181:
established The
Caroline M. Hewins Lectureship on New England children's books in 1947. In 1910, he married Marguerite Fellows, an author of children's books. In 1912, Melcher became president of the Boston Booksellers League. He was very active in the Boston book trade and was described as "an energetic and agreeable bookseller who knew books thoroughly." His reputation as an enthusiastic and knowledgeable salesman resulted in his recommendation for a position running the W.K. Stewart Bookstore in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1913.
124:
103:
80:
64:
51:
337:
349:
33:
258:
In recognition of his many-sided contributions to the
Graphic Arts through 50 years, his patient and judicial sponsorship of worthy causes, international as well as national; his continuing kindly encouragement of young men and women first entering the world of books; and his tireless, accomplished,
176:
At the age of 16, Melcher's grandfather helped him to secure a job at Estes and
Lauriat publishing company and bookstore in Boston. Melcher began his career in the book industry there, a career which would span 68 years. He began working in the mailroom and over the next 18 years worked his way into
305:
is home to the
Frederic G. Melcher–Robert Frost Collection, which covers various photos and writings from the two men from 1865-1963. In 2006, a University of Virginia graduate student who was completing a thesis on the poetry of Frost discovered a previously unpublished poem, inscribed by Frost on
288:
Although
Melcher is best known for his contributions to the world of children's books, he was also known as being foremost among his contemporaries for his comprehensive understanding of the entire book industry, including bookselling, publishing and libraries. He was also active in supporting and
180:
It was during his time at Estes and
Lauriat that he first developed his interest in children's books. He worked to develop the children's collection of the books store with help of Caroline Hewins, a New England librarian who also had interests in developing and promoting children's books. He later
184:
During his five years in
Indiana, Melcher managed the W.K. Stewart Bookstore, which survived a flood but not a later fire which resulted in a total loss of the store and a new location. He was also active in the Indiana public Libraries Association and promoted material relating regional history.
279:
church. His contributions to the church and to the publishing industry, as well as his work in fighting against censorship led to the church establishing the
Frederic G. Melcher Book Award in 1964. The award is given annually to the work "judged to have made the most significant contribution to
168:, another Boston suburb. A 1945 essay describes his childhood growing up near a lake, fishing, ice skating and swimming. He was also an avid reader from a young age, making many visits to the library, as well as enjoying books passed on or given by friends and family.
139:(April 12, 1879 – March 9, 1963) was an American publisher, bookseller, editor, and a major contributor to the library science field and book industry. He is particularly known for his contributions to the children's book genre, including the
198:, Melcher began creating space in the publication and a number of issues dedicated solely to books for children. In 1919, he teamed with Franklin K. Mathiews, librarian for the
777:
247:
836:
886:
876:
755:
584:
426:
831:
225:
to design the award. Although the award had hearty support, Melcher also drew extensively upon his own funds for the creation of the medal.
491:
251:
891:
651:
826:
881:
341:
821:
302:
250:
in 1945. A collection of essays about his life was published to commemorate this event and he was awarded a medal from The
871:
327:
217:
in 1922, an annual award for "the most distinguished book for children". Melcher suggested that the award be named after
289:
developing the international book trade, fighting against censorship and working toward international copyright laws.
147:. Melcher was named as one of the most important 100 leaders in the library science field of the 20th century in an
376:
263:
Melcher resigned as president of R.R. Bowker in 1958 to become chairman of the board. In 1962 he received the
314:
Melcher died on March 9, 1963, at the age of 83, and his ashes were scattered at the family vacation home in
896:
267:
from the
Catholic Library Association "in recognition of a lifetime contribution to children's literature".
207:
276:
239:
In 1945, Melcher had worked in the book industry for 50 years. A celebration was held in his honor at the
318:. After his death, much of his work and sponsorship of several awards was carried on by his son Daniel.
240:
199:
157:
57:
592:
221:, a British bookseller known for his contributions to the children's book industry. Melcher recruited
866:
861:
222:
434:
845:
123:
102:
79:
50:
153:
article and has been described as "the greatest all-round bookman in the
English-speaking world".
63:
388:
233:
203:
149:
771:
686:
194:
499:
791:
Stilling, Robert (2006). "Between Friends: Rediscovering the War Thoughts of Robert Frost".
613:
Hansen, Harry (1945). "On the Best Definition of an Editor's Usefulness". Smith, pp. 24-28.
236:, the medal is presented annually for the "most distinguished picture book for children".
229:
144:
742:
569:
Chambers, D. Laurance (1945). "On the Bookseller's Earthly Mortality". Smith, pp. 17-23.
782:. The University of Virginia Library. Archived February 17, 2012. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
659:
92:
855:
809:
Frederic G. Melcher: Friendly Reminiscences of a Half Century Among Books and Bookmen
214:
165:
140:
745:. Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
348:
353:
298:
264:
218:
117:
32:
259:
and successful efforts to make known and to maintain high standards of bookmaking.
189:
464:
Melcher, Frederic (1945). "On Becoming Acquainted with Books". Smith, pp. 3–10.
553:
Pioneers and Leaders in Library Services to Youth: a Biographical Dictionary
693:. Harvard Square Library (harvardsquarelibrary.org). Retrieved 2009-09-13.
315:
232:
in 1937 to honor children's picture books. Named for British illustrator
525:
Goodspeed, Charles (1945). "On Embarking on a Career". Smith, pp. 11-16.
396:
392:
192:
for 45 years, starting in 1918 and becoming president in 1934. While at
161:
96:
841:
306:
the inside cover of a book Frost had given to Melcher in 1918.
377:"100 of the most important leaders we had in the 20th century"
756:"A Guide to the Frederic G. Melcher–Robert Frost Collection"
297:
Melcher is also known for his friendship with American poet
622:
Marcus, Leonard (1997). "Frederic G. Melcher (1879-1963)".
697:· Melcher, David (1967). "Fred Melcher as I Knew Him".
721:
Melcher, Daniel (1967). "Fred Melcher as I knew him".
325:
110:
88:
72:
43:
23:
687:"Frederic G. Melcher: Dean of American Publishing"
758:. Archived from the original on February 17, 2012
776:: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (
248:American Library Association Honorary Membership
827:American Library Association - Caldecott Award
8:
717:
715:
713:
521:
519:
517:
371:
369:
822:American Library Association Newbery Medal
565:
563:
561:
122:
101:
78:
62:
49:
31:
20:
16:American bookseller, publisher, and editor
579:
577:
575:
486:
484:
482:
480:
478:
476:
474:
472:
470:
460:
458:
456:
454:
452:
811:. New York: The Book Publishers' Bureau.
738:
736:
734:
637:
635:
547:
545:
543:
541:
539:
537:
535:
533:
531:
427:"Family Memories of Frederic G Melcher"
365:
332:
769:
681:
679:
677:
420:
418:
416:
414:
848:Authorities — with 11 catalog records
7:
275:Melcher was an active member in the
837:ALA Frederic G. Melcher Scholarship
703:· (1963). "Frederic G. Melcher".
585:"Melcher, Frederic G. (1879-1963)"
252:American Institute of Graphic Arts
210:, to create Children's Book Week.
14:
887:People from Newton, Massachusetts
877:American book publishers (people)
743:"Frederic G. Melcher Book Award"
347:
335:
160:, a suburb on the north side of
807:Smith, Mildred, editor (1945).
498:. June 30, 2022. Archived from
164:. In 1883, the family moved to
832:Frederic G. Melcher Book Award
303:University of Virginia Library
1:
793:The Virginia Quarterly Review
695:Preface with two reprints(?):
656:American Library Association
551:Miller, Marilyn Lea (2003).
425:Melcher, Sue (May 9, 2022).
387:(11): 38–46. December 1999.
156:Melcher was born in 1879 in
691:Notable American Unitarians
685:Melcher, Daniel (no date).
496:The Children's Book Council
913:
589:Harvard Square University
39:
30:
892:Library science scholars
177:sales and acquisitions.
137:Frederic Gershom Melcher
492:"On Frederic G Melcher"
280:religious liberalism".
208:New York Public Library
882:American print editors
555:. Libraries Unlimited.
277:Unitarian Universalist
261:
172:Bookstores and bookmen
662:on September 28, 2022
652:"Honorary Membership"
595:on September 21, 2020
342:Children's literature
293:Friendship with Frost
256:
241:Waldorf-Astoria Hotel
228:Melcher proposed the
213:Melcher proposed the
206:, a librarian at the
200:Boy Scouts of America
158:Malden, Massachusetts
872:American booksellers
399:on November 18, 2021
246:Melcher was awarded
223:Rene Paul Chambellan
846:Library of Congress
842:Frederic G. Melcher
243:in New York City.
47:12 April 1879
25:Frederic G. Melcher
795:(Fall) pp. 113-19.
381:American Libraries
234:Randolph Caldecott
204:Anne Carroll Moore
150:American Libraries
76:9 March 1963
624:Publishers Weekly
502:on August 8, 2022
195:Publishers Weekly
134:
133:
99:, publisher
904:
796:
789:
783:
781:
775:
767:
765:
763:
752:
746:
740:
729:
719:
708:
683:
672:
671:
669:
667:
658:. Archived from
648:
642:
639:
630:
620:
614:
611:
605:
604:
602:
600:
591:. Archived from
581:
570:
567:
556:
549:
526:
523:
512:
511:
509:
507:
488:
465:
462:
447:
446:
444:
442:
433:. Archived from
422:
409:
408:
406:
404:
395:. Archived from
373:
352:
351:
340:
339:
338:
331:
127:
126:
106:
105:
83:
82:
68:
67:
66:
54:
53:
35:
21:
912:
911:
907:
906:
905:
903:
902:
901:
852:
851:
818:
799:
790:
786:
768:
761:
759:
754:
753:
749:
741:
732:
720:
711:
705:Library Journal
702:
696:
694:
684:
675:
665:
663:
650:
649:
645:
640:
633:
621:
617:
612:
608:
598:
596:
583:
582:
573:
568:
559:
550:
529:
524:
515:
505:
503:
490:
489:
468:
463:
450:
440:
438:
424:
423:
412:
402:
400:
375:
374:
367:
363:
358:
346:
336:
334:
326:
324:
312:
295:
286:
284:Other interests
273:
230:Caldecott Medal
174:
145:Caldecott Medal
130:
121:
100:
77:
61:
56:
55:
48:
26:
17:
12:
11:
5:
910:
908:
900:
899:
897:AIGA medalists
894:
889:
884:
879:
874:
869:
864:
854:
853:
850:
849:
839:
834:
829:
824:
817:
816:External links
814:
813:
812:
804:
803:
798:
797:
784:
747:
730:
709:
673:
643:
631:
615:
606:
571:
557:
527:
513:
466:
448:
437:on May 9, 2022
410:
364:
362:
359:
357:
356:
344:
323:
320:
311:
308:
294:
291:
285:
282:
272:
271:Religious ties
269:
173:
170:
132:
131:
129:
128:
114:
112:
108:
107:
93:Opinion writer
90:
86:
85:
74:
70:
69:
45:
41:
40:
37:
36:
28:
27:
24:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
909:
898:
895:
893:
890:
888:
885:
883:
880:
878:
875:
873:
870:
868:
865:
863:
860:
859:
857:
847:
843:
840:
838:
835:
833:
830:
828:
825:
823:
820:
819:
815:
810:
806:
805:
801:
800:
794:
788:
785:
779:
773:
757:
751:
748:
744:
739:
737:
735:
731:
727:
724:
718:
716:
714:
710:
706:
700:
692:
688:
682:
680:
678:
674:
661:
657:
653:
647:
644:
641:Smith, p. 61.
638:
636:
632:
628:
625:
619:
616:
610:
607:
594:
590:
586:
580:
578:
576:
572:
566:
564:
562:
558:
554:
548:
546:
544:
542:
540:
538:
536:
534:
532:
528:
522:
520:
518:
514:
501:
497:
493:
487:
485:
483:
481:
479:
477:
475:
473:
471:
467:
461:
459:
457:
455:
453:
449:
436:
432:
431:The Horn Book
428:
421:
419:
417:
415:
411:
398:
394:
390:
386:
382:
378:
372:
370:
366:
360:
355:
350:
345:
343:
333:
329:
321:
319:
317:
309:
307:
304:
300:
292:
290:
283:
281:
278:
270:
268:
266:
260:
255:
253:
249:
244:
242:
237:
235:
231:
226:
224:
220:
216:
215:Newbery Medal
211:
209:
205:
201:
197:
196:
191:
186:
182:
178:
171:
169:
167:
166:Newton Center
163:
159:
154:
152:
151:
146:
142:
141:Newbery Medal
138:
125:
119:
116:
115:
113:
109:
104:
98:
94:
91:
87:
81:
75:
71:
65:
59:
52:
46:
42:
38:
34:
29:
22:
19:
808:
792:
787:
760:. Retrieved
750:
725:
723:ALA Bulletin
722:
704:
698:
690:
664:. Retrieved
660:the original
655:
646:
626:
623:
618:
609:
597:. Retrieved
593:the original
588:
552:
504:. Retrieved
500:the original
495:
439:. Retrieved
435:the original
430:
401:. Retrieved
397:the original
384:
380:
313:
299:Robert Frost
296:
287:
274:
265:Regina Medal
262:
257:
245:
238:
227:
219:John Newbery
212:
193:
188:He was with
187:
183:
179:
175:
155:
148:
136:
135:
118:R. R. Bowker
18:
867:1963 deaths
862:1879 births
699:ALA Journal
666:January 28,
599:January 28,
506:January 28,
441:January 28,
403:January 28,
190:R.R. Bowker
856:Categories
762:October 2,
728:pp. 56-62.
707:(April 1).
701:(January).
361:References
89:Occupation
802:Citations
84:(aged 83)
772:cite web
627:(244) 31
393:25637411
322:See also
316:Cape Cod
111:Employer
328:Portals
629:p. 66.
391:
301:. The
202:, and
162:Boston
120:
97:editor
60:
58:Malden
389:JSTOR
354:Books
310:Death
778:link
764:2009
726:(61)
668:2023
601:2023
508:2023
443:2023
405:2023
143:and
73:Died
44:Born
844:at
858::
774:}}
770:{{
733:^
712:^
689:.
676:^
654:.
634:^
587:.
574:^
560:^
530:^
516:^
494:.
469:^
451:^
429:.
413:^
385:30
383:.
379:.
368:^
254::
95:,
780:)
766:.
670:.
603:.
510:.
445:.
407:.
330::
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
