Daniel Lothrop
Encyclopedia
Daniel Lothrop was an American publisher.
, Strafford County, New Hampshire
, August 11, 1831, son of Daniel and Sophia (Home) Lothrop, the youngest of three brothers. He was a lineal descendant of John Lowthorpe, who in the thirty-seventh year of Henry VIII (1545) was a gentleman of extensive landed estates, and of Mark Lothrop, his grandson. The latter settled in Salem, Massachusetts
, in 1644, and his line joined that of Priscilla Mullens and John Alden of the Mayflower
, Daniel Lothrop being in the seventh generation from them. On the maternal side he was a lineal descendant of William Home, of Home's Hill, Dover, New Hampshire
, who held his exposed position through the Indian wars
, but was killed in the Indian massacre of June 28, 1689. His estate was in the family name from 1662 to the 19th century.
. Having this in successful operation, he called a third brother to the charge of it, while he established a similar store at Meredith Bridge, New Hampshire (now Laconia
), books being the principal stock. These three brothers for more than forty years remained in a copartnership with absolute unity of interests, though in different lines of business, and located in different cities. In 1850 Mr. Lothrop bought out a book store in Dover, New Hampshire, which he made one of the best and largest in New England
, and it became a literary centre: a favorite meeting-place for the cultivated people of the town.
, with headquarters at 38 and 40 Cornhill. From the first he encouraged American authors, being a true American, in feeling and instinct, and up to the time of his death had issued more books written by Americans than any other publisher. He was indefatigable in his efforts to stimulate young writers and bring to the surface latent talent; and men and women now well known as authors were many of them first brought before the reading public by him. He instituted a new and distinct literature for children, publishing it under much discouragement until it became a great success and brought him the title of the "children's friend." He was eminently successful in elevating the standard of literature for the Sunday-school, for young people and for the home, always carrying out his first expressed purpose "never to publish a work simply sensational, no matter what chances of money it has in it, and to publish books that will make true, steadfast growth in right living—not alone right thinking, but right living."
, opposite Bromfield Street, using large warehouses on Purchase Street for the manufacture and storing of his books. His sales-rooms and warehouses were among the most extensive in the trade. In 1874 he originated Wide Awake, a magazine for young people and the family. The Pansy, Our Little Men and Women, Babyland, the Chautauqua Young Folks' Journal and the quarterly Best Things, were other periodicals issued by this firm, all eminently successful.
, who died in March, 1880. He was again married, October 4, 1881, to Harriett Mulford
, of New Haven, Connecticut
, who bore him a daughter, Margaret Mulford Lothrop, born July 27, 1884. Their winters were spent in Boston, their summers at "The Wayside
," Concord, Massachusetts
, the only home ever owned by Nathaniel Hawthorne
, which Lothrop purchased in 1883. Here was dispensed a gracious hospitality, drawing to the celebrated old mansion, guests from both sides of the ocean, men and women of high social position and reputation for intellectual gifts.
His death occurred in Boston in the midst of his work, after a few days' illness, March 18, 1892. He was laid to rest in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Concord
, Massachusetts, on Ridge Hill, that spot so famous as the burial place of distinguished men and women.
After his death, his widow continued the business which merged with Lee & Shepard
, in 1905, to form Lothrop, Lee & Shepard.
Biography
Daniel Lothrop was horn in RochesterRochester, New Hampshire
Rochester is a city in Strafford County, New Hampshire, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 29,752. The city includes the villages of East Rochester and Gonic. Rochester is home to Skyhaven Airport and the annual Rochester Fair....
, Strafford County, New Hampshire
Strafford County, New Hampshire
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 112,233 people, 42,581 households, and 27,762 families residing in the county. The population density was 304 people per square mile . There were 45,539 housing units at an average density of 124 per square mile...
, August 11, 1831, son of Daniel and Sophia (Home) Lothrop, the youngest of three brothers. He was a lineal descendant of John Lowthorpe, who in the thirty-seventh year of Henry VIII (1545) was a gentleman of extensive landed estates, and of Mark Lothrop, his grandson. The latter settled in Salem, Massachusetts
Salem, Massachusetts
Salem is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,407 at the 2000 census. It and Lawrence are the county seats of Essex County...
, in 1644, and his line joined that of Priscilla Mullens and John Alden of the Mayflower
Mayflower
The Mayflower was the ship that transported the English Separatists, better known as the Pilgrims, from a site near the Mayflower Steps in Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Massachusetts, , in 1620...
, Daniel Lothrop being in the seventh generation from them. On the maternal side he was a lineal descendant of William Home, of Home's Hill, Dover, New Hampshire
Dover, New Hampshire
Dover is a city in Strafford County, New Hampshire, in the United States of America. The population was 29,987 at the 2010 census, the largest in the New Hampshire Seacoast region...
, who held his exposed position through the Indian wars
King William's War
The first of the French and Indian Wars, King William's War was the name used in the English colonies in America to refer to the North American theater of the Nine Years' War...
, but was killed in the Indian massacre of June 28, 1689. His estate was in the family name from 1662 to the 19th century.
Education and early business ventures
Daniel Lothrop was a diligent student; his aptitude for mathematics was remarkable, and he possessed a singularly retentive memory, so that at fourteen years of age he was fitted for college. But waiting a year, at the advice of friends, who thought him too young to enter, circumstances thrust him into the arena of business, and he assumed the charge of a brother's drug store. His love of books soon led him to introduce the sale of them as an adjunct. When seventeen years of age, he hired and stocked a drug store in Newmarket, New HampshireNewmarket, New Hampshire
Newmarket is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 8,936 at the 2010 census. Some residents are students and employees at the nearby University of New Hampshire in Durham....
. Having this in successful operation, he called a third brother to the charge of it, while he established a similar store at Meredith Bridge, New Hampshire (now Laconia
Laconia, New Hampshire
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,411 people, 6,724 households, and 4,168 families residing in the city. The population density was 809.3 people per square mile . There were 8,554 housing units at an average density of 421.8 per square mile...
), books being the principal stock. These three brothers for more than forty years remained in a copartnership with absolute unity of interests, though in different lines of business, and located in different cities. In 1850 Mr. Lothrop bought out a book store in Dover, New Hampshire, which he made one of the best and largest in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, and it became a literary centre: a favorite meeting-place for the cultivated people of the town.
Publishing
By 1868, Lothrop was ready to concentrate his forces upon the broader accomplishment of his life purpose of publishing literature for the people, and especially for children and youth. He then transferred his publishing work to BostonBoston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, with headquarters at 38 and 40 Cornhill. From the first he encouraged American authors, being a true American, in feeling and instinct, and up to the time of his death had issued more books written by Americans than any other publisher. He was indefatigable in his efforts to stimulate young writers and bring to the surface latent talent; and men and women now well known as authors were many of them first brought before the reading public by him. He instituted a new and distinct literature for children, publishing it under much discouragement until it became a great success and brought him the title of the "children's friend." He was eminently successful in elevating the standard of literature for the Sunday-school, for young people and for the home, always carrying out his first expressed purpose "never to publish a work simply sensational, no matter what chances of money it has in it, and to publish books that will make true, steadfast growth in right living—not alone right thinking, but right living."
Children's publications
Increased business compelled him to seek more spacious quarters, and in 1875 he removed to the large block on the corner of Franklin and Hawley streets. Again, to acquire more space, he removed in 1887 to 364 and 366 Washington StreetWashington Street (Boston)
Washington Street is a street originating in downtown Boston, Massachusetts that extends southwestward to the Massachusetts-Rhode Island state line. The majority of it was built as the Norfolk and Bristol Turnpike in the early nineteenth century...
, opposite Bromfield Street, using large warehouses on Purchase Street for the manufacture and storing of his books. His sales-rooms and warehouses were among the most extensive in the trade. In 1874 he originated Wide Awake, a magazine for young people and the family. The Pansy, Our Little Men and Women, Babyland, the Chautauqua Young Folks' Journal and the quarterly Best Things, were other periodicals issued by this firm, all eminently successful.
Civic activity
Lolhrop's American instincts and principles were so strong, that he worked for a long period of years toward the better development of citizenship; and soon after 1880 projected plans for the consummation of this work; and was at pains to spend a good deal of time in consultation with leading citizens in congress and elsewhere, in order to devise the best means by which an interest in citizenship might be awakened and extended. The result of his effort was the organization of the American Institute of Civics.Family life
Lothrop was married, July 25, 1860, to Ellen J., daughter of Joseph and Nancy Morrill of Dover, New HampshireDover, New Hampshire
Dover is a city in Strafford County, New Hampshire, in the United States of America. The population was 29,987 at the 2010 census, the largest in the New Hampshire Seacoast region...
, who died in March, 1880. He was again married, October 4, 1881, to Harriett Mulford
Margaret Sidney
Margaret Sidney was the pseudonym of American author Harriett Mulford Stone Lothrop . In addition to writing popular children's stories, she ran her husband Daniel Lothrop's publishing company after his death...
, of New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
, who bore him a daughter, Margaret Mulford Lothrop, born July 27, 1884. Their winters were spent in Boston, their summers at "The Wayside
The Wayside
The Wayside is a historic house in Concord, Massachusetts. The earliest part of the home may date to 1717. Later, it successively became the home of the young Louisa May Alcott and her family, author Nathaniel Hawthorne and his family, and children's literature writer Margaret Sidney...
," Concord, Massachusetts
Concord, Massachusetts
Concord is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 17,668. Although a small town, Concord is noted for its leading roles in American history and literature.-History:...
, the only home ever owned by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Nathaniel Hawthorne was an American novelist and short story writer.Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in 1804 in the city of Salem, Massachusetts to Nathaniel Hathorne and the former Elizabeth Clarke Manning. His ancestors include John Hathorne, a judge during the Salem Witch Trials...
, which Lothrop purchased in 1883. Here was dispensed a gracious hospitality, drawing to the celebrated old mansion, guests from both sides of the ocean, men and women of high social position and reputation for intellectual gifts.
His death occurred in Boston in the midst of his work, after a few days' illness, March 18, 1892. He was laid to rest in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Concord
Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Concord
Sleepy Hollow Cemetery is a cemetery located on Bedford Street near the center of Concord, Massachusetts. The cemetery is the burial site of a number of famous Concordians, including some of the United States' greatest authors and thinkers, especially on a hill known as "Author's...
, Massachusetts, on Ridge Hill, that spot so famous as the burial place of distinguished men and women.
After his death, his widow continued the business which merged with Lee & Shepard
Lee & Shepard
Lee & Shepard was a publishing and bookselling firm in Boston, Massachusetts in the 19th century, established by William Lee and Charles Augustus Billings Shepard Authors published by the firm included: George Melville Baker; Sophie May; Henry Morgan; Oliver Optic; William Carey Richards;...
, in 1905, to form Lothrop, Lee & Shepard.