McClelland & Stewart

History

McClelland & Stewart Ltd. is a publishing company founded in 1906 by John McClelland and Frederick Goodchild as McClelland and Goodchild Limited. When George Stewart joined the firm in 1914, his name was added to the title, but the present form was adopted after Goodchild's departure in 1918. The company began as a library supply house, representing British and American firms, and went on to publish Canadian authors such as Ralph Connor (Charles William Gordon), Bliss Carman, Duncan Campbell Scott, Stephen Leacock, Lucy Maud Montgomery and Frederick Philip Grove.

Jack McClelland, the founder's son, became executive vice-president in 1952 and president in 1961, and continued to develop a vigorous Canadian book publishing program that made a most notable contribution to the publishing and marketing of Canadian literature (see English-Language Book Publishing). The company published the foremost Canadian writers of the day, including Margaret Laurence, W.O. Mitchell, Margaret Atwood, Earle Birney, Al Purdy, Leonard Cohen, Mordecai Richler, Irving Layton, and many others. Through non-fiction authors such as Pierre Berton, Farley Mowat, Peter Gzowski and Peter C. Newman, McClelland & Stewart succeeded in publishing many Canadian best-sellers. Through the New Canadian Library Series (established 1958) and Carleton Library Series (established 1963) the company reprinted classic works in Canadian literature, history and social sciences, and greatly aided the growth of Canadian studies. The company published the first two volumes in its Canadian Centenary Series - an 18-volume history of Canada - in 1963.

Widespread publicity and concern were aroused by the announcement in 1971 that McClelland & Stewart was for sale. The Ontario government decided to provide a $1-million loan to prevent its sale to American interests. In 1984 the government again stepped in, freeing McClelland & Stewart from its debt obligation (some $4 million). This action depended on McClelland being able to raise over $1 million from the private sector; his success at this endeavour was an acknowledgement of McClelland & Stewart's contribution to Canadian culture. However, McClelland & Stewart was sold in 1985 to Avie Bennett and McClelland resigned his position as publisher with the firm in 1987. Bennett continued as chairman and Douglas Gibson as publisher.

The company has continued to publish about 100 new titles each year and to add to its distinguished list of Canadian writers, including Yves Beauchemin, Lorna Crozier, Robertson Davies, Mavis Gallant, Jack Hodgins, Rohinton Mistry, Alice Munro, Michael Ondaatje, Nino Ricci, Jane Urquhart, David Adams Richards and Guy Vanderhaeghe, among others. McClelland & Stewart revived the New Canadian Library Series under David Staines. In 1991 McLelland & Stewart purchased Hurtig Publishers of Edmonton, the former publisher of The Canadian Encyclopedia. The company then bought the children's book publisher, Tundra, in 1995. An alliance was formed in January 2000 when the non-fiction publisher Macfarlane Walter & Ross became part of the McClelland & Stewart team. This alliance continued until 2003, when market conditions forced Macfarlane Walter & Ross to close down.

In June 2000, McClelland & Stewart was donated to the University of Toronto. Under the terms of the gift, the university owned 75 per cent of the company and appointed five of the directors on the seven-person board. The remaining 25 per cent ownership was sold to Random House of Canada. In 2012, the University of Toronto sold their majority ownership to Random House of Canada. In 2013, Random House of Canada merged with Penguin to form Penguin Random House of Canada.

Legacy

The company's centennial was acknowledged by Canada Post on 26 April 2006 with a commemorative stamp.