Putnam, George Haven, 1844-1930

George Haven Putnam (1844-1930) was a publisher and author best known for his commitment to the establishment of national copyright legislation in the U.S. and to American adherence to the international copyright Convention of Berne. After serving in the U.S. Civil War, he entered his father's publishing house, G.P. Putnam's Sons. He assumed the presidency of the firm in 1872 and became an authority on the legal implications of copyright. In 1886 he formed the American Publishers' Copyright League and the English Speaking Union in the U.S.

Epithet: publisher

American publisher.

American publisher.

Putnam was born in London and educated at the Sorbonne and the University of Göttingen. During the Civil War he enlisted as a private. Subsequently he entered his father's publishing house - G.P. Putnam's Sons, later becoming president. He was a leader in establishing the American Copyright League in 1887 and founded the English Speaking Union in the U.S. His writings include MEMORIES OF A PUBLISHER.

George Haven Putnam (1844-1930) was a publisher and author best known for his commitment to the establishment of national copyright legislation in the U.S. and to American adherence to the international copyright Convention of Berne.

After serving in the U.S. Civil War, he entered his father's publishing house, G.P. Putnam's Sons. He assumed the presidency of the firm in 1872 and became an authority on the legal implications of copyright. In 1886 he formed the American Publishers' Copyright League and the English Speaking Union in the U.S.

George Haven Putnam was the son of publisher George Palmer Putnam, founder of G.P. Putnam & Co., which had offices in New York and London. He served during the Civil War with the 176th New York Volunteers from 1862-1865, rising to the rank of major. As a prisoner of war, he spent the winter of 1864-1865 in Libby and Danville prisons. Putnam joined his father's publishing house after the Civil War and became head of G.P. Putnam's Sons in 1872, a position he held until his death in 1930. He was an organizer of the American Copyright League in 1887 and was instrumental in the development of American copyright law.

Putnam was actively involved in the English-Speaking Union, the American Rights League, the Free Trade League, and support of the League of Nations. From 1926 until his death he devoted his efforts to creating an endowed chair in American history at the University of London. Putnam wrote several books and lectured widely on subjects including his Civil War experiences, Abraham Lincoln, copyright, censorship, publishing, free trade, American-British relations and Washington Irving.