Benziger Brothers
Encyclopedia
Benziger Brothers was a Roman Catholic book publishing house founded by Joseph Charles Benziger
, in 1792, in Switzerland
.
of religious pictures, as well as the coloring of them by hand, before the introduction of chromolithography
.
established at the same time, lasted only ten years. Charles also took an active part in public life, and served as President of the Swiss Canton of Schwyz
.
Nicholas Benziger (b. 1808, d. 1864), who took charge of the technical part of the business, proved himself a pioneer, introducing to the mountain village of Einsiedeln a series of improved trades methods as they appeared from time to time in the great centres of Europe and America. Under his guidance the work of book-binding, which was formerly carried on in the family at home, was systematized. In 1844, the old hand-press was superseded by the first power press. Stereotyping
was introduced in 1846; in 1856 steel and copper printing; and in 1858 electrotyping
.
) in 1853, its development as a publishing house did not begin until 1860 when J.N. Adelrich Benziger and Louis Benziger took charge. In 1860, further offices were opened in Cincinnati and, in 1887, one in Chicago
. The publishing of English Catholic books was vigorously undertaken, and their catalogue covered the field of devotional, educational, and juvenile literature, besides works of a theological character. Benziger was not only a publishing house, but also a liturgical supply factory. The American firm of Benziger Brothers is now independent of the Swiss house. The Holy See
conferred on the firm the title "Printers to the Holy Apostolic See" in 1867.
), and the following year its headquarters were moved to California
. In 1971, it was merged with two other companies — Bruce Publishing, founded in Milwaukee in the 1890s, and Glencoe Press, began in Beverly Hills in 1966. In July 2007 the Benziger name and product line was purchased from McGraw Hill by CFM Publishing and merged with Texas based Catholic publisher RCL - Resources For Christian Living - to form RCL Benziger. The New Company is headquartered in Allen, Texas
.
Joseph Charles Benziger
Joseph Charles Benziger was the founder of the Catholic publishing house which bears his surname.He was born in 1762 in Einsiedeln, Switzerland. In 1792 he started a small business in religious articles, but he soon felt the effects of the French Revolution...
, in 1792, in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
History
The company started out selling religious articles but, due to family misfortune and upheaval, by 1800 Benziger was selling books. In 1833, Benziger's sons, Charles and Nicholas, succeeded their father under the firm name of "Charles and Nicholas Benziger Brothers". Two years later, in addition to their book publishing business, they began the lithographingLithography
Lithography is a method for printing using a stone or a metal plate with a completely smooth surface...
of religious pictures, as well as the coloring of them by hand, before the introduction of chromolithography
Chromolithography
Chromolithography is a method for making multi-color prints. This type of color printing stemmed from the process of lithography, and it includes all types of lithography that are printed in color. When chromolithography is used to reproduce photographs, the term photochrom is frequently used...
.
Charles Benziger
Charles Benziger (b. 1799, d. 1873), a man with a good classical education, devoted himself especially to the literary end of the business. In 1840, the Einsiedler Kalender was founded. The Pilgrim, a popular Catholic periodicalCatholic periodical literature of the nineteenth century
-Generalities:Up to a few decades before 1800, most of the periodical publications in mainly Catholic countries can be regarded as "Catholic" literature: the editorial line is implicitly Catholic....
established at the same time, lasted only ten years. Charles also took an active part in public life, and served as President of the Swiss Canton of Schwyz
Canton of Schwyz
Schwyz is a canton in central Switzerland between the Alps in the south, Lake Lucerne in the east and Lake Zurich in the north, centered around and named after the town of Schwyz....
.
Nicholas Benziger
Stereotype (printing)
In printing, a stereotype, also known as a cliché, stereoplate or simply a stereo, was originally a "solid plate or type-metal, cast from a papier-mâché or plaster mould taken from the surface of a forme of type" used for printing instead of the original...
was introduced in 1846; in 1856 steel and copper printing; and in 1858 electrotyping
Electrotyping
Electrotyping is a chemical method for forming metal parts that exactly reproduce a model. The method was invented by Moritz von Jacobi in Russia in 1838, and was immediately adopted for applications in printing and several other fields...
.
End of 19th century
On the retirement of Charles and Nicholas Benziger in 1860, the business was continued by three of Charles' sons (Charles, Martin and J.N. Adelrich) and three of Nicholas' sons (Nicholas, Adelrich, and Louis). Under this third generation, the different branches of the house were still further developed, chromolithography and other modern printing methods being added. In 1867, the Alte und Neue Welt, the first illustrated popular Catholic German magazine on a large scale, was begun, and then appeared a number of illustrated Catholic family books and a series of school books, including a Bible history in twelve languages, together with prayer books by well-known authors. Between 1880 and 1895 a fourth generation succeeded to the business, and the firm name was changed to Benziger and Company.Expansion to the United States
Although Benziger Brothers had established offices in the United States (in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
) in 1853, its development as a publishing house did not begin until 1860 when J.N. Adelrich Benziger and Louis Benziger took charge. In 1860, further offices were opened in Cincinnati and, in 1887, one in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. The publishing of English Catholic books was vigorously undertaken, and their catalogue covered the field of devotional, educational, and juvenile literature, besides works of a theological character. Benziger was not only a publishing house, but also a liturgical supply factory. The American firm of Benziger Brothers is now independent of the Swiss house. The Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
conferred on the firm the title "Printers to the Holy Apostolic See" in 1867.
20th and 21st century
In 1968, Benziger was acquired by Crowell Collier Macmillan (later to become Macmillan, Inc.Macmillan Publishers
Macmillan Publishers Ltd, also known as The Macmillan Group, is a privately held international publishing company owned by Georg von Holtzbrinck Publishing Group. It has offices in 41 countries worldwide and operates in more than thirty others.-History:...
), and the following year its headquarters were moved to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. In 1971, it was merged with two other companies — Bruce Publishing, founded in Milwaukee in the 1890s, and Glencoe Press, began in Beverly Hills in 1966. In July 2007 the Benziger name and product line was purchased from McGraw Hill by CFM Publishing and merged with Texas based Catholic publisher RCL - Resources For Christian Living - to form RCL Benziger. The New Company is headquartered in Allen, Texas
Allen, Texas
Allen is a city in Collin County, Texas, United States, a northern suburb of Dallas. As of the 2010 census the city had a total population of 84,246.-Geography:According to the City of Allen, the city has a total area of...
.