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Stackpole Booksis a tradepublishing companyinMechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.It was founded byEdward J. StackpoleinHarrisburg, Pennsylvania,in 1930 and was moved to its current headquarters in 1993. Stackpole publishes nonfiction books in the areas of crafts, outdoors, regional and travel, military history, and military reference. The current CEO is M. David Detweiler, and the Publisher and Editorial Director is Judith Schnell.
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| Parent company | Rowman & Littlefield |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1930 |
| Founder | E. J. Stackpole Jr. |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Headquarters location | Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania,U.S. |
| Publication types | Books |
| Nonfiction topics | fly fishing, outdoor sports, nature, military history, military reference |
| Imprints | Stackpole Books, Headwater Books, Ryton Books |
| Official website | www |
History
editThe publishing company that became Stackpole Books has its origins with theEvening TelegraphinHarrisburg, Pennsylvania,which was founded in the early 19th century. In 1901, controlling interest in the Telegraph Press was acquired by E. J. Stackpole Sr.[1]The business was carried on by Stackpole's son,Edward J. Stackpole Jr.,a decorated general inWorld War Iwho received theDistinguished Service Cross,theSilver Star,and threePurple Hearts.[2]
In 1930, the National Service Publishing Company, based inWashington, D.C.and established in 1921, was acquired by Telegraph. Renamed Military Service Publishing Company. It published textbooks for the military services, includingArmy Officer’s Guide,which is still in print in an updated edition by Stackpole Books.
Also in 1930, E. J. Stackpole Jr. and his brother Albert Stackpole began a trade company called Stackpole Sons, with additional offices in New York City. Stackpole Sons published books starting in 1936[3]on a variety of subjects, including fiction byDamon RunyonandJohn Fante[4]and autobiographies byBenny Goodman[5]andHuey Long.Both Military Service Publishing Company and Stackpole Sons were divisions of Telegraph Press. A brief merger of Stackpole Sons with the Heck Company in the 1940s resulted in the short-lived Stackpole & Heck. After the union dissolved, the trade division became the Stackpole Company.
DuringWorld War II,Military Services Publishing Company produced small, inexpensive paperback reprints of fiction titles for soldiers. About twice the size ofArmed Services Editions(ASEs), these books were still small enough to carry easily in military uniform cargo pockets. These "Superior Reprints" complemented the ASE titles and leaned toward mystery and detective fiction. Like the ASEs, these books were entertaining and noncontroversial in content; but, unlike the ASEs, they were not free to the soldiers.
In the 1950s, Stackpole developed a strong emphasis on nonfiction books, especially outdoors and history titles. In outdoors, the house published several successful and well-regarded works by wilderness survivalistBradford Angier,includingFeasting Free on Wild Edibles,Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants,Field Guide to Medicinal Wild Plants,andLooking for Gold,all of which are still in print today in new editions. E. J. Stackpole Jr. himself was an esteemed author ofAmerican Civil Warhistory; his popular titles for the house areThey Met at Gettysburg,The Fredericksburg Campaign,Chancellorsville,andSheridan in the Shenandoah.
In 1959, Stackpole and Military Service merged into a single company, Stackpole Books.[citation needed]In recent years, the house has continued publishing in military reference, history, and outdoors. Stackpole has been especially noted for their books onfly fishing.New lines include crafts, regional, and travel books.
In 2015, Stackpole Books was bought byRowman & Littlefield.[6]Stackpole Magazines were sold to Ampry Publishing in 2016.[7]
Superior Reprints
editMilitary Services Publishing Company produced a series of paperback books called "Superior Reprints" in 1944 and 1945. Twenty-one titles were published in this series, consecutively numbered from M637 to M657.[8]Each book was priced at 25¢. The complete series of Superior Reprints consists of:
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References
edit- ^Stackpole, E. J. Behind the Scenes with a Newspaper Man. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott, 1927.
- ^“Gen. E. J. Stackpole Dies at Age of 73,” Patriot-News, October 2, 1967; Lt. Gen. E. J. Stackpole [obituary], Variety, October 11, 1967.
- ^"Book notes",The New York Times.April 20, 1936. Page 15.
- ^Cooper, Stephen. Full of Life: A Biography of John Fante. New York: North Point Press, 2000, pp. 131, 148-49, 156, 160-61, 169, 184-88, 210, 270.
- ^Firestone, Ross. Swing, Swing, Swing: The Life and Times of Benny Goodman. New York: W. W. Norton, 1993, pp. 257-59.
- ^Milliot, Jim (17 December 2015)."Rowman & Littlefield Buys Stackpole Books".Publishers Weekly.Retrieved2 October2016.
- ^Ampry Publishing Acquires Stackpole Magazines
- ^Hancer, Kevin (1990).Hancer's Price Guide to Paperback Books,3rd ed. Des Moines, IA: Wallace-Homestead Publishing.