Crocker & Brewster (1818–1876) was a leadingpublishing house inBoston,Massachusetts, during its 58-year existence. The business was located at today's 173–175 Washington Street for nearly half a century; in 1864 it moved to the adjoining building, where it remained until the firm's dissolution.

The firm was founded byUriel Crocker and Osmyn Brewster, with the participation of their earlier employer,Samuel Turell Armstrong, later mayor of Boston and acting governor of the Commonwealth. In 1815, Crocker was made foreman of Armstrong's printing office, and in 1818 was, with his fellow-apprentice, Brewster, taken into partnership with Armstrong. The trio agreed that the bookstore would be named for Mr. Armstrong and the printing office for Crocker & Brewster.

In 1821 a branch of the business was established inNew York City. Five years later, it was sold toDaniel Appleton and Jonathan Leavitt, becoming the foundation of the firm,D. Appleton & Sons.

After 1825, the entire business was carried on under the name of Crocker & Brewster, although Armstrong continued to be a member of the firm until 1840. The printing office was then in Mr. Crocker's charge and the bookstore in Mr. Brewster's. The firm thrived with strong sales until 1876, when it relinquished its active publishing business to H. O. Houghton and Company, which purchased itsstereotype plates,copyrights, and book stock. H. O. Houghton later becameHoughton Mifflin. The partnership between Armstrong, Crocker, and Brewster was not dissolved until Crocker's death in 1887.

The firm published mainly standards and educational works, includingScott's Family Bible in sixroyal octavo volumes, the first large work stereotyped in the United States.

Over 150 items printed by Crocker & Brewster are in the collection of theBoston Athenaeum.

• Bacon, Edwin M., Editor.Men of Progress: One Thousand Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Leaders in Business and Professional Life in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Boston: New England Magazine, 1896.

This article is derived from theMen of Progress entry for Crocker, on which copyright has expired.

• Defunct book publishing companies of the United States
• American companies established in 1818
• Publishing companies established in 1818
• 1818 establishments in Massachusetts

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