Century House was an American publisher located in Watkins Glen, New York. It was established in 1942 and specialized in publications on American culture and history.[1] The company published several academic reference works on American music and art.[2][3] The company also published numerous books on American antiques and other Americana collectibles.[4] The publishing company was established by husband and wife Larry Freeman (1904–1995) and Ruth Freeman (1907–2000), both of whom had careers in academics.[5] Dr. Graydon Laverne “Larry” Freeman, Ph.D. was a psychologist who taught on the faculties of Northwestern University and Cornell University.[6][7] The publisher was still listed as active as late as 1992 in R.R. Bowker's Publishers, Distributors & Wholesalers of the United States.[8]
The Freemans also used their Century House company as the managing organization for a museum, Old Irelandville in Watkins Glen.[5] In the 1930s the couple purchased a historic farm house built by Charles Potter. They then purchased more historic buildings, some of them from other locations, which were then moved to their property to create a historic village.[9] These included a tavern dating to 1797 and a manor house dating to 1833.[5] The museum opened shortly after the end of World War II in the late 1940s[9] and was still in operation as late as 1972.[5] Lack of funds caused the museum to cease operation.[9]
References edit
- ^ Kurian, George Thomas (1975). "Century House". The Directory of American Book Publishing, from Founding Fathers to Today's Conglomerates. Simon and Schuster. p. 87. ISBN 9780671187453.
- ^ Duckles, Vincent Harris; Reed, Ida; Keller, Michael A. (1997). Music Reference and Research Materials: An Annotated Bibliography. Schirmer Books. ISBN 9780028708218.
- ^ Routledge Library Editions: Art and Culture in the Nineteenth Century. Taylor & Francis. 2021. p. 171,350. ISBN 9780429761805.
- ^ "Century House and ABC Books". Hobbies, the Magazine for Collectors. 78 (7). Lightner Publishing Corporation: 4, 6. 1973.
- ^ a b c d "Old Irelandville is Early Americana". Penn Yan Chronicle Express. July 6, 1972. p. 91.
- ^ "Freeman, Graydon Laverne "Larry"". Star-Gazette. March 15, 1995. p. 10.
- ^ Barton, Fred B. (August 1952). "Shift Your Mental Gears". The Rotarian. 81 (2): 34.
- ^ "Century House". R.R. Bowker's Publishers, Distributors & Wholesalers of the United States 1991-1992. R.R. Bowker. 1992. ISBN 9780835234771.
- ^ a b c Bell, Barbara H. (July 1991). "Irelandville". The Crooked Lake Review.