Stackpole Books
Edward J. Stackpole Jr. stood at the helm of a newspaper empire in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, during the early 1930s. His father had acquired controlling interest in the Telegraph Press back in 1901. The young general returned from World War I with three Purple Hearts and a Silver Star to manage the family business. In 1930, he purchased the National Service Publishing Company based in Washington, D.C. This acquisition became Military Service Publishing Company and began printing textbooks for armed forces personnel. That same year, Edward launched a trade division called Stackpole Sons alongside his brother Albert. They opened offices in New York City to handle fiction titles by authors like Damon Runyon. The company also published autobiographies featuring Benny Goodman and Huey Long. Both divisions operated under the umbrella of Telegraph Press until later consolidations.
The Army Officer's Guide remains in print today as an updated edition from Stackpole Books. This textbook originated when the company first acquired the National Service Publishing Company in 1930. Military Service Publishing Company produced specialized texts for various branches of the armed services throughout the mid-20th century. These volumes served as essential references for officers and enlisted men alike. The publisher maintained a steady output of military history books even after shifting focus elsewhere. E.J. Stackpole Jr. himself wrote popular titles on the American Civil War including They Met at Gettysburg. His work on The Fredericksburg Campaign and Chancellorsville established the house's reputation in historical nonfiction. Sheridan in the Shenandoah added another layer to their growing catalog of military reference works. The company continued publishing these materials long after the war ended.
Bradford Angier became a key author for Stackpole during the 1950s with his wilderness survival guides. His book Feasting Free on Wild Edibles introduced readers to identifying edible plants in nature. Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants followed as another practical resource for outdoor enthusiasts. The publisher also released Field Guide to Medicinal Wild Plants and Looking for Gold by the same expert. All four titles remain available today in new editions. Stackpole shifted its editorial direction toward nonfiction genres like crafts, regional history, and travel during this period. Fly fishing books emerged as a signature category that defined the company's identity for decades. New lines expanded into crafts and regional topics while maintaining core strengths in outdoors literature. This strategic pivot ensured longevity beyond the initial military textbook market.
Stackpole Books officially formed when the trade division merged with Military Service Publishing Company in 1959. The headquarters moved from Harrisburg to Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1993. Current leadership includes CEO M. David Detweiler and Publisher Judith Schnell who guide daily operations. In 2015, Rowman & Littlefield purchased the entire publishing house. A separate transaction occurred the following year when Ampry Publishing acquired Stackpole Magazines. These consolidations marked significant shifts in ownership structure over nearly a century of operation. The original divisions eventually became part of a single unified entity under new corporate management. Each acquisition reshaped how the company approached distribution and editorial strategy moving forward.
Military Services Publishing Company released twenty-one paperback titles between 1944 and 1945 known as Superior Reprints. These books carried consecutive numbers from M637 through M657 and cost exactly 25 cents each. They were about twice the size of Armed Services Editions but small enough for cargo pockets. Unlike free ASEs, soldiers had to purchase these volumes directly. The series leaned heavily toward mystery and detective fiction genres rather than educational material. Titles included White Magic by Faith Baldwin and This Gun for Hire by Graham Greene. Other entries featured works by Elizabeth Daly, Philip MacDonald, and H. H. Munro. The complete set remains collectible among book historians today due to its unique wartime context.
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Common questions
Who founded Stackpole Books and when did the company originate?
Edward J. Stackpole Jr. established the foundation for Stackpole Books in 1930 by purchasing the National Service Publishing Company. He launched the trade division called Stackpole Sons alongside his brother Albert that same year to handle fiction titles.
What is the history of Stackpole Books headquarters location changes?
The company moved its headquarters from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania on the 2nd of May 1993. Edward J. Stackpole Jr. originally managed the newspaper empire in Harrisburg during the early 1930s before these shifts occurred.
When did Rowman & Littlefield purchase Stackpole Books?
Rowman & Littlefield purchased the entire publishing house in 2015. A separate transaction occurred the following year when Ampry Publishing acquired Stackpole Magazines.
Which books are still available today from the original Stackpole catalog?
The Army Officer's Guide remains in print today as an updated edition from Stackpole Books. Four wilderness survival guides by Bradford Angier including Feasting Free on Wild Edibles also remain available today in new editions.
How many Superior Reprints were released between 1944 and 1945?
Military Services Publishing Company released twenty-one paperback titles known as Superior Reprints between 1944 and 1945. These books carried consecutive numbers from M637 through M657 and cost exactly 25 cents each.