Background
Charles was born on October 18, 1854 in New York City, New York, United States, the second son of Charles Scribner and his wife, Emma Elizabeth Blair.
Charles was born on October 18, 1854 in New York City, New York, United States, the second son of Charles Scribner and his wife, Emma Elizabeth Blair.
Charles Scribner began his education in a private school, entered the College of New Jersey (Princeton) in 1871, and was graduated four years later. Princeton gave him an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters in 1925.
After studies Scribner went into the publishing house and on the death of his brother, John Blair Scribner, in 1879, became head of the firm, known since 1878 as Charles Scribner's Sons; it was incorporated in 1904. He was succeeded as president in 1928 by his brother, Arthur H. Scribner, but was chairman of the board from that date until his death.
Among the many publications that are significant of his love of books, mention may be made of the beautiful edition of Thomas Shelton's translation, The History of Don Quixote (4 vols. , 1906 - 07), illustrated by Daniel Vierge. The history of his long administration of the house of Scribner is studded with incidents illustrating his enthusiasm and taste. These were indicative partly of his initiative and partly of the remarkable teamwork developed amongst the men who surrounded him - his younger brother Arthur, his literary adviser, William Crary Brownell, and the successive editors of Scribner's Magazine, Edward L. Burlingame and Robert Bridges. Through their concerted efforts the Scribner imprint became a kind of blue ribbon which a host of distinguished authors, native and foreign, were glad to wear.
Among American writers of fiction, he published books by Edith Wharton, Thomas Nelson Page, Henry James, Robert Grant, George W. Cable, Richard Harding Davis, John Fox, F. Hopkinson Smith, and, in later days, such new men as Ernest Hemingway and Ring Lardner. In letters at large there may be cited Eugene Field, Henry van Dyke, H. C. Bunner, Brander Matthews, James Huneker, Barrett Wendell, George Santayana, and Theodore Roosevelt. He was the publisher of these authors and he was their friend.
In 1881, as a result of his first great decision, Scribner's Monthly was sold, to become The Century Illustrated Monthly Magazine, under an agreement which restrained the house from entering the periodical field again for five years. St. Nicholas, which the firm had published since November 1873, was also sold to the Century Company in 1881. In 1887 was brought out Scribner's Magazine, which he had probably anticipated from the beginning.
In July 1917 Scribner took over from Forbes & Company the magazine Architecture. The subject was close to his sympathies for the house had long been largely interested in the issuance of architectural books. To facilitate and enhance the functioning of all these activities he built in 1908 the Scribner Press, a plant from which much fine printing has flowed. From the inception of the plans for the Dictionary of American Biography, Charles Scribner was deeply interested in the enterprise. On the choice of the firm as publishers of the Dictionary, he and his brother gave themselves whole-heartedly to promotion of the work. There were numerous experiments to secure a format which would be not only attractive in appearance but also of proper dignity and quality for a work which promised to be so distinguished and permanent.
But there were other phases of his activity that demand consideration. His was a vice-president of National Park Bank in 1926 and served through the period which witnessed the merging of the institution with the Chase National Bank. He had also an ardent enthusiasm for Skidmore College for young women, founded at Saratoga Springs, New York, by the wife of his elder brother.
During the last years of his life he was a member of the board of trustees and gave unstintingly of his time and money for the welfare of the college. He was present with William Appleton and Robert Underwood Johnson when President Harrison signed the bill of 1891.
Scribner died at his home in New York.
During the period of more than fifty years that Charles Scribner remained with the Charles Scribner's Sons, he expanded its scope until it became probably the most comprehensive publishing business in the country, and enhanced its prestige. He developed a notable bookstore that made a specialty of rare books. His business acumen fitted him to be for years a useful director of the National Park Bank. He was notable, also, for the encouragement he gave young artists and illustrators, many of whom later achieved distinction. He was one of the leaders in the fight for international copyright, actively participated in formation of the American Publishers' Association.
It is as a wise, generous, and eclectic publisher that Scribner will be remembered.
Quotes from others about the person
When Princeton gave him an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters in 1925, the citation ran: "He stands today as a symbol for whatever is most courteous, honorable and fruitful of good in American endeavor. In his half century since graduation, the head of the house has given every year to labor and love for Princeton. Intimate in her councils, alert in stimulating her literary life, old in wisdom and young in spirit, constant in helping her needs, his unobtrusive, bright and kindly influence is part of all the best we have. "
Scribner was married to Louise Flagg, the daughter of the Reverend Dr. Jared B. Flagg, and had two children, a daughter and a son and namesake who, in 1932, became the head of the house.
