale of technical books abroad; company philosophy.

2. Title: Reminiscences of Donald Cushing McGraw
RLIN number: NXCP88-A138
Document type: Oral history
Accessibility: Free Only
Repository: Columbia University. Oral History Research Office
Collection: McGraw-Hill Project, Part III
Description: Merger with Dodge; key to success in managing McGraw-Hill; future direction of the company; perception of major accomplishments of past decade.

1. Title: Reminiscences of Frank Dickman
RLIN number: NXCP87-A91
Document type: Oral history
Accessibility: Free Only
Repository: Columbia University. Oral History Research Office
Collection: McGraw-Hill Project, Part I
Description: McGraw-Hill's subscription and collection department; the Book Company; general responsibilities; relationship between magazines and books; growth of the organization.

1. Title: Reminiscences of Edward J. Mehren
RLIN number: NXCP88-A104
Document type: Oral history
Accessibility: Free Only
Repository: Columbia University. Oral History Research Office
Collection: McGraw-Hill Project, Part I
Description: Education; work on staff of ENGINEERING RECORD; association with John M. Goodell; left McGraw-Hill 1911; return to McGraw-Hill 1912; impressions of Curtis Whittlesey, treasurer of McGraw-Hill; World War I; James H. McGraw: editorial principles, knowledge and abilities; merger of McGraw and Hill firms; Hill organization and its staff; McGraw-Hill technical publications.

1. Title: Reminiscences of Waldo G. Bowman
RLIN number: NXCP86-A42
Document type: Oral history
Accessibility: Free Only
Repository: Columbia University. Oral History Research Office
Collection: McGraw-Hill Project, Part II
Description: Engineering education, Harvard Business School; ENGINEERING NEWS-RECORD: characteristics of publication, staff changes, national correspondents; covering world construction news; readership problems of CONSTRUCTION METHODS; horizontal and vertical publications; ENGINEERING NEWS-RECORD's prestige among military engineers; war experiences on Remagen bridge; determining reasons for architectural failures; World War II experiences; competition in engineering magazine field.

1. Title: Reminiscences of Dexter Merriam Keezer
RLIN number: NXCP89-A42
Document type: Oral history
Accessibility: Free Only
Repository: Columbia University. Oral History Research Office
Collection: McGraw-Hill Project, Part II
Description: Description of Department of Economics at McGraw-Hill: its origin, function and relationship with balance of organization.

1. Title: Reminiscences of Wallace Francis Traendly
RLIN number: NXCP88-A9
Document type: Oral history
Accessibility: Free Only
Repository: Columbia University. Oral History Research Office
Collection: McGraw-Hill Project, Part III
Description: Assets gained from F.W. Dodge merger, 1961; characteristics of F.W. Dodge Company; future plans.

Other topics: Platt on oil? Publishing during the depression? Pitman shorthand?