Fields, James Thomas, 1817-1881

Variant names
Dates:
Birth 1817-12-31
Death 1881-04-24

Biographical notes:

James Thomas Fields, American publisher and author, was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire in 1817. At the age of 17, he went to Boston to clerk in a booksellers shop. While clerking, he often wrote for newspapers and in 1839 he became junior partner in the publishing and bookselling firm known after 1846 as Ticknor and Fields, and after 1868 as Fields, Osgood & Company. He was the publisher of several prominent contemporary American and British writers. Besides just publishing the authors, he and his wife Annie Adams Fields, would have the writers to their home in Boston for dinners and literary discussions; the couple became close friends with several of the authors. From 1862 to 1870, Fields was editor of The Atlantic monthly, which his firm published. He retired in 1871 and focused on lecturing and writing. He died in Boston in 1881. Annie, Fields' second wife, was also a published author.

From the description of James Thomas Fields Papers and Addenda, 1767-1914 (bulk 1850-1914) (Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens). WorldCat record id: 82953271

American publisher and author. Junior partner in publishing firm of Ticknor, Reed ? president, 1862-1870; editor Atlantic monthly magazine, 1861-1870.

From the description of Menu : holograph, 1872 June 6. (Rosenbach Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 122475240

James Thomas Fields, American publisher, editor, writer, and lecturer. He served as editor of the Atlantic Monthly from 1861 to 1870.

From the description of James Thomas Fields manuscript material : 1 item, 1861 (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 226259604

American publisher & poet.

From the description of Document signed : to Mr. Clark, 1867 Apr. 10. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270536742

Four letters penned by James T. Fields to various people between the years 1861 and 1877. Also included in the collection is an autographed photo of Fields and a letter from John Greenleaf Whittier.

From the description of Correspondence, 1861-1881. (Manchester City Library). WorldCat record id: 30542096

James Thomas Fields was an American publisher, editor, and poet. A self-made success, he got his start working at a bookstore, writing and publishing poems, and involving himself in Boston's literary community. Publisher William Ticknor recognized Fields' ability, and made him a junior partner. Fields brought numerous high-profile authors into the firm, both from America and England, and helped popularize American authors abroad. He published attractive volumes and promoted the authors and works vigorously. Throughout most of his career he had a reputation for being friendly, personable, and honest in all his dealings. He published several of his own books, the most successful being Yesterdays with authors. He was also editor of Atlantic Monthly.

From the description of James T. Fields letter to Dear friend, 1879 May 26. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 60194713

James Thomas Fields was an American publisher and poet. From humble beginnings, his skill and value was noticed by his employer, Boston publisher George Ticknor, who made him a junior partner. Fields went on to great success as a publisher, working with most of the major English-language authors of his day. A good businessman, Fields was also popular in the literary community, whom he treated extremely well. He also published poems and essays.

From the description of James T. Fields letters, 1854-1870. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 53432958

Author and publisher.

From the description of James Thomas Fields letter, 1873. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70980938

Lydia Maria Child, born in Medford, Massachusetts in 1802, published on numerous subjects, including domestic advice, children's literature, abolition and religion, and was an active abolitionist in New York and Massachusetts. She died in 1880.

From the guide to the The collected correspondence of Lydia Maria Child, 1817-1880 (inclusive), [microform]., 1817-1880, (American Philosophical Society)

Fields was a Boston publisher, editor, and author. He was head of the publishing firm of Ticknor and Fields and editor of The Atlantic Monthly (1861-1870).

From the description of James Thomas Fields autograph album, 1750-1941. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 122590343

From the description of James Thomas Fields collection of autographs and portraits of distinguished women, 1814-1907. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 86143761

From the description of Autograph album, undated. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 612876467

From the description of Letters : from various correspondents, 1863-1941 (inclusive), 1863-1877 (bulk). (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 79715864

From the description of James Thomas Fields collection of additional autographs, 1750-1941. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 84011685

From the guide to the James Thomas Fields collection of additional autographs, 1750-1941., (Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University)

From the guide to the James Thomas Fields collection of autographs and portraits of distinguished women, 1814-1907., (Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University)

From the guide to the James Thomas Fields autograph album, 1750-1941., (Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University)

From the guide to the Letters to James Thomas Fields from various correspondents, 1863-1877 (bulk) 1863-1941 (inclusive)., (Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University)

American publisher and author.

From the description of Stanzas : [n.p.] : autograph manuscript signed of the poem, [n.d.]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270539102

From the description of Autograph letter signed : Boston, to an unidentified correspondent, 1861 Mar. 11. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270516246

From the description of Autograph letter signed : Boston, to "My dear Curtis", 1857 May 6. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270516199

From the description of Autograph letter signed : Boston, to "friend Duychinck", 1850 Nov. 25. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270516239

From the description of Autograph letters signed (3) : Boston, to J. W. Harper and Henry M. Alden, 1855 Dec. 12-1878 Feb. 8 and Nov. 9. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270533223

Publisher.

From the description of Letters signed (3 ; 2 with initials) : Boston, to Mrs. Hawthorne, 1868 May 22 and 29 and Aug. 13. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270538194

American publisher.

From the description of Autograph letter signed with initials : Boston, to Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1861 Nov. 5. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 456691489

Biography

James Thomas Fields (1817-1881) occupied an important position in the nineteenth century literary scene in his dual role as editor of The Atlantic Monthly and publisher in the Boston firm of Ticknor and Fields. His career as publisher began in 1831, when he became a clerk for the Old Corner Bookstore, which evolved into the firm of William D. Ticknor and Company. During the forties, Ticknor and Co. began its rise to greatness, with extra impetus provided by its publication in 1847 of Longfellow's Evangeline. Soon after, the firm also established relations with other New England writers such as Whittier, Lowell, Hawthorne, and Holmes, each of whom contributed to the increasing prestige of Ticknor and Co. Meanwhile, Fields began a corresponding rise, advancing to a junior partnership in 1843, though the firm retained its title until 1849, when it became Ticknor, Reed and Fields. The title of Ticknor and Fields came into being in June, 1854, and lasted until 1868, when reorganization changed the name to Fields, Osgood and Company, with Fields as senior partner. Throughout his career as a publisher, Fields was extremely successful in establishing good relationships (and in a great many cases, friendships) with a large number of authors, both American and English. Through his fair and generous terms in dealing with them and through his policy of protecting their works against piracy in spite of the absence of any international copyright laws, he was able to attract established, well-known writers to his firm, as well as many who would yet achieve fame. Fields succeeded also in obtaining wide exposure of his firm's books by means of his extensive circle of friends and acquaintances among editors and book reviewers. Chiefly as a result of his promotional talents, Ticknor and Fields were able to develop a national market for their books and hence to make Boston the primary center in the United States for the publication of literary works.

In his capacity as editor of The Atlantic Monthly, Fields was no less successful. Created in May, 1857, the magazine was purchased by Ticknor and Fields two years later. The following year, Fields took over the editorship of the magazine from James Russell Lowell. During Field's tenure as editor, he continued to maintain the magazine's reputation for dignity and integrity which Lowell had established, and his promptness and business acumen provided a marked contrast to Lowell's sometimes casual methods. As in his role of publisher, Fields dealt fairly and generously with Atlantic contributors, inaugurating the practice of paying for articles when accepted rather than when published. Further, he actively sought out new writers in an effort to broaden the appeal of the magazine, also accepting more pieces of light fiction to ease the number of scholarly literary and historical articles. Under his leadership, the Atlantic significantly increased its circulation, becoming widely known throughout much of the United States and England, as well.

On December 31, 1870, Fields retired from business, partly because of health, but was able to continue his writing and lecturing. He also continued to enjoy the many friendships he had formed with authors and other literary figures. The Fields home, with James and his wife, Annie (Adams) Fields (1834-1915) receiving, had become a delightful gathering place for literary people in Boston. There were frequent visits from those in and around Boston, such as Dr. Holmes, who lived just down the street, and there were guests from abroad -- those whom the Fieldses had met on their several trips to England, and many distinguished visitors who were brought to the Fieldses' to meet the Boston literary circle. The story of the many hours spent with their literary friends is told in their memoirs: Authors and Friends, by Annie Fields, and Yesterdays with Authors, by James T. Fields.

Following James Fields's death in 1881, Annie continued to receive her many friends, with the frequent companionship of Sarah Orne Jewett, and continued her own literary activities until her death in 1915.

From the guide to the James Thomas Fields Papers, 1767-1914, (bulk 1850-1914), (The Huntington Library)

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Subjects:

  • American literature
  • American literature
  • Publishers and publishing
  • Publishers and publishing
  • Publishers and publishing
  • Publishers and publishing
  • Slavery
  • Authors, American
  • Authors, American
  • Authors, American
  • Poets, American
  • Poets, American
  • Poets, American
  • Women authors, American
  • Authors and publishers
  • Authors, British
  • Authors, British
  • Women authors
  • Autographs
  • Poets, British
  • Poets, British
  • Children's literature
  • Collectors and collecting
  • English literature
  • English literature
  • Women
  • Ẁomen authors, American

Occupations:

  • Abolitionists
  • Actresses
  • Authors, American
  • Authors
  • Collector
  • Publisher

Places:

  • United States (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • Boston (Mass.) (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • Massachusetts (as recorded)

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