The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-08-07
IN ITS SECOND CENTURY
LITTLE, BROWN & co. FOUND
ED BACK IN 1884

Was Known Marlborough
Street, benjamin Guild Started
the Business Which Has Since De-
ve1oped Into That of Little,
Brown & Co.
The purchase last week by Little,
Brown & Co. Of the general publishing
business Of Roberts Bros, brings to
mind the fact that the firm of Little,
Brown s. Co.. though 1T did not begin
business under this name until 1887,
may trace it's foundation back until
1854, and Is therefore we'll started in
the second century Of It's history. A
brief survey Of the origin and career
of this firm may not be out Of place
ait this time, and we accordingly avail
ourselves Of the opportunity to furnish
1t. ---- -
A century ago a part Of what is now
Washington street, in Boston, was
known as Marlborough street AS far
back as 1884 a boonshop was kept in
Marlborough street South Of School
and north Of Eliot street by E. Ba-
telle. Three years later Benjamin
Guild took the business and carried
1t on as The Boston Book Store, first
at SO Cornhill (now Washington street
north Of School street, and afterward
at No. 1 Cornhill, on the north corner
Of Spring lane. From 1892 to 1897 the
business was in the hands of Samuel
Cabot, who was then succeeded by
William T. and Samuel Blake, who
not only sold books but published sew
eral, and also maintained a circulating
library. Nobody seems to have retain
cd AP h1,r, low fN
the Blalles gave place in 1906 to Will
liam Andrews, who died in 1913. Then
1T passed into the hands Of Jacob "A.
Cummings, who taught a private
school in Cambridge, and William Hill
lizard, a printer, and proprietor of the
Harvard University Book Store. With
these proprietors Timothy Fl. Garter
| time was left in sole charge of the
store. Carter forseeing the Importance
of law books, took a great pride in
their production by the firm. In 1921
me was admitted as a partner, the firm
becoming Carter, billiard & Co., and
practically ran the business. Finding
the work too much for him, he adver-
tised for a clerk, and Charles G. Lit
tie was hired
When Mr.. Cummings died, and Mr..
Garter had withdrawn from the firm
and started in the old bookstore oppo-
site, Harrison Gray come in, and in
1927 a new firm, under the title of Hill
lard, Gray & Co., was formed, the
company being Mr.. Little. The firm
name for a time also was billiard,
Gray, Little & wilkins. In 1880 the
firm sold it's stand and part of it's stock
to William Hyde, and removed to its
present quarters at 254 Washington
street. Here 1t greatly increased Its
business in the publication of law
books and the importation of foreign
works. In 1887 Charles c. Little and
James Brown (of the firm of Hilliard e
Brown, who kept the Harvard Univer-
sity Book Store at Cambridge became
the proprietors, the firm name being
Charles G. Little & James Brown. In
1S47, when Augustus Flagg was ad-
mitted to partnership, the style was
changed to the present name Of Little,
Brown & Co.
Charles c. Little was born in Ken
nebunk, Me-, July 25, 1893. Early in
life he went to Boston, and entered a
shipping house on Long wharf. Re-
manning there a short time, he went to
Charleston, s. c., for the winter and
upon his return entered the employ of
Carter, Hillfard & Co. His career as
business man was a long and honor
able one. Integrity, uprightness and
great prudence characterized all his
UuSluSSo JIdIlSdCIlOuSy cIld Ills COlltluCl
toward his assistants was gentlemanly
and courteous"-wast the verdict Of one
Of his contemporaries He died in
Cambridge, Aug. g. 1859.
James Brown was born In Acton,
Mass, in 1900. When eighteen years
old he began as clerk and general as
sistant In billiards Cambridge book
store. He was but twentysix years
old when he became a member Of the
firm of Hillfard & Brown. He died
suddenly in March, 1856, his death
coming as a, shock not only to his in
innate friends, but to the bookselling
world generally. He had charge Of the
foreign importations, while Mr.. Little
had control Of the law book depart
ment. In this way Mr.. Brown came
in contact with the trade not only In
this country but abroad. OF Mr..
Browns successive trips to Europe IN
the forties and f1fties interesting rec.
ords are preserved in his letters and
journals, glimpses of which were given
in George S. billiards. Memoir OF
James Brown privately printed. On
his first visit to London, in 1S41, he
met John Murray, who treated him
with "a cordial and hospitable kind
ness and he named his youngest son,
now the senior member of the firm,
after the eminent publisher. Mr..
Brown was q man of fine presence
and affable manner, cultivated and
liberal. At the time of his death he
had won the enviaible distinction Of be-
ing considered by his fraternity the
most representative member Of the
profession he loved so we'll, and to
which he was an honor.
After Mr.. Browns death, Augustus
Flagg, who entered the employ of Lit
tie G. Brown when he was twenty-one,
and who was admitted to partnership
in 1916, became purchaser abroad of
foreign books for the house. From
1869, when Mr.. Little died, to the time
Of his retirement from business, in
1884, he was the managing partner.
During the period of his direction of
affairs Mr.. Flagg had associated with
him, at different periods, James P.
Brown, son Of James Brown; Benja-
min s. Haywood, William j. Parsons,
Henry T. Miles, John Bartlett, of 'F'a-
miliar Quotations" fame; Thomas W.
Deland, and his brother, George F1agg
In the present firm are associated
John Murray Brown (the youngest son
Of James Brown, Charles w. Allen,
Hulings G. Brown and James W. Nc
Intyre, who. through years OF training
in this house, and backed by it's ira
dttions, are carrying the work along
on the same lines but are gradually
broadening and widening their scope
Little, Brown & Co. have been al
publishing firm of law books In Amer
lea, including in it's list such famous
authors aus Kent, Story and Greenleaf
among the early writer's, and major
ity of the notable and standard legal
authors Of the last quarter of q CEN
tury. In general literature the firm
has issued many notable books, in