Charles Stephen Francis

Background

Charles Stephen Francis was born on January 9, 1805 in Boston, the son of David and Mary (Moore) Francis. His father was of the publishing firm of Munroe & Francis, which brought out the first New England edition of Shakespeare.

Education

Under the tuition of his father Charles had an exceptional opportunity to learn the art of printing and of selling books.

Career

At twenty-one Charles Francis ventured to New York to launch into business for himself. His first store was in a fortunate location on lower Broadway near the residences of the wealthiest citizens. When the movement uptown started the bookseller went with it, first to 252 Broadway under Peak’s Museum, then to 554 Broadway.

In 1838 his brother entered into partnership with him, and about 1842 the firm became known as C. S. Francis & Company.

Among the many publications which brought the establishment into general recognition was Francis’s New Guide to the Cities of New York and Brooklyn, and The Vicinity, appearing first in 1853. It was revised and reprinted periodically, with somewhat changed title, during the next dozen years.

It carried a notice of the bookshop which advertised that “Strangers, as well as Citizens, will find this a pleasant place of resort at all times of day and evening, ” which proved indeed to be the case. Because the firm published H. W. Bellows’s Discourse Occasioned by the Death of William• Ellery Channing (1842), Orville Dewey's Discourse on Slavery and the Annexation of Texas (1844), William Ware’s Zenobia (1838), and other works by Unitarian authors, members of that faith found the atmosphere of the store particularly congenial.

In 1860 the firm dissolved, but Francis continued in the business for a decade more before retiring to Tarrytown, where he passed his last years.

Achievements

• Charles Francis's chief achievement was the establishment in 1838 along with his brother, who entered into partnership with him around 1842, the firm became known as C. S. Francis & Company. Bibliophiles from all parts of the country were attracted to the shop by the fine character of the work which Francis did. Due to his enterprise the company had an agency in London and was able to fill orders for foreign publications with commendable promptness. The firm also boasted a circulating library, “the largest in the city, ” of new publications as well as of periodicals. Children’s books were a specialty, including the works of Hans Christian Andersen, and Charles and Mary Lamb.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Charles S. Francis, A Personal Tribute (1901)

    (This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of th...)

Religion

In his religious denomination Charles Francis was an Unitarian, and for that reason his shop carried many works by Unitarian authors, so members of that faith found the atmosphere of the store particularly congenial.

Connections

Charles S Francis's first wife was Catharine Rebecca Jewett, whom he married on September 2, 1830. After her death in 1841, he married Averic Parker Allen, September 29, 1849. He had five children, of whom Harriet Moore, a daughter, married John Rogers.

Father:

David Francis

Mother:

Mary (Moore) Francis

1st wife:

Catherine Rebecca Jewett Francis

1810–1841

2nd wife :

Averic Parker Francis

1825–1889

Son :

William Allen Francis

1855–1920

References

• Fifty Years Among Authors, Books and Publishers (Classic Reprint)
• Francis; Descendants of Robert Francis of Wethersfield, Conn.