The New Era of Publishing at Yale An Address by George Parmly Day February 23, 191J^ The New Era OF Publishing at Yale BEING AN ADDRESS DELI\'ERF.D ON Alumni Day, Fkbriary twenty-third NINETEEN HUNDRED AND FOURTEEN George Parmlv Day Prvsidtnt i>f the Yah' Univtrsity Press New Havi:x Yai.e UxivEKSiTV Press 1914. • • • • « • THE NEW ERA OF PUBLISHING AT YALE By George Parmly Day, '97 President of the Yale University Press Looked at either from the stand- point of the world at large, or from that of the smaller but equally critical world of Yale alone, there is no doubt of the vital significance of the increased interest in publish- ing manifested at Yale University in recent years, clearly evidenced by the conception and successful estab- lishment of the new Yale Review and by the organization and steadily increasing activity of the Yale Uni- versity Press. In thus singling out for special emphasis developments of comparatively recent years in the field of publication at Yale, I have no desire to minimize the impor- tance of enterprises dating from the more distant past. The Ameri- can Journal qf Science was founded by Benjamin Silliman, and to its long and honorable career and to Publishing: at Yale the loving care bestowed upon it by the members of the Dana fam- ily, an entire address might with propriety be devoted. Similarly of the former Yale Review^ an economic journal, of the Nerv Enghntder and Yale Reviexc which preceded it, and of the sacrifices made by Professor Henry W. Farnam that they might live, much might well be said. If this were an historical address it would scarce be fitting to pass over with such brief mention these developments of former years or to content oneself by simply stating that there were others, such as T/ie Transactions of the Connecticut Academy^ etc. But significant as such enterprises were of the recognition b.v a few men of the importance of associating with an institu- tion of learning publications of a scholarly character, the time was not ripe, when they were founded, for the development of what has perhaps been the most significant characteristic of their vounger Publishinor at Yale brothers — if I may so describe them — the Yale Publishing Asso- ciation, with its Yale Review, and the Yale University Press, with approximatel.v one hundred and twenty-five volumes already to its credit. The older enterprises were significant of tlie vision of a few men that they might serve the world of scholarship, through the medium of publications conducted by individual effort. The newer enterprises are significant of a belief that the University itself not only might but should serve, through publications actively fos- tered and encouraged by it, the world at large as well as the world of scholarship and letters. The newer enterprises, like the old, were started by individuals rather than by the University, but merely because the University w^as unable financially to assume the burden of conducting them. The.v were, however, established only at\er the fullest consultation with the au- thorities ; thev were linked as 6 Publishing at Yale closely as possible to the Univer- sity by the permission granted to use the University's name; and they have been encouraged and aided, to such extent as has been possible, by the University. The most striking circumstances atten- dant upon their beginning was the confident belief on the part of all concerned that the University would wish to be most intimately associated with the productions put forth under their imprints ; the most interesting development in their brief career has been the growth of the idea throughout the University that they are as essen- tial a part of the Yale to-day as the departments of student instruc- tion, and as indispensable to the institution ; the most probable event of the not distant future is the establishment in the Univer- sity and through its active aid of adequate endowment funds for publication, that so long as the University exists these enterprises may endure. | Publishing at Yale It is true that the idea of a great University's actively and constantly interesting itself in publishing is not new, although comparatively new in our older American universities. Abroad, the Presses of Oxford and Cambridge, to mention but two institutions, have for many, many years been inseparably associated in the pub- lic mind with those Universities and have, to a very large extent, been responsible for the reputation enjoyed by Oxford and Cambridge as real seats of learning. But in this country while a number of the comparatively young universities have for some time published un- der their own imprints books and magazines, the older institutions such as Harvard and Yale for years contented themselves with issuing through other channels, rather than directly themselves, a number of volumes such as those containing the lectured delivered at Yale on the Silliman and Dodge Foundations. Such publications 8 Publishing at Yale might be made, as in the case of these lectures, annually, but they did not evidence a constant inter- est in publication. They might be, as indeed they were, supple- mented at times by the production of a striking collection of volumes, such as our Yale Bicentennial Series. But even so they did not testify — as a University Press inevitably testifies — to a real awak- ening on the part of the whole University to its opportunity to disseminate knowledge, to spread light and truth, far be.vond its own walls, not merely from time to time but all the time. They could not give — as a University Press must at least tend to give — added enthusiasm to research in the Uni- versity through the confidence felt by the worker that his labors will not be deprived of their proper reward, adequate and timely pub- lication, and will not be largely nullified because there is no pro- vision for such publication in a year's University budget. They Publishing at Yale 9 could not so effectively create — as the Yale University Press and the Yale Review have already created very generally — -a feeling on the part of workers and writers in other universities and in the larger world outside that here at Yale pure scholarship is gladly recog- nized and that the University is as anxious as is any author of a scholarly work for its production under an imprint which at once commands for it respectful atten- tion. What are a few of the things that the Yale University Press and the allied publishing activities of Yale to-day signify ? For one thing, they show the recognition bj" the University of another opportunity for service to the world at large through publi- cation, such, as Sir William Osier last spring declared, was Univer- sit)^ Extension Work of the finest kind." What he meant may be glimpsed if one stops to consider that while several hundred onlv 10 Publishing at Yale could hear Ambassador Bryce lec- ture at Yale on The Responsibili- ties of Citizenship, ' ' thousands have been able to read his addresses as subsequently published. Again, there is shown the recog- nition b,v the University of its opportunity for service to the whole world of scholarship and letters. Our publishing organiza- tions were not founded to serve Yale alone, or Yale men alone, but from the outset have welcomed works from scholars throughout the w^orld. It is not through acci- dent but from design that the list of authors represented contains the names of men not only from Maine to California," but of others from London to Tokio." Still again, there is shown the recognition by the University of its opportunity to serve the welfare of its own teaching force. Some of these men have given freely of themselves and their lives to the University, often at wholly inade- quate compensation. As a result. Publishing at Yale 11 even \vhere they have left them- selves the time in which to write, they have not had the means. to venture capital in the production of works of pure scholarship to the extent that would have been necessary had they essayed the publication of such works them- selves : or even had they sought their publication through houses obliged to pay salaries to all their officers, formed to return at least some dividends to their sharehold- ers, and forced to dread a deficit as the devil dreads holy water. To the younger men in the University — the instructors and the assistant professors — the presence of pub- lishing organizations in the Uni- versity must mean the opportunity to win earlier recognition and promotion. If the publication of their theories or of the results of their research can command through merit the respectful atten- tion of the world outside, it will not fail to be of effect on the Deans and Faculties within. 12 Publishing at Yale Finally, it seems to me that it is significant of present-day publish- ing at Yale that it is built upon broad lines, and is as broad in its appeal as is the University itself. Observers outside have commented, at first with surprise and then with admiration, on the facts that we welcome works of others than those connected with Yale and that we desire to issue not onlj^ technical volumes of value to more advanced scholars but also books and articles of interest to the average man of culture. It is an old jibe that A University Press is an organization formed to publish books which no one will read." The man who cannot find in the contents of the Yale Review and in the catalogue of the Yale University Press much that is of the greatest interest to himself owes it to himself to keep very quiet about it ! What the Yale Universit.v Press and the allied publishing activities at Yale may mean to the world and to the Yale of the future, rests Publishing at Yale 13 largely with you alumni. It is certain that although these organ- izations have accomplished much in recent years with wholly inade- quate resources, they cannot con- tinue indefinitel)' on this basis, or do their best work until the Uni- versity receives proper endowment for them. Because of their distinct services to the world, this should soon be forthcoming. Even if one looks sceptically at the larger re- sults accomplished by them and in a narrow way asks, What have they done for Yale ? " he is forced to admit that they have advertised the University more favorably and more widely than it could have been advertised otherwise for double or treble the expenditure of money ; that they have made it easier for the University to attract teachers of distinction to its service and to retain them in its service ; that they have made it possible for the departments of the University to keep more closely in touch with the men in other institutions who IJf Publishing at Yale are doing the best work in given lines, a consideration of value in that it should enable the University to choose most wisely when calling new teachers ; that they have in many cases at least, from roj alties and moneys paid authors, distinctly helped to improve the condition of underpaid professors and instruc- tors ; that they have won f^ar more proper recognition and often ad- vancement ; and finally that they have placed the proper emphasis on Yale as an educational institu- tion, not only in America but throughout the world. It was from Japan this last spring that one of the largest orders for books of the Yale University Press was received. It was on the continent last summer that in a bookstore the clerk told a lad}'' in search of some good book" that some of the best books from America were those published by the Yale Uni- versity Press. It was in New York a year ago that the distinguished French philosopher, Henri Berg- • • > • • o • • '.• • •• Publishmg 4t iYaiJ*/;':!^ :\*i : son, said, in answer to a remark about Yale : Yale University I do not yet know ; but the Yale University Press I know. It is a very important publishing enter- prise. And the Yale Review I know. It is the best magazine published in your country." The Corporation of Yale Uni- versity is not blind to the oppor- tunities before the University and is on record as to the need of adequate publication funds. Un- fortunately one cannot create these by resolutions. If the alumni and other friends of Yale have the interests of the University really at heart, they will require no urg- ing to establish these. If Yale stands for Light and Truth," it must stand for the spreading of Light and Truth. It is impossible to think of us as saying, smugly : Here is our light, safely hid under our own little bushel : and truth at the bottom of the well where we were told to search for it." IN INITIAL FINE OF 25 CENTS ILL BE ASSESSED FOR FAILURE TO RETURN 4IS BOOK ON THE DATE DUE. THE PENALTY ILL INCREASE TO 50 CENTS ON THE FOURTH ^ \Y AND TO $1.00 ON THE SEVENTH DAY /ERDUE. RUG 16 ^^ 313000 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRA!