Moses King
Encyclopedia
Moses King editor and publisher, published numerous guidebooks to travel destinations in the United States, including Boston
, Massachusetts
, New York City
, and Springfield, Massachusetts
.
to Steven Wolff and Sarah Richards. He grew up in St. Louis, Missouri
. After working for several years as a youth, he then graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy
in 1879, and from Harvard College
in 1881, at age 28. He published his first guidebook while still in college, titled Harvard and its Surroundings.
After college he held a series of jobs in the publishing industry, working for Science
magazine, Bradstreet's magazine, and Rand-Avery Co. He married Bertha Maria Cloyes in 1881; they had three children.
He steadily published travel guidebooks from 1878 onwards. By 1888 he formally established the Moses King Corporation. King's illustrated publications about Boston, Cambridge, New York, and elsewhere in the U.S. received generally positive reviews. The more popular titles returned in updated editions.
One darker chapter in King's career occurred in June 1893. During a business meeting in New York, King and photographer Arthur G. Massey engaged in an altercation resulting in Massey filing a lawsuit alleging that King had pulled out part of Massey's beard
. Plaintiff demanded $10,000 in damages.
In 1894 King moved from Boston to New York, where he remained until his death in 1909.
Boston
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...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, New York City
New 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...
, and Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
.
Brief biography
King was born in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
to Steven Wolff and Sarah Richards. He grew up in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. After working for several years as a youth, he then graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy
Phillips Exeter Academy
Phillips Exeter Academy is a private secondary school located in Exeter, New Hampshire, in the United States.Exeter is noted for its application of Harkness education, a system based on a conference format of teacher and student interaction, similar to the Socratic method of learning through asking...
in 1879, and from Harvard College
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1881, at age 28. He published his first guidebook while still in college, titled Harvard and its Surroundings.
After college he held a series of jobs in the publishing industry, working for Science
Science (journal)
Science is the academic journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and is one of the world's top scientific journals....
magazine, Bradstreet's magazine, and Rand-Avery Co. He married Bertha Maria Cloyes in 1881; they had three children.
He steadily published travel guidebooks from 1878 onwards. By 1888 he formally established the Moses King Corporation. King's illustrated publications about Boston, Cambridge, New York, and elsewhere in the U.S. received generally positive reviews. The more popular titles returned in updated editions.
One darker chapter in King's career occurred in June 1893. During a business meeting in New York, King and photographer Arthur G. Massey engaged in an altercation resulting in Massey filing a lawsuit alleging that King had pulled out part of Massey's beard
Beard
A beard is the collection of hair that grows on the chin, cheeks and neck of human beings. Usually, only pubescent or adult males are able to grow beards. However, women with hirsutism may develop a beard...
. Plaintiff demanded $10,000 in damages.
In 1894 King moved from Boston to New York, where he remained until his death in 1909.
Selected works
Boston, Springfield, and Massachusetts
- Harvard & its surroundings. Cambridge, Mass., King, 1878, 1880.
- King's hand-book of Boston. Cambridge, Mass., M. King, 1878, 1889.
- The Back-Bay district and the Vendome. Boston: 1880, 1882.
- King's handbook of Springfield, Massachusetts. Springfield, MassachusettsSpringfield, MassachusettsSpringfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
, J.D. Gill, 1884. - With Moses Forster Sweetser. King's handbook of Boston Harbour. Boston : Moses King Corporation, 1889.
- With Moses Forster Sweetser. King's handbook of Newton, Massachusetts. 1889.
- King's how to see Boston: a trustworthy guide-book. Boston, Mass. : Moses King, 1895.
- Harvard University: eighty photographic views selected from "King's handbook of Harvard University". Boston : M. King, 1895, 1896.
New York City
- King's handbook of New York city; an outline history and description of the American metropolis. Boston, Mass. : Moses King, 1892, 1893.
- King's photographic views of New York. Boston, M. King, ©1895.
- King's views of the New York Stock Exchange. New York : M. King, 1897.
- King's views of Grant's tomb, New York city; dedication, 27 April, 1897. New York, M. King, 1897.
- The Dewey reception in New York City : nine-hundred and eighty views and portraits. [New York] : M. King, 1899
- Notable New Yorkers of 1896-1899; a companion volume to King's Handbook of New York City. New York, King, 1899.
- New York's rapid transit tunnel and underground railway. New York : Moses King, 1900.
- King's views of Brooklyn. New York, M. King, 1904.
USA
- King's pocket-book of Cincinnati. J. Shillito & Co., 1879.
- King's pocket-book of Providence, R.I. Tibbitts & Shaw, 1882.
- With Moses Forster Sweetser. King's handbook of the United States. Buffalo : King, 1891.
- Where to stop. A guide to the best hotels of the world, alphabetically by cities. Boston, M. King, 1894.
- Views of Philadelphia. N.Y., 1900.
- The city and country homes of Philadelphians. Moses King, 1902.
- Philadelphia and notable Philadelphians. New York, King, 1902.
- A California paradise--home, gardens and studio of Paul de Longpré, the pre-eminent flower artist: Hollywood, superb suburb of Los Angeles. New York : M. King, 1904.
Further reading
- Moses King Going to New York. Boston Daily Globe. Jul 31, 1883. p.5.
- Mr. Moses King Takes Charge of "Bradstreet's." Boston Daily Globe. Jan 2, 1884. p.6.
- An author's wooden wedding. Congratulations to Moses King of Newton. Boston Daily Globe. Oct 20, 1886. p.2.
- Trade good, credit bad; Moses King on the Rand Avery Assignment. Boston Daily Globe. Oct 22, 1888. p.1.
- Boston failures: W.D. Forbes's liabilities and the insolvency of Moses King. New York Times. Nov 4, 1888. p.16.
- Moses King, The Harvard Register, Harvard University, 1880. Contains many references to Moses King.
External links
- Photo portrait of King - New York Public LibraryNew York Public LibraryThe New York Public Library is the largest public library in North America and is one of the United States' most significant research libraries...
collection