Book-of-the-Month Club
Variant namesThe Book-of-the-Month Club, founded in 1926, is a United States mail-order business, customers of which are offered a new book each month.
From the description of Book-of-the-Month Club records, 1939-1967. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 71131595
The Book-of-the-Month Club (BOMC) was founded in 1926 by Harry Scherman (1887-1969) in partnership with Maxwell Sackheim (1890-1982) and Robert K. Haas (1890-1964). Created to satisfy a perceived demand for quality literature that could not be met outside of urban centers, it was one of a number of direct-mail clubs developed in the 1920s, including the Literary Guild and Dollar Book Club. The BOMC went public in 1947, though the Scherman family maintained a controlling interest until sale of their shares in 1977 to Time Inc.
From the description of Book-of-the-Month Club records, 1946-1979. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 702188757
The Book-of-the-Month Club (BOMC) was founded in 1926 by Harry Scherman (1887-1969) in partnership with Maxwell Sackheim (1890-1982) and Robert K. Haas (1890-1964). Created to satisfy a perceived demand for quality literature that could not be met outside of urban centers, it was one of a number of direct-mail clubs developed in the 1920s, including the Literary Guild and Dollar Book Club. The BOMC went public in 1947, though the Scherman family maintained a controlling interest until sale of their shares in 1977 to Time Inc.
The BOMC sold new releases to its membership through recommendations published in a monthly catalog. Pre-publication manuscripts were submitted to the BOMC for review and were considered through a tiered system of in-house and outside editors culminating in an editorial board, referred to as judges in BOMC literature, that met monthly to consider vetted submissions.
From the guide to the Book-of-the-Month Club records, 1946-1979, (Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library)
Archival Resources
| Role | Title | Holding Repository | |
|---|---|---|---|
| creatorOf | Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Records. : Series II., Alfred A. Knopf Personal, 1874-1984 (bulk 1953-1984). | Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center | |
| referencedIn | Mary Hyde Eccles papers, 1853-2005, (bulk) 1939-2003. | Houghton Library | |
| referencedIn | Council on Foundations, 1991-1992 | Indiana University, Bloomington. Center for the Study of History and Memory | |
| referencedIn | Scherman, Harry, b. 1887. Papers, 1937-1969. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
| referencedIn | Haas, Robert K., 1890-1964. Reminiscences of Robert K. Haas : oral history, 1955. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
| referencedIn | William Styron Papers, 1855-2007 | David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library | |
| referencedIn | Feil, Helen R. Reminiscences of Helen R. Feil : oral history, 1955. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
| referencedIn | William Ernest Hocking papers | Houghton Library | |
| referencedIn | Best, Marshall Ayres, 1901-1982. Reminiscences of Marshall Ayres Best : oral history, 1976. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
| referencedIn | Dale, Harry, d. 1962. Reminiscences of Harry Dale : oral history, 1955. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
| referencedIn | William Allen White Papers, 1859-1944, (bulk 1899-1944) | Library of Congress. Manuscript Division | |
| referencedIn | Rogers Memorial Collection: Clara Kathleen Rogers papers, 1860-1934. | Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University | |
| creatorOf | Stone, Robert, 1937-. [Miscellaneous printed material by and about Robert Stone.] | Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library | |
| referencedIn | Sears, Donald A. Correspondence of Donald A. Sears, 1966-1970. | Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens | |
| creatorOf | Book-of-the-Month Club. Correspondence to Van Wyck Brooks, 1954. | University of Pennsylvania Library | |
| referencedIn | Marquand, John P. (John Phillips), 1893-1960. Reminiscences of John P. Marquand : oral history, 1955. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
| referencedIn | James Parton papers, 1914-1986. | Houghton Library | |
| referencedIn | William Zinsser Papers, ca. 1946-1998 | Fales Library & Special Collections | |
| referencedIn | Loveman, Amy. Reminiscences of Amy Loveman : oral history, 1954. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
| referencedIn | Fadiman, Clifton, 1904-1999. Reminiscences of Clifton Fadiman : oral history, 1955. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
| referencedIn | Steinbeck, John, 1902-1968. Papers of John Steinbeck [manuscript], 1932-1974. | University of Virginia. Library | |
| referencedIn | John Steinbeck Collection, 1937 | University of Virginia. Library. Special Collections Dept. | |
| referencedIn | Basil Davenport papers, 1899-1964 | Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library | |
| creatorOf | Book-of-the-Month Club records, 1946-1979 | Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library | |
| referencedIn | Fisher, Dorothy Canfield, 1879-1958. Reminiscences of Dorothy Canfield Fisher : oral history, 1955. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
| referencedIn | Ferry, Elinor. Papers, 1944-1988 | Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138 | |
| referencedIn | Sackheim, Maxwell, 1890-. Reminiscences of Maxwell Sackheim : oral history, [1905-?]. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
| referencedIn | Kohlman, Edwina. Reminiscences of Edwina Kohlman : oral history, 1955. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
| referencedIn | Troob, Lester. Reminiscences of Lester Troob: oral history, 1955. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
| referencedIn | Gallup, George, 1901-1984. Reminiscences of George Horace Gallup : oral history, 1955. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
| referencedIn | Hemingway, Ernest, 1899-1961. Ernest Hemingway collection, 1920-1962. | Yale University Library | |
| referencedIn | Gore Vidal papers, 1850-2020 (inclusive), 1936-2008 (bulk) | Houghton Library | |
| referencedIn | Chappell, Warren, 1904-1991. Letters and miscellaneous art work by Warren Chappell [manuscript], 1940-1987. | University of Virginia. Library | |
| referencedIn | Loveman, Amy. Amy Loveman letters, 1935-1943. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
| referencedIn | Wescott, Glenway, 1901-1987. Papers of Glenway Wescott [manuscript], 1945-1962. | University of Virginia. Library | |
| creatorOf | Book of the Month Club. Letter, 1970, to Julian Muller. | University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library | |
| referencedIn | Gail Godwin Papers, 1913-2008 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection | |
| referencedIn | Macrae, John, 1898-. Letter to Christopher Morley [manuscript], 1943 September 15. | University of Virginia. Library | |
| referencedIn | O'Neill, Eugene, 1888-1953. Papers of Eugene O'Neill [manuscript], 1918-1947. | University of Virginia. Library | |
| referencedIn | Rebecca Lawrence Lowrie papers, 1846-1996, 1909-1977 (bulk) | New York State Historical Documents Inventory | |
| referencedIn | Baker Street Irregulars (Organization : U.S.) archive, 1923-2007. | Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington) | |
| referencedIn | Henry Seidel Canby papers, 1825-1959 | Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library | |
| referencedIn | William Faulkner Collection, [1942-1953] | University of Virginia. Library. Special Collections Dept. | |
| referencedIn | Lynch, Warren, 1915-1977. Reminiscences of Warren Lynch : oral history, 1955. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
| referencedIn | Thompson, Ralph, 1904-. Papers, 1944-1956. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
| referencedIn | Fadiman, Clifton, 1904-1999. Clifton Fadiman papers, [ca. 1965]-1968. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
| creatorOf | Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Records. : Series I., General Correspondence, 1922-1977 (bulk 1946-1966). | Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center | |
| referencedIn | Rosin, Axel G., 1907-. Reminiscences of Axel G. Rosin : oral history, 1955. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
| referencedIn | Woodbridge Bingham Papers, 1876-1986 | Bancroft Library | |
| referencedIn | Wood, Meredith, 1895-1974. Reminiscences of Merdith Wood : oral history, 1955. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
| referencedIn | Ogg, Oscar. Reminiscences of Oscar Ogg : oral history, 1955. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
| creatorOf | Book-of-the-Month Club. Correspondence to W. A. Swanberg, 1965. | University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library | |
| referencedIn | Leach, Walter Barton. W. Barton Leach Papers. 1920-1971. | Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138 | |
| referencedIn | Hyle, Gordon. Reminiscences of Gordon Hyle : oral history, 1955. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
| creatorOf | Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Records. Series V., Editor Files, 1873-1984 (bulk 1960-1980). | Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center | |
| referencedIn | Ernest Hemingway collection, 1920-1962 | Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library | |
| referencedIn | Steinbeck, John, 1902-1968. Letter, 1937 Jan. 25 [manuscript]. | University of Virginia. Library | |
| referencedIn | Walker, Edith. Reminiscences of Edith Walker : oral history, 1955. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
| referencedIn | John Macrae Jr. Collection, 1943 | University of Virginia. Library. Special Collections Dept. | |
| referencedIn | Harry Scherman Papers, 1937-1969 | Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library | |
| referencedIn | Book-of-the-Month Club project : oral history, 1955. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
| referencedIn | Highet, Gilbert, 1906-1978. Reminiscences of Arthur Gilbert Highet : oral history, 1955. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
| creatorOf | Thompson, Ralph, 1904-. Correspondence, 1945-1972, New York, N.Y., from various people, v.p. | Dartmouth College Library | |
| referencedIn | Scherman, Harry, b. 1887. Reminiscences of Harry Scherman : oral history, 1955. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
| creatorOf | Canfield, Dorothy, 1879-1958. Dorothy Canfield Fisher letters and memoriam, 1943 and 1958. | Pennsylvania State University Libraries | |
| creatorOf | Marquand, John P. (John Phillips), 1893-1960. Correspondence, 1892-1960. | Houghton Library | |
| creatorOf | Hemingway, Ernest, 1899-1961. The garden of Eden : a novel / Ernest Hemingway. | University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries | |
| referencedIn | Canby, Henry Seidel, 1878-1961. Reminiscences of Henry Seidel Canby and Amy Loveman : oral history, 1955. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
| referencedIn | John Phillips Marquand correspondence | Houghton Library | |
| referencedIn | Dorothy Canfield Fisher papers, 1935-1950 | New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division | |
| referencedIn | Papers, 1909-1977. | New York State Historical Documents Inventory | |
| referencedIn | Al Silverman Papers, 1951-2003 | Fales Library & Special Collections | |
| referencedIn | Nicolas Slonimsky Collection, 1873-1997, (bulk 1920-1990) | Library of Congress. Music Division | |
| referencedIn | Starr, Louis Morris, 1917-1980. Oral history interview of Warren Chappell and photographs [manuscript], 1978. | University of Virginia. Library | |
| creatorOf | Book-of-the-Month Club. Correspondence with Theodore Dreiser, 1936-1939. | University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library | |
| creatorOf | Book-of-the-Month Club Records, 1939-1967, (bulk 1939-1960) | Library of Congress. Manuscript Division | |
| referencedIn | Sheldon Glueck papers | Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138 | |
| referencedIn | Ullman, Allan, 1908-1982. Reminiscences of Allan Ullman : oral history, 1979. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
| referencedIn | Seaver, Edwin, 1900-. Reminiscences of Edwin Seaver : oral history, 1976. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
| referencedIn | Chappell, Warren, 1904-1991. Papers of Warren Chappell [manuscript], 1870-1994. | University of Virginia. Library | |
| creatorOf | Fisher, Dorothy Canfield, 1879-1958. Dorothy Canfield Fisher letters and memoriam, 1943 and 1958. | Pennsylvania State University Libraries | |
| referencedIn | Clifton Fadiman Papers, 1966-1970. | Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library | |
| referencedIn | Highet, Gilbert, 1906-1978. Gilbert Highet papers, 1929-1978. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
| creatorOf | Book-of-the-Month Club. Correspondence to Chaim Potok, 1969-1972. | University of Pennsylvania Library | |
| referencedIn | Thompson, Ralph, 1904-. Reminiscences of Ralph Thompson : oral history, 1955. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
| referencedIn | New Directions Publishing records | Houghton Library | |
| referencedIn | James Parton papers, 1914-1986. | Houghton Library | |
| referencedIn | Robert and Merle Haas papers, 1911-1976 | New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division | |
| creatorOf | Book of the Month Club. Correspondence with Marian Anderson, n.d. | University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library | |
| referencedIn | Silverman, Al. Al Silverman papers, 1951-2003. | Churchill County Museum | |
| referencedIn | Haas, Robert K., 1890-1964. Robert and Merle Haas papers, 1911-1976. | New York Public Library System, NYPL | |
| creatorOf | Shaw, Harry, 1905-1998. Correspondence to Van Wyck Brooks, 1954. | University of Pennsylvania Library |
Bibliographic and Digital Archival Resources
| Role | Title | Holding Repository |
|---|
Filters:
| Relation | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| associatedWith | Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. | corporateBody |
| associatedWith | Baker Street Irregulars (Organization : U.S.). | corporateBody |
| associatedWith | Bates, Graham. | person |
| associatedWith | Bates, Graham. | person |
| associatedWith | Benét, Rosemary, 1900- | person |
| associatedWith | Benét, Rosemary, 1900- | person |
| associatedWith | Benét, William Rose, 1886-1950. | person |
| associatedWith | Best, Marshall Ayres, 1901-1982. | person |
| correspondedWith | Bingham, Woodbridge. | person |
| correspondedWith | Brown, John Mason, 1900-1969 | person |
| associatedWith | Canby, Henry Seidel, 1878-1961. | person |
| associatedWith | Canfield, Dorothy, 1879-1958. | person |
| associatedWith | Chappell, Warren, 1904-1991. | person |
| associatedWith | Dale, Harry, d. 1962. | person |
| associatedWith | Davenport, Basil, 1905-1966. | person |
| associatedWith | Easton, Elizabeth Wynne. | person |
| associatedWith | Easton, Elizabeth Wynne. | person |
| associatedWith | Eccles, Mary Hyde. | person |
| associatedWith | Fadiman, Clifton, 1904-1999. | person |
| associatedWith | Feil, Helen R. | person |
| associatedWith | Ferry, Elinor | person |
| associatedWith | Fisher, Dorothy Canfield, 1879-1958. | person |
| associatedWith | Gallup, George, 1901-1984. | person |
| associatedWith | Glueck, Sheldon, 1896- | person |
| associatedWith | Godwin, Gail. | person |
| associatedWith | Haas, Robert K., 1890-1964. | person |
| associatedWith | Hemingway, Ernest, 1899-1961. | person |
| associatedWith | Highet, Gilbert, 1906-1978. | person |
| correspondedWith | Hocking, William Ernest, 1873-1966 | person |
| associatedWith | Hyle, Gordon. | person |
| associatedWith | Indiana University Center for the Study of History and Memory | corporateBody |
| associatedWith | Johnson, Gerald W. 1890-1980. | person |
| associatedWith | Kohlman, Edwina. | person |
| associatedWith | Leach, W. Barton (Walter Barton), 1900- | person |
| associatedWith | Loveman, Amy. | person |
| associatedWith | Lowrie, Rebecca Lawrence, 1891-1975. | person |
| associatedWith | Lynch, Warren, 1915-1977. | person |
| associatedWith | Macrae, John, 1898- | person |
| associatedWith | Marquand, John P. (John Phillips), 1893-1960. | person |
| correspondedWith | Morley, Christopher, 1890-1957 | person |
| associatedWith | Muller, Julian. | person |
| associatedWith | Nevins, Allan, 1890-1971. | person |
| correspondedWith | New Directions Publishing Corp. | corporateBody |
| associatedWith | Ogg, Oscar. | person |
| associatedWith | O'Neill, Eugene, 1888-1953. | person |
| associatedWith | Parton, James, 1912- | person |
| associatedWith | Pippett, Roger. | person |
| associatedWith | Pippett, Roger. | person |
| associatedWith | Rogers, Henry Munroe, 1839-1937 | person |
| associatedWith | Rosin, Axel G., 1907- | person |
| associatedWith | Sackheim, Maxwell, 1890- | person |
| associatedWith | Scherman, Harry, 1887-1969. | person |
| associatedWith | Scherman, Harry, b. 1887. | person |
| associatedWith | Sears, Donald A. | person |
| associatedWith | Seaver, Edwin, 1900- | person |
| associatedWith | Shaw, Harry, 1905-1998. | person |
| associatedWith | Sherry, John. | person |
| associatedWith | Sherry, John. | person |
| associatedWith | Silverman, Al | person |
| associatedWith | Silverman, Al. | person |
| correspondedWith | Slonimsky, Nicolas, 1894-1995 | person |
| associatedWith | Steinbeck, John, 1902-1968. | person |
| associatedWith | Stone, Robert, 1937- | person |
| associatedWith | Styron, William | person |
| associatedWith | Thacher, Russell, 1919- | person |
| associatedWith | Thompson, Ralph, 1904- | person |
| associatedWith | Troob, Lester. | person |
| associatedWith | Ullman, Allan, 1908-1982. | person |
| correspondedWith | Vidal, Gore, 1925- | person |
| associatedWith | Walker, Edith. | person |
| associatedWith | Wescott, Glenway, 1901-1987. | person |
| associatedWith | White, William Allen, 1868-1944. | person |
| associatedWith | Wilson, Leon. | person |
| associatedWith | Wilson, Leon. | person |
| associatedWith | Wood, Meredith, 1895-1974. | person |
| associatedWith | Zinsser, William Knowlton | person |
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| American literature |
| American literature |
| Book clubs (Bookselling) |
| Book clubs (Bookselling) |
| Books |
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