William Crosby
Crosby, Nichols and Company
Crosby, Nichols, Lee, and Company
Crosby and Nichols
Crosby and Ainsworth
William Crosby (1819-1907) was born in Charleston, New Hampshire. He moved to Boston in 1832 and worked in the bookstore of Leonard C. Bowles. He published on his own imprint between 1839 and 1844. In 1844 he established with his friend, Henry P. Nichols, the firm, William (Wm.) Crosby and H. P. Nichols. (No relation to Samuel F. Nichols of Nichols and Hall and the Chase and Hall firms). Joseph Ainsworth was admitted to Crosby, Nichols and Co. as a partner in 1852. In the late 1850's the partners in Crosby, Nichols and Co. were Crosby, Nichols, Joseph Ainsworth, William H. Piper, and Oliver S. Felt. In 1860 William Lee, previously of Phillips, Sampson & Co. joined the firm. The partners in the new firm of Crosby, Nichols, Lee and Co. were Crosby, Nichols, Ainsworth and Lee. When Lee joined the firm, Crosby, Nichols, Lee & Co. purchased most of the Phillips, Sampson & Co. plates
Henry P. Nichols (1817-1890) was a native of Salem, Massachusetts. He died when he was run over by a public conveyance. (Details are unknown to me)
Henry P. Noyes (1835-1908) joined the Crosby, Nichols and Co. firm as a clerk in 1855.
Joseph F. Ainsworth (1824-1888) was a native of Bethel, Vermont.
1856 notice of the firm's move
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In 1861 the company had financial setbacks and divided into three houses. Lee left and joined Charles A. B. Shepard to form Lee and Shepard. Crosby and Nichols continued the firm in their names. Henry P. Nichols along with Henry D. Noyes took over the retail side of the company under the Nichols and Noyes banner. This latter firm dissolved in 1870. It was succeeded by Noyes, Holmes and Co. when Nichols retired. The copartners in this new firm were Noyes, John S. Lockwood, John B. Holmes and Walter D. Brooks. This firm dissolved in 1875 and the business was taken over by Lockwood, Brooks and Co. Later Noyes reestablished his business as Henry D. Noyes and Co. at 13.5 Bromfield Street.
In 1864 Crosby and Nichols went their separate ways and the company morphed into Crosby and Ainsworth. In 1868 Crosby retired and the new firm of Woolworth, Ainsworth and Co. was born. See: 19th Century Juvenile Series - Woolworth, Ainsworth & Co.
In 1869 William Crosby with Charles Damrell (1826-1896) formerly of James Munroe and Co. purchased the book and periodical business of A. Williams and established Crosby and Damrell, located at 100 Washington Street in Boston. This firm lasted about one year. No juvenile books with this imprint have been noted.
After Crosby's publishing career ended he became a partner in a clothing firm and later he was a superintendent for a Children's Mission.
Summary of company dates:
Wm. Crosby and Co. 1839-1844
William Crosby 1844
Wm. (William) P. Crosby and H. P. Nichols 1845-1852
Crosby, Nichols and Co. 1852-1860 (CN&Co.)
Crosby, Nichols, Lee and Co.-- February, 1860-October, 1861(CNL)
Crosby and Nichols 1861-1864 (C&N)
Crosby and Ainsworth 1864-1868 (CA)
Woolworth, Ainsworth and Co. 1869-1874
Potter, Ainsworth & Co. 1875-1886
Potter, Knight and Ainsworth 1886-1888
Knight, Loomis & Co. 1888-1889
Crosby and Damrell 1869-1870
Nichols and Noyes 1865-1870
Noyes, Holmes and Co. 1870-1875
Henry D. Noyes & Co. 1880-1888
The series:
The initials after the series indicates the publishers printed the
series