Background
Canfield was the son of Augustus Cass Canfield (1854—1904), a wealthy engineer and yachtsman, and his wife, the former Josephine Houghteling. He also was a great-grandson of Presidential candidate Lewis Cass.
Canfield was the son of Augustus Cass Canfield (1854—1904), a wealthy engineer and yachtsman, and his wife, the former Josephine Houghteling. He also was a great-grandson of Presidential candidate Lewis Cass.
He attended the Groton School and Harvard University, graduating from Harvard in 1919 after serving as a lieutenant in the United States Army during World War I. Canfield also studied at New College, Oxford and trekked through Asia, retracing the route of Marco Polo.
He had two sisters: Mary Cass Canfield and Laura Cass Canfield (Mrs William Lawrence Wood). After returning to New York, he worked as a reporter and advertising salesman for the New York Post. In 1924, he invested in Harper & Brothers and became manager of its London office.
He held various executive positions with Harper"s in London and New York between then and 1931.
Among the writers whom he signed to Harper"s contracts were James Thurber, East. B. White, J. B. Priestley, Harold Laski, John Gunther, and Julian Huxley. EM Delafield dedicated The Provincial Lady Goes Further to him.
Canfield was president of Harper & Brothers from 1931-1945, board chairman from 1945-1955, and chairman of the executive committee from 1955-1967. From 1967 until his death in 1986, he was House Senior Editor at Harper"son
He also wrote seven nonfiction books
Canfield campaigned for Adlai Stevenson in 1956. He was a strong supporter of birth control, served as chair of the executive committee of Planned Parenthood, and traveled extensively giving speeches and raising money to support the organization. Canfield was thrice married.
They had two sons: Michael Temple Canfield (1926-1969, adopted), a London representative of Harper & Row.
And Cass Canfield Junior., a senior executive at Harper & Row. Canfield"s second wife was Jane Sage White, a sculptor, the former wife of Charles Fairchild Fuller, and a daughter of Ernest Ingersoll White.
By this marriage Canfield had three stepchildren: Jane Sage Fuller, Blair Fairchild Fuller, and Isabelle Whitney "Jill" Fuller. In 1984, Canfield married Joan H. King.
"I am a publisher - a hybrid creature: one part star gazer, one part gambler, one part businessman, one part midwife and three parts optimist".
(Incredible Pierpont Morgan, The: Financier And Art Collec...)
(. with dustjacket, 1974 clean copy)
(Book by Canfield, Cass)
("...absorbing biography brings to life on of the most eni...)
Chairman executive committee Planned Parenthood Federation American-World Population Emergency Campaign, 1962-1967. Chairman governing body International Planned Parenthood Federation, 1963-1969, honorary chairman, 1969-1986. Trustee Woodrow Wilson Fellowship Foundation.
Member New York State Council on Arts, 1960-1964. Member board Economic Warfare, Washington, 1942-1943. Special adviser to American ambassador, London, in charge Economic Warfare division.
Director O.W.I., France, 1945. Second lieutenant World War I. Member American association United Nations (director), National Association Book Publications (president 1932-1934), Century Association, Phi Beta Kappa (honorary).
Married Katharine Emmet, May 24, 1922. Children: Cass, Michael Temple. Married Jane White Fuller, May 27, 1938 (deceased).