Russell Salmon Cook

Background

Russel S. Cook was born on March 06, 1811 in New Marlboro, Massachusetts, United States. He was a member of an established Berkshire family.

Education

After a diligent childhood, Cook set out on the study of law. His main interests shifted to religion and later he entered the theological seminary at Auburn, New York.

Career

In January 1837 Cook became pastor of the Congregational Church at Lanesboro, Massachusetts. Trouble with his throat caused him in 1838 to abandon the ministry and engage in work for the American Tract Society. Cook brought to it a new spirit—a tireless and explosive determination not only to disseminate publications but to implant principles everywhere, and instantly. He was made corresponding secretary in 1839. During his term of office he merged (1843) the bi-monthly Trust Magazine with his new monthly American Messenger, and in twelve years increased the circulation from 10, 000 to 200, 000 copies, not counting 2, 500 copies in German. He instituted The Child’s Paper in 1852 and in two years was printing 300, 000 copies.

The Tract Society was widely condemned in the fifties for its evasive attitude regarding slavery, and indeed, while from a large view-point its course may have been defensible, it was actually shown in small and tangible matters to have handled facts loosely. Cook did not find time to reply. Personally, he was moving hither and thither, like a shuttle, about America, and in 1853 and 1856 he visited Europe.

During his second visit, in Switzerland, he was seized with an affection of the lungs which necessitated his resigning from his duties with the Tract Society, but, returning home, he still devoted much energy to a Committee for a Better Observation of the Sabbath, with headquarters in New York. He fought his disease stubbornly, visiting in search of relief now Florida, now Maine. He died at Pleasant Valley, New York.

Achievements

• Cook was remembered for his contribution to building the successful Protestant publishing House, the American Tract Society. He put into circulation more than a million volumes. He visited here and there over the widest areas, encouraging sales by appeal sometimes to pure rivalry and sometimes to pure altruism. He popularized “colportage, ” a system by which evangelical itinerants went about the sparsely settled country selling books where possible and giving them away if that course seemed preferable. The scheme was suited to the America of 1841 in which it originated, but it was also adopted in parts of Europe.

Connections

Cook was married four times: to Ann Maria Mills of Auburn, in 1837; to Harriet Newell Rand of Pompey Hill, New York, in 1841; to Harriet Ellsworth, and to a Miss Malan.

Spouse:

Ann Maria Mills

Spouse:

Harriet Newell Rand

Spouse:

Harriet Ellsworth

References

• Hawthorne's Lenox: The Tanglewood Circle