George Haven Putnam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Haven Putnam
|
|
|---|---|
Photo portrait, 1891
|
|
| Born | April 2, 1844 London, England
|
| Died | February 27, 1930 (aged 85) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Columbia College, 1861 |
| Occupation |
|
| Known for | G. P. Putnam's Sons |
| Spouse(s) | Rebecca K. Shepard Emily James Smith Putnam (m. 1899) |
| Children | Dorothy Lesley Putnam Ellen Putnam Ethel Frothingham Putnam Bertha Haven Putnam Corinna Haven Putnam Smith Palmer Cosslett Putnam |
| Parent(s) | George Palmer Putnam and Victorine Haven Putnam |
| Family | (sister) Mary Corinna Putnam (brothers) John Bishop Putnam, Irving Putnam, Herbert Putnam |
George Haven Putnam (born April 2, 1844 – died February 27, 1930) was an important American publisher, soldier, and writer. He was the head of the famous publishing company G. P. Putnam's Sons for 52 years, starting in 1872.
Contents
Early Life and Education
George Haven Putnam was the oldest son of publisher George Palmer Putnam and Victorine Haven Putnam. He was born in London, England, because his father was setting up a branch office there for his New York City publishing company. In 1848, his family moved back to the United States and settled in Stapleton, New York.
Haven received his early education at home. Later, he attended several schools, including Starr's Military Academy in Yonkers, New York. He also went to Prof. John MacMullen's school and the Columbia Grammar School.
In 1861, he started at Columbia College. However, he had eye problems, so his father sent him to Paris and Berlin to see eye doctors. In Berlin, he was treated by Baron von Graefe, a leading eye specialist. As his eyesight got better, he attended lectures at the Sorbonne in Paris, studying French literature and Roman history. He also traveled through many parts of Europe, visiting galleries and exploring different regions.
A Soldier in the Civil War
While studying in Europe, the American Civil War began. George Haven Putnam decided to leave the University of Göttingen without finishing his degree. He returned home to join the Union Army and fight for the North.
During the war, he was captured after the Battle of Cedar Creek in Virginia. He was held as a prisoner of war in places like Libby Prison in Richmond, Virginia and then in Danville. In March 1865, he was released as part of a prisoner exchange. He reached the rank of major in the army.
After the war ended, Major Putnam joined his father's publishing business. He also worked as a tax collector for a short time. Years later, in 1912, he wrote a book about his experiences as a prisoner of war called A Prisoner of War in Virginia.
Leading a Publishing Empire
When his father passed away in 1872, George H. Putnam took over the family business with his brothers, John Bishop and Irving. They renamed the company G. P. Putnam's Sons. George became the president and led the company for 52 years.
In 1884, he hired a young 26-year-old named Theodore Roosevelt as a special partner. Roosevelt, who would later become a U.S. President, wrote several books that Putnam's published.
Fighting for Authors' Rights
Like his father, George Haven Putnam was very involved in important public causes. He worked with groups that promoted fair government and free trade. He was also a founding member of the City Club of New York.
One of his biggest achievements was continuing his father's work to protect authors' copyright. Copyright laws make sure that writers get paid for their work and that others can't just copy it without permission. In 1887, he helped create the American Publishers' Copyright League. This group successfully campaigned for a new international copyright law, which was passed in 1891. This law helped protect authors' works across different countries.
George Haven Putnam retired in 1924, passing the presidency of G. P. Putnam's Sons to Palmer C. Putnam. He passed away in 1930 at the age of 85.
Family Life
Putnam was married twice. His first wife was Rebecca Kettel Shepard, who died in 1895. They had five daughters: Dorothy Lesley, Ellen, Ethel Frothingham, Bertha Haven, and Corinna Haven. Bertha became a well-known historian who studied the Middle Ages. Corinna married Joseph Lindon Smith, a famous painter who focused on Egyptian archaeological discoveries.
In 1899, Putnam married his second wife, Emily James Smith Putnam, who was a scholar of ancient Greek and Roman studies. They had a son named Palmer Cosslett Putnam, who later became a pioneer in wind power technology.
His Writings
Besides his work as a publisher, George Haven Putnam also wrote many articles for scholarly and historical magazines. He also wrote several books, including:
Books for Young Readers
- The Artificial Mother (1894)
- The Little Gingerbread Man (1910)
Other Books
- Authors and Publishers (1882)
- Anecdotes of Luther and the Reformation (1883)
- Books and Their Makers During the Middle Ages, 2 volumes (1896, 1897)
- Washington Irving, His Life and Work (1903)
- Censorship of the Church of Rome and Its Influence Upon the Production and Distribution of Literature, Part 1 (1906)
- Abraham Lincoln (1909)
- A Prisoner of War in Virginia (1912)
- Memories of My Youth (1914)
- Memories of a Publisher (1915)
- Some Memories of the Civil War (1924)
Images for kids
-
Lt George Putnam, 176th New York Infantry
