Curtis Publishing Company in Philadelphia
Founded in 1891, the Curtis Publishing Company was one of the largest publishing houses in the United States during its time, it made its owner, Cyrus Curtis, one of the richest people in the world during its time. How did this man take a small publishing companies go from printing a news magazine to being one of the largest name in Publishing?
It all started in 1866, when Cryus Cutis of Maine was forced to leave school and start working to help support his family. He started working as a newsboy with only 3 cents, at the age of 13, he started published his first paper called the Young American. A fire in Portland had set his small paper up in flames so in 1872 he moved to Boston In 1872, with what little money he had he started his own paper called the People's Ledger. Due to the overhead of space and supplies (also one article notes another fire taking out this paper as well) in Boston in 1876, he moved his company down to Philadelphia to cut costs. Around 1879 the People's Ledger was phased out of its weekly publication as his other publications which had spin offs turned much better profits. His wife started out writing a page supplement for a paper which turned into one of his most profitable publications.
It wasn't until 1891, the the company fully became the Curtis Publishing Company we know of today. As the company grew so did some of his business practices, it would seem that some of the stories in the beginning were either stolen from years before hoping that nobody would notice, or completely made up stories to catch the readers attentions. While he would later fire his editor it doesn't seem to far fetched seeing how even newspapers now will portray pieces in a false manner in order to get the readers attention.
In 1897, Curtis had the chance to buy the Saturday Evening Post which as been around since 1821. He bought the publication for only $1,000. It turned out to be his most profitable publishing pieces taking in around 40% of all advertising during its hay days. With famous covers illustrations by Norman Rockwell it helped cement the publication as a household favorite.
In 1910, the company the company had outgrown his his current headquarters a moved into a newly built Curtis Center on Walnut Street. During its time one of its most famous Editorial Writers went on to become President Taft.
The Curtis School of Printing was opened on October of 1913, the school offered children as young as 13 and 14 a chance to gain a trade in the Printing and Publishing world. This would allow them to pick and train boys to know the trade and get the best employee for their chosen position.
As with most publishing, his publications had run their time and began to decline, Curtis stuck with it going down with the boat as he begin to sell off publications, and after his death the building was sold then rented back out. His name while not familiar in Philadelphia still stands its test of time on the side of the building. He leaves behind a legacy I feel more people should know about.
It all started in 1866, when Cryus Cutis of Maine was forced to leave school and start working to help support his family. He started working as a newsboy with only 3 cents, at the age of 13, he started published his first paper called the Young American. A fire in Portland had set his small paper up in flames so in 1872 he moved to Boston In 1872, with what little money he had he started his own paper called the People's Ledger. Due to the overhead of space and supplies (also one article notes another fire taking out this paper as well) in Boston in 1876, he moved his company down to Philadelphia to cut costs. Around 1879 the People's Ledger was phased out of its weekly publication as his other publications which had spin offs turned much better profits. His wife started out writing a page supplement for a paper which turned into one of his most profitable publications.
It wasn't until 1891, the the company fully became the Curtis Publishing Company we know of today. As the company grew so did some of his business practices, it would seem that some of the stories in the beginning were either stolen from years before hoping that nobody would notice, or completely made up stories to catch the readers attentions. While he would later fire his editor it doesn't seem to far fetched seeing how even newspapers now will portray pieces in a false manner in order to get the readers attention.
In 1897, Curtis had the chance to buy the Saturday Evening Post which as been around since 1821. He bought the publication for only $1,000. It turned out to be his most profitable publishing pieces taking in around 40% of all advertising during its hay days. With famous covers illustrations by Norman Rockwell it helped cement the publication as a household favorite.
In 1910, the company the company had outgrown his his current headquarters a moved into a newly built Curtis Center on Walnut Street. During its time one of its most famous Editorial Writers went on to become President Taft.
The Curtis School of Printing was opened on October of 1913, the school offered children as young as 13 and 14 a chance to gain a trade in the Printing and Publishing world. This would allow them to pick and train boys to know the trade and get the best employee for their chosen position.
As with most publishing, his publications had run their time and began to decline, Curtis stuck with it going down with the boat as he begin to sell off publications, and after his death the building was sold then rented back out. His name while not familiar in Philadelphia still stands its test of time on the side of the building. He leaves behind a legacy I feel more people should know about.
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