(c) 2019 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston

J. Wilson & Sons

active Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1847 - about 1880

BiographyJOHN WILSON. John Wilson was born in Glasgow. Scotland, in 1802. His parents were laboring people and were unable to give him even what is known in this country as a common school education. When he was twelve years of age he wa* apprenticed to a printer, whom he served faithfully fur seven years. An evidence of this is the fact that, at the age of nineteen years he was made foreman of a printing office. When twenty-two years old he was rrrarried, and soon afterward removed to Belfast, Ireland. There he retrraiued twelve years, still working al aud improving in his trade. At the end of that time he was offered a responsible place in the otticc of the Manchester Guardian, a leading newspaper in England. He lived there about ten years. It should be remembered that during all these years, and in fact ever after until the latest years of his life, he was studying not only to perfect himself in the mechanical art of printing, but tv fit himself for the duties of an editor of books. The works which have been _en( out from his press in late years testify to the faithfulness of his researches, for many of them are indebted to him fur a careful revision which few men are competent to make. He took great pride in printing books well, but he also made it a point to send out no book which should be open to criticism in any respect IN THE NEW WORLD. The fieldfor usefulness for men of his class was too narrow in the Old World, and after leaving the Manchester Guardian office lie lost very little time in preparation for a new one. In 1846 he sailed with his family for Boston, where he immediately set to work at his trade. With very limited means he opened a small printing office of his own during the next year. His faithfulness and his knowledge of printing soon drew about him many friends, and his business prospered. But he appeared to be more ambitious in doing good work than in obtaining large profits, and with a business upon which many another might have got rich speedily, as the world looks upon it, he was only tolerably prosperous. He steadily increasea his facilities for work, however, and in time began to rise above the ordinary work of a printing office; he began to attract the best of the business. Thenceforward he was for many years the foremost pl'nter in a community which is noted for its V ye of fine books as well as for its literary ft te. For the first few years the name of his house was John Wilson. Afterward bis son John was taken iv as a partner, and ever since the house has been known as " _hn Wilson & Son, notwithstanding that '.re father died in 186 S. The son inherited many of his father's traits, and wa* • strong help 10 him in the advancement of his business. Many years ago it was noticeable that the most carefully made books coming from the leading publishers bore upon the reverse of the titlepage the name of John Wilson & Son, and amid all the improvements of the age, the name ha* held iv position in the advance. We should not omit to remark that the elder John Wilson was an au'hor of some note as well as a good printer. He was a devout Unitarian in religion and spirit, and spent much of his limited spare time in the study of theology. He wrote and printed three books which show the direction of his thought. These were "Scripture l'roofs of Uniiarism," "The Concessions of Trinitarianism," and "Unitarian Principles Confirmed by Trinitarian Testimony." These books are considered very valuable denominational works. He wrote another book, however, through which he is made wideiy known, namelj, "W Ison's Treatise on Punctuation, and other Parts of Composition." This book has gained a wide popularity among printers and publishers, with the most of whom it the standard authority. REMOVAL TO CAMBRIDf.E. In 1865, John Wilson &: Son found their business so extendetl that they must seek new quarters. Cambridge had already attracted many printers of established reputation. They appear to have been Influenced in that direction as naturally as the literary men aud scholars were. The Wilsons removed thither, and greatly enlarged their facilities for work. A few yards from the grounds of Harvard College, on Holyoke street, the stranger will observe an irregular set of buildings, strangely in contrast with the almost uniform neatness antl beauty of Cambridge. No glaring signs meet the eye, and it is difficult to find an entrance to one of the best printing establishments in the United States. But there it is hidden in that rough anil uncouth exterior. Several old buildings have Ireen brought together to do service for John Wilson & Son. It items as if every nook and corner is occupied with business. At any rate, there is little room for company. The countingroom, even, is furnished in the very simplcsr style, and occupies a very limited corner up one narrow flight of stairs. KNOWN BY TIMER WORKS. From this unattractive place come many of the best-known books in all languages. Wilson ,v Son do all the work belonging to bookmaking, except binding, for which they have a contract with Messrs. Little ft Brown of Boston whose bind*ry is at Riverside, Cambridge. They have eleven Adams presses snd one Cottrell & Babcock s stop-cylinder press. The establishment employs about one hundred and fifty hands. Ever since its beginning the business has been controlled entirely by the Wilsons, and since the death of the father, John Wilson, the son is the sole proprietor. A large proportion of their work has been upon law books, antl in this field the must liberal patrons of the house aie Little 1* Urown. The United States Digest antl United States Laws published by them in themselves make an extensive business for the printers. Bancroft's History of the United States is another large work printed by Wilson At Son, who will also print the new adition of Ihe same work. Among the other notable works printed by John Wilson & Son are the Massachusetts Historical Society Reports; The American Academy of Arts and Sciences; The Reports of the Peabody Institution Fund Association —specimens of fine printing which are not, excelled in the world. They also print the Harvard Advocate tor iht students of Harvard College, antl do a great ileal of fine work for Harvard College and other literary Institutions. That beautiful book, the "Singers and Song of the Liberal Faith," by the Rev. Dr. Alfred P. Putnam, of Brooklyn, publish-
Cambridge Chronicle, Volume XXXI, Number 6, 5 February 1876

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Last Updated8/7/24

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