William Worthen Appleton

Background

William Worthen Appleton was born on Nivember 29, 1845 in Brooklyn, New York, United States, the son of William H. Appleton and Mary Worthen.

Education

With no education beyond private elementary and secondary schools in New York, he entered the "House of Appleton" and became a partner at the age of twenty-three.

Career

He showed an uncanny ability to gauge the public's taste. Thus he was responsible for the inclusion in the company's list of English translations of Louisa Mühlbach's historical novels which sold by hundreds of thousands; for the American editions of Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and Disraeli's Lothair, the latter selling up to 80, 000; for the addition to the list of Appleton authors of Joel Chandler Harris in fiction and William T. Osler in medicine. "Mr. Willie, " a name which suggests the fondness felt toward him by every one in the organization, gave a great deal of attention to the "International Scientific Series, " inaugurated in 1873 under the editorship of E. L. Youmans, in which Draper's History of the Conflict between Religion and Science appeared in 1875.

In later years Appleton spent much time in acquainting himself with the leaders of thought in the universities of the country. This he did by extensive travel, "stopping here and there in college centers, always developing new lines of contact and bringing back suggestions for publishing enterprises. " An evidence of this activity is the "International Education Series" under the editorship of Dr. W. T. Harris; nearly every great educational leader of Europe and America in the late nineteenth century contributed a volume to this series.

Other evidence is the long line of Appleton texts for colleges. William W. continued his father's advocacy of the rights of literary property and gave important aid in securing the Copyright Act of 1891; later, as president of the Publishers' Copyright League, he worked hard but unsuccessfully to have the United States join the International Copyright Union.

He took an active interest in the circulating library idea. When the "Sewing Circle" of Grace Church started in 1870 a little circulating library of 500 books, Appleton was invited to be one of "an advisory committee of gentlemen. " In the following year the New York Free Circulating Library came into existence with Appleton chairman of the Committee on Library and Reading Rooms. Subsequently this library was consolidated with the New York Public Library and he was appointed a trustee of that institution and made chairman of the Committee on Circulation.

His great interest made him a frequent visitor to all the branches and many librarians testify to his sympathy and generous support. For many years he was senior warden of St. Bartholomew's Church and a trustee of the Institute for the Blind, and at the time of his death was one of the trustees of the endowment fund of the American Library Association. He resided in his later years at 571 Park Ave.

Achievements

• Appleton made a significant contribution to translation and publishing of books.

Works

More photos

• book

  • A Cycle of Cathay: The Chinese Vogue in England During the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries
  • Madame Vestris and the London stage

Connections

In 1881 he married Anna Sargent, by whom he had two sons and two daughters.

Father:

William H. Appleton

Mother:

Mary (Worthen) Appleton

Spouse:

Anna (Sargent)