The Philolexian Society of Columbia University
Alfred Harcourt
Co-founder, Harcourt Brace; publisher of Sinclair Lewis, Sandburg, Frost, T.
From Notable Alumni · Foundation editorial
Co-founder, Harcourt Brace; publisher of Sinclair Lewis, Sandburg, Frost, T. S. Eliot, and Virginia Woolf. Alfred Harcourt (CC 1904) and his classmate Donald Brace put in fifteen orderly years at Henry Holt before walking out in 1919 to start Harcourt, Brace & Howe, a decision improved, almost immediately, by Sinclair Lewis. Lewis brought Main Street and Babbitt, and the new firm acquired in short order Carl Sandburg, Robert Frost, T. S. Eliot, and most of the Hogarth Press's American rights to Virginia Woolf. The list, by any reasonable accounting, is the best decade any American publishing house has ever had.
Vital
- Full name
- Alfred Harcourt
Columbia & the Society
- Columbia
- Class of 1904 (Columbia College)
- Society role
- elected secretary [Spec, 1902-05-13]
Works (2)
- 1943 “Publishing Since 1900” · In The Bowker Lectures on Book Publishing, First Series
- 1951 Some Experiences · Memoir/autobiography
Primary sources
The Columbia Daily Spectator
1902-05-13 Philo's. Last Meeting elected secretary
Philo's. Last Meeting The Philolexian Society held the last regular meeting of the year 011 Tuesday evening. In the number of members present, and the manner in which they entered into the business of the meeting, little more could have been wished, and this last convocation of the society stands out as an agreeable break in the long series of lethargic meetings held this winter. The election of officers, which was the principal business of the meeting, resulted as follows: President, G. H. Butler, Jr., 1903; Vice-Presi-dent, E. S. Whitin, 1904; Secretary, A. liar court, 1904; Treasurer, C. G. Fink, 1903. The delegates to the Debating Union then elected were: G. H. Butler, Jr., B. H. Ridder, 1903, and J. Myers, 1904. •The following candidates were elected to membership: G. W. Tucker, 1905, L. Opper, 1905, N. W. Van Nostrand, 1905, G. A. Younger, 1905, J. E. Willcox, 1904, J. P.…
1908-11-05 BOOK BY COLUMBIA MEN co-author of "Books and Reading"
BOOK BY COLUMBIA MEN P. C. Gaige '04 and A. Harcourt '04 Publish "Books and Reading"—Contains Selections From Essayists A book that should be of particular interest to Columbia men, not only on account of its own merit but also because it is the work of Columbia graduates, is "Books and Reading," compiled by Roscoe Crosby Gaige and Alfred Harcourt. Mr. Harcourt graduated from Columbia in the Class of 1904, occupying while iu college a position of prominence. Although very busy with outside activities, such as working in settlements and reporting for a New York daily paper, he was a member of the Spectator staff, becoming managing editor in his Senior year. In addition to this, he was secretary of Philolexian Society, and a member of Kings Crown, the Christian Association, the Tavern Club, and Pen and Pipe. In his Junior year, he was also the holder of a scholarship. Mr. Gaige…
The Annals of the Philolexian Society (1912)
The Annals of the Philolexian Society (1912) Leaf / page 4
Named in The Annals of the Philolexian Society (1912) at the referenced leaf.
The Annals of the Philolexian Society (1912) Leaf / page 53
Named in The Annals of the Philolexian Society (1912) at the referenced leaf.
Maxwell, Catalogue of Columbia Graduates (1916)
Maxwell, Catalogue of Columbia Graduates (1916) Leaf / page 201
Named in Maxwell, Catalogue of Columbia Graduates (1916) at the referenced leaf.
The Foundation's research archive
Philolexian Annals 1912, Roll of Members
Alfred Harcourt · Confidence: CERTAIN
External references
Community-maintained record
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