Beacon Press

History

The history of Beacon Press actually begins in 1825, the year the American Unitarian Association (AUA) was formed. This liberal religious movement had the enlightened notion to publish and distribute books and tracts that would spread the word of their beliefs not only about theology but also about society and justice.

The early years: 1854–1900

In the Press of the American Unitarian Association (as Beacon was called then) purchased and published works that were largely religious in nature and "conservative Unitarian" in viewpoint (far more progressive, nonetheless, than many other denominations). The authors were often Unitarian ministers—dead or alive, American or British, mostly Caucasian, and far more male than female. Many of the books were collections of sermons, lectures, and letters, balanced by volumes of devotion, hymns, and morally uplifting tales.

New century, new mission: 1900–1945

In the early 1900s Samuel Eliot broadened the mission of the press by publishing books dealing with ethical, sociological, philanthropic, and similar subjects, as well as those of a more strictly religious character.... Although books of marked theology and religious note continued to have a predominant place in Association publication, the wide interest in all subjects relating to social and moral betterment were included and the evergrowing topics of war and peace and arbitration, or national amity and racial brotherhood were represented

The modern era: 1945–

In 1949, Beacon published American Freedom and Catholic Power, an anti-Catholic tome written by socialist and secular humanist Paul Blanshard, who was the assistant editor for The Nation. Beacon would go on to publish several other books by Blanshard critical of Catholicism over the next few decades.

Under director Gobin Stair (1962–75), new authors included James Baldwin, Kenneth Clark, André Gorz, Herbert Marcuse, Jürgen Habermas, Howard Zinn, Ben Bagdikian, Mary Daly, and Jean Baker Miller. Wendy Strothman became Beacon's director in 1983; she set up the organization's first advisory board, a group of scholars and publishing professionals who advised on book choices and direction. She turned a budget deficit into a surplus. In 1995, her last year at Beacon, Strothman summarized the Press's mission: "We at Beacon publish the books we choose because they share a moral vision and a sense that greater understanding can influence the course of events. They are books we believe in." Strothman was replaced by Helene Atwan in 1995.

In 1971, it published the "Senator Gravel edition" of The Pentagon Papers for the first time in book form, when no other publisher was willing to risk publishing such controversial material. Robert West, then-president of the Unitarian Universalist Association, approved the decision to publish The Pentagon Papers, which West claims resulted in two-and-a-half years of harassment and intimidation by the Nixon administration. In Gravel v. United States, the Supreme Court decided that the Constitution's "Speech or Debate Clause" protected Gravel and some acts of his aide, but not Beacon Press.

Beacon Press seeks to publish works that "affirm and promote" several principles:

Beacon Press is a member of the Association of University Presses.

Books and authors

Beacon Press publishes non-fiction, fiction, and poetry titles. Some of Beacon's best-known titles are listed below.

Book series

The following is a list of some of the principal series; it is not comprehensive.

• Beacon Paperbacks
• The Beacon Press Schweitzer Series
• Beacon Reference Series
• Beacon Series in Liberal Religion
• Beacon Studies in Freedom and Power
• Beacon Studies in Soviet Tyranny and Power
• Beacon Wit and Wisdom Series
• Black Women Writers Series
• Bluestreak: A Paperback Series of Innovative Literary Writing, Featuring Works by Women of Color
• Celebrating Black Women Writers
• Concord Library
• The New Beacon Series
• A Seventies Press Book
• True American Types
• Why I Am

The King Legacy (series)

In 2009, Beacon Press announced a new partnership with the Estate of Martin Luther King Jr. for a new book series publishing program, "The King Legacy." As part of the program, Beacon is printing new editions of previously published King titles and compiling Dr. King's writings, sermons, orations, lectures, and prayers into entirely new editions, including new introductions by leading scholars.

''Beacon Broadside''

Beacon Press launched its blog, Beacon Broadside, in late September 2007.

Awards

In 1992, Beacon won a New England Book Award for publishing. In 1993, Beacon was voted "Trade Publisher of the Year" by the Literary Market Place.

References

References

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2. Bisbort, Alan. (2008). "Media Scandals". ABC-CLIO.
3. (September–October 2004). "Beacon Press Celebrates 150 Years of Publishing".
4. Wilson, (2004), p. 209.
5. "UUA: The Pentagon Papers Then and Now: Unitarian Universalists Confronting Government Secrecy".
6. "Our Members". [[Association of University Presses]].
7. "Association of American University Presses Membership Directory".
8. Blanshard, Paul. (1948). "American Freedom and Catholic Power". Beacon Press.
9. Blanshard, Paul. American freedom and Catholic power. Boston: Beacon Press. Second Edition, January 1, 1958
10. (1964). "SNCC : The New Abolitionists". Beacon Press.
11. Wolff, Robert Paul; Barrington Moore Jr; Herbert Marcuse. A Critique of Pure Tolerance. Boston: Beacon Press. 1965. {{ISBN. 978-0807015599
12. King Jr., Martin Luther. Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?. Beacon Press, Boston. 1967. {{ISBN. 978-0-8070-0067-0
13. Schweitzer, Albert. (18 July 2023). "Albert Schweitzer: An Anthology". LEGARE STREET Press.
14. G., Raymond, Janice. (1979). "The transsexual empire : the making of the she-male". Beacon Press.
15. Baldwin, James. (July 9, 1984). "Notes of a Native Son". Beacon Press.
16. Miller, Jean Baker. (1987). "Toward a New Psychology of Women". Beacon Press.
17. Daly, Mary. (November 12, 1990). "Gyn/Ecology: The Metaethics of Radical Feminism". Beacon Press.
18. Marcuse, Herbert. (October 1, 1964). "One-Dimensional Man: Studies in the Ideology of Advanced Industrial Society". Beacon Press.
19. Canada, Geoffrey. (January 31, 1995). "Fist, Stick, Knife, Gun". Beacon Press.
20. Meier, Deborah. (November 12, 1995). "The Power of Their Ideas: Lessons for America from a Small School in Harlem". Beacon Press.
21. West, Cornel. (May 25, 2001). "Race Matters". Beacon Press.
22. Oliver, Mary. (November 15, 2005). "New and Selected Poems: Volume One". Beacon Press.
23. Oliver, Mary. (September 2, 2007). "Thirst". Beacon Press.
24. Khalidi, Rashid. (April 15, 2005). "Resurrecting Empire: Western Footprints and America's Perilous Path". Beacon Press.
25. Frankl, Viktor. (June 14, 2006). "Man's Search for Meaning". Beacon Press.
26. Hall, Meredith. (April 11, 2007). "Without a Map". Beacon Press.
27. MacDonald, Michael Patrick. (October 4, 2007). "All Souls: A Family Story from Southie". Beacon Press.
28. Lane, Frederick S.. (June 1, 2008). "The Court and the Cross". Beacon Press.
29. DiAngelo, Robin. Contrib Michael Eric Dyson. White Fragility. Beacon Press, Boston, 2018. {{ISBN. 9780807047422
30. Saini, Angela. Superior. Beacon Press, Boston, 2019. {{ISBN. 9780807076910
31. [https://www.librarything.com/nseries/264280/Beacon-Paperback Beacon Paperback], librarything.com. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
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33. [https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=se%3AThe%20Beacon%20Press%20Schweitzer%20Series The Beacon Press Schweitzer Series], worldcat.org. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
34. Albert Schweitzer, [https://archive.org/details/goethefourstudie0000albe/page/n5/mode/2up Goethe: Four Studies], Boston: The Beacon Press, 1949 (The Beacon Press Schweitzer Series), archive.org. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
35. [https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=se%3ABeacon%20reference%20series se:Beacon Reference Series], worldcat.org. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
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37. (1960). "Book Notes". The Journal of Southern History.
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39. [https://www.publishinghistory.com/beacon-studies-in-freedom-and-power.html Beacon Studies in Freedom and Power (The Beacon Press) - Book Series List], publishinghistory.com. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
40. [https://www.publishinghistory.com/beacon-studies-in-soviet-tyranny-and-power.html Beacon Studies in Soviet Tyranny and Power (The Beacon Press) - Book Series List], publishinghistory.com. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
41. [https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=se%3ABeacon%20Press%20wit%20and%20wisdom%20series se:Beacon Press Wit and Wisdom Series], worldcat.org. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
42. [https://www.worldcat.org/title/637377310 Black women writers series], worldcat.org. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
43. [https://www.worldcat.org/title/150282672 Bluestreak: a paperback series of innovative literary writing, featuring works by women of color], worldcat.org. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
44. [https://worldcat.org/search?q=se%3ACelebrating%20black%20women%20writers se:Celebrating Black Women Writers], worldcat.org. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
45. [https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=%22Concord+Library%22+%2B+Beacon Concord Library + Beacon], worldcat.org. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
46. [https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=%22The+New+Beacon+Series%22&itemSubType=book-printbook&itemSubTypeModified=book-printbook The New Beacon Series], worldcat.org. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
47. [https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=%22Seventies+Press+Book%22 Seventies Press Book + Beacon], worldcat.org. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
48. [https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=se%3ATrue%20American%20types se:True American Types], worldcat.org. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
49. [https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=%22Why+I+Am%22+Beacon Why I Am + Beacon], worldcat.org. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
50. (1965). "Back Matter". The Journal of Conflict Resolution.
51. (June 1, 2009). "Beacon Press to reissue Martin Luther King Jr.'s books". UU World Blog.
52. [http://www.philocrites.com/archives/003733.html Philocrites: Beacon Press launches 'Beacon Broadside' blog]
53. "New England Book Awards".
54. [http://www.beacon.org/client/client_pages/about_mission.cfm History and Mission]