Dissertation Information for Linda Markson Kruger NAME: - Linda Markson Kruger
DEGREE:
- Ph.D.
DISCIPLINE:
- Library and Information Science
SCHOOL:
- Columbia University (USA) (1980)
ADVISORS: - Phyllis Dain
COMMITTEE MEMBERS: - Margaret Frances Stieg
MPACT Status: Fully Complete
Title: THE NEW YORK CITY BOOK TRADE, 1725 - 1750
Abstract: The book trade in colonial New York has been defined as the interrelationship among certain phenomena such as printing, bookselling, wholesaling, retailing, freight and insurance charges; trade guilds or associations, shipping and customs' agents; clientele, press advertisements, and institutions so as to facilitate the commerce and use of books. This study addresses itself to the development of these phenomena in New York City from 1725 to 1750.
The goal has been to gather, analyze and interpret, critically and objectively, data that would answer partially or completely the following questions: What was the nature and extent of the book trade in New York City? How significant was such a trade in the contemporary social, intellectual, political and economic life of the city and of the province? Who were the booksellers? To what extent was there a book trade independent of printing and publishing? How were printed goods sold? Was publishing by subscription a significant occurrence? To what extent did book auctions play a role? Was there an antiquarian market? Where did merchandise originate and in what quantities? What effect did external factors such as war and climate have on the emerging trade?
Through the use of documentary analysis, these problems have been resolved to varying degrees. The main hypothesis--that a book trade did exist in New York City from 1725-1750--suggested, as research progressed, a further hypothesis: that Benjamin Franklin played a major role in the trade's development in New York. Franklin supplied William Bradford and John Peter Zenger, New York City's founding printers, with inventory and supplies for their businesses. He opened a New York shop and financed a former employee, James Parker, to manage it and then assume full ownership after a period of time.
Six of the eleven chapters study the way in which the Franklin/Parker relationship benefited the trade. One chapter deals with William Bradford's unique contributions to the book trade and one chapter analyzes the role of John Peter Zenger and how his political involvement affected the quality of his press work and his bookselling. An early chapter provides the concrete historical setting within which all this took place. An introductory chapter outlines the bibliographical resources utilized and the methodology is further elaborated. The summary and conclusions are followed by nine appendices and a bibliography.
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MPACT Scores for Linda Markson Kruger A = 0
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calculated 2008-01-31 06:01:54
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