P. F. Volland Company of Chicago, Illinois published poetry books, greeting cards,''The American Stationer and Office Outfitter'', Volume 90, page 8. music, children's books, calendars, cookbooks, and children's occupational games, between 1908 and 1959. The press was noted for using new printing processes, including off-set printing techniques, and color illustrations. The P. F. Volland Company is also known for the many significant artists and writers whose work it published.

Founder

Paul Frederick John Volland Hughes Phelps (April 24, 1875 – May 5, 1919) was a 20th century publisher, and the founder of the P. F. Volland Company. In 1908, he would become the founder of the P. F. Volland Company, which would work to publish poetry books, greeting cards, music, children's books, calendars, cookbooks, and children's occupational games, all between 1908 and 1959. He also became a publisher during the time period following the foundation of the company. In 1917, Volland would publish the book ''

New Adventures of Alice ''New Adventures of Alice'' is a novel by John Rae, written in 1917 and published by P. F. Volland of Chicago. It is, according to Carolyn Sigler, one of the more important "Alice imitations", or novels inspired by Lewis Carroll's ''Alice'' bo ...

'', made by John Rae. On May 5, 1919, Volland was shot and killed by Vera Trepagnier in a business dispute in the Volland offices.

Volland Ideal

The Volland Ideal was used to market P. F. Volland's lines of children's books. The Volland Ideal was "that books should make children happy and build character unconsciously and should contain nothing to cause fright, suggest fear, glorify mischief, excuse malice or condone cruelty."

History

Christmas cards were added as a product line in 1909. After 1912, the firm had offices in the Monroe Building (across the street from the Art Institute), which were designed by the well-known architect

Walter Burley Griffin Walter Burley Griffin (November 24, 1876February 11, 1937) was an American architect and landscape architect. He designed Canberra, Australia's capital city, the New South Wales towns of Griffith, New South Wales, Griffith and Leeton, New So ...

. Griffin also had offices in the Monroe Building and his wife, architect

Marion Mahony Griffin Marion Mahony Griffin (; February 14, 1871 – August 10, 1961) was an American architect and artist. She was one of the first licensed female architects in the world, and is considered an original member of the Prairie School. Her work in ...

, provided illustrations for some of P. F. Volland's greeting cards. In 1916, the firm moved to a new space in the Garland Building, 58 East Washington Street, Chicago, Illinois. In 1917, the company was incorporated in Delaware. In 1919, the firm participated in the Victory Loan drive organized by the Liberty Loan Committee for the Publishing, Printing, Advertising, and Allied Interests.

Frederick J. Clampitt Frederick may refer to: People * Frederick (given name), the name Given name Nobility = Anhalt-Harzgerode = *Frederick, Prince of Anhalt-Harzgerode (1613–1670) = Austria = * Frederick I, Duke of Austria (Babenberg), Duke of Austria from ...

, who had been a silent partner and an executive member of the firm since 1916, became president of P. F. Volland after Paul Volland's death in 1919.''Publishers' Weekly'', June 14, 1919, p. 1637. Other officers of the company in 1919 were W. R. Anderson, vice president; H. S. Adams, secretary;

Edwin J. Clampitt The name Edwin means "wealth-friend". It comes from (wealth, good fortune) and (friend). Thus the Old English form is Ēadwine, a name widely attested in early medieval England. Edwina is the feminine form of the name. Notable people and char ...

, assistant treasurer; James R. Offield, member of board of directors; Maurice Berkson, member of board of directors. J. P. McEvoy headed up the editorial department. The New York representative of the firm was Francis H. Evans. In 1929, the New York representative of the firm was Harry A. Moore. The P. F. Volland Company merged with the Gerlach Barlow Company in 1924 and moved some of its offices to the Gerlach Barlow Building in

Joliet, Illinois Joliet ( ) is a city in Will County, Illinois, Will and Kendall County, Illinois, Kendall counties in the U.S. state of Illinois, located southwest of Chicago. It is the county seat of Will County, Illinois, Will County. It had a population of ...

. The Volland brand name continued to be used for Volland products. The Volland offices at 58 E. Washington in Chicago, Illinois were retained and sold both the Volland and Gerlach Barlow lines. After

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, Volland produced greeting cards for the emerging African American market. By 1935, the book titles published by Volland were acquired by other publishers, including Wise Book Company and M.A. Donahue. The Shaw Barton Company, a competitor of the Gerlach Barlow Company, purchased the company in 1959 and closed down the Joliet operation. Folks_Like_You

Authors and illustrators of the P.F. Volland Co.

Volland hired many significant early 20th century artists and writers. Many worked as

freelancer ''Freelance'' (sometimes spelled ''free-lance'' or ''free lance''), ''freelancer'', or ''freelance worker'', are terms commonly used for a person who is self-employed and not necessarily committed to a particular employer long-term. Freelance w ...

s.Shank, p.145. * Sarah Addington * Ottillie Amend * Alice Cooper Bailey * Henry Turner Bailey *

Temple Bailey Irene Temple Bailey (February 24, 1869 – July 6, 1953) was a popular American novelist and short story writer.Clayton, Marion E. (15 July 1928)Noted Author Tells About Life, Writing on Visit in Valley '' Utica Observer-Dispatch''Alden, Alice (17 ...

* Maginel Wright Barney * Eleanore Barte *

Mary R. Bassett Mary Robertson Bassett was a late 19th and early 20th century illustrator of magazines and children's books. Career Mary Robertson Bassett illustrated magazines such as ''Ladies' Home Journal'', and children's books published by P. F. Volland C ...

* Clara Doty Bates *

L. Frank Baum Lyman Frank Baum (; May 15, 1856 – May 6, 1919) was an American author best known for his children's fantasy books, particularly '' The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'', part of a series. In addition to the 14 ''Oz'' books, Baum penned 41 other novels ...

* Betty Baxter * Frances Beem * Erick Berry *

John Gabbert Bowman John Gabbert Bowman (May 18, 1877 – December 2, 1962) was the tenth Chancellor (1921–1945) of the University of Pittsburgh and the ninth President (1911–1914) of the University of Iowa. He is best known for initiating and completing ...

* Claire A. Briggs * Philip Broughton * Carmen L. Browne * Thornton W. Burgess *

Edgar Rice Burroughs Edgar Rice Burroughs (September 1, 1875 – March 19, 1950) was an American writer, best known for his prolific output in the adventure, science fiction, and fantasy genres. Best known for creating the characters Tarzan (who appeared in ...

Bonibel Butler Bonnibel Butler Weston (September 22, 1885 – March 7, 1983) was an American children's book illustrator in the early 20th century. She also provided designs and illustrations for magazines, like ''St. Nicholas''. Personal life Butler was born ...

George Frank Butler George may refer to: Names * George (given name) * George (surname) People * George (singer), American-Canadian singer George Nozuka, known by the mononym George * George Papagheorghe, also known as Jorge / GEØRGE * George, stage name of Giorg ...

* Ve Elizabeth Cadie * Eleanor Campbell *

Lang Campbell Lang Campbell (born September 25, 1981) is an American former professional American football, football quarterback who played in the Arena Football League (AFL) and NFL Europe. He was signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in ...

* Ruth Campbell *

Lewis Carroll Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (27 January 1832 – 14 January 1898), better known by his pen name Lewis Carroll, was an English author, poet, mathematician, photographer and reluctant Anglicanism, Anglican deacon. His most notable works are ''Alice ...

William Herbert Carruth William Herbert Carruth (April 5, 1859 – December 15, 1924) was an American educator and poet. He taught at the University of Kansas and Stanford University. Life William Herbert Carruth was born in Osawatomie, Kansas Osawatomie is a city ...

Russell Gordon Carter Russell Gordon Carter (January 1, 1892 – May 9, 1957) was an American writer of more than fifty books and short stories, primarily for young people. Personal Carter was born in Trenton, New Jersey on January 1, 1892, the son of John Rogers and ...

Gertrud Caspari Gertrud Caspari (22 March 1873 – 7 June 1948) was one of the most important German children's book illustrators in the first half of the 20th century, and is recognised as the creator of a "modern toddler" or "Caspari" style. Early life and ed ...

Madison Cawein Madison Julius Cawein (March 23, 1865 – December 8, 1914) was a poet from Louisville, Kentucky. Biography Madison Julius Cawein was born in Louisville, Kentucky on March 23, 1865, the fifth child of William and Christiana (Stelsly) Cawein. His ...

* Ethel Clere Chamberlin *

Padraic Colum Padraic Colum (8 December 1881 – 11 January 1972) was an Irish poet, novelist, dramatist, biographer, playwright, children's author and collector of folklore. He was one of the leading figures of the Irish Literary Revival. Early life Co ...

* Nancy Cox McCormack * Elizabeth T. Corbett * Frank Crane * Pauline Croll * Gladys Signey Crouch * Alice Ross Culver * Gertrude K. Day * Katherine Sturges Dodge *

Carrie Dudley Carrie may refer to: People * Carrie (name), a female given name and occasionally a surname Places in the United States * Carrie, Kentucky, an unincorporated community * Carrie, Virginia, an unincorporated community * Carrie Glacier, Olympic Na ...

* Mary Ellsworth *

Rachel Robinson Elmer Rachael Robinson Elmer (July 28, 1878 – February 13, 1919), also seen as Rachel Robinson Elmer, was an American artist from Vermont, who gained notability as a painter of Postcard, postcards of New York City, which "changed the world of Americ ...

Georgene Faulkner Georgene Faulkner (1873–1958) was an American writer of children's literature and storyteller of the early twentieth century. In her career, she was known and promoted as "the Story Lady." A native Chicagoan, she attended the School of Educa ...

* Eveline Foland * James W. Foley * Marion Foster *

Fontaine Fox Fontaine Talbot Fox Jr. (June 4, 1884 – August 9, 1964) was an American cartoonist and illustrator best known for writing and illustrating his ''Toonerville Folks'' comic panel, which ran from 1913 to 1955 in 250 to 300 newspapers across North ...

* Frances Margaret Fox *

Ellery Friend Ellery may refer to: * Ellery (duo), an American pop group * Ellery (given name) * Ellery (surname) * Ellery, New York, a US town * Ellery, Illinois, a US town See also

* Ellery Lake, a List of lakes of Ontario: E, lake in Ontario, Canada * M ...

* John Archer Gee * Elisa Leypold Good *Elizabeth Gordon *

Douglas Grant Douglas Grant (1885 – 4 December 1951) was an Aboriginal Australians, Aboriginal Australian soldier, draughtsman, public servant, journalist, public speaker, and factory worker. During World War I, he was captured by the German Army (German E ...

* Edwin Osgood Grover *

Eulalie Osgood Grover "Eulalie", or "Eulalie — A Song", is a poem by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in the July 1845 issue of '' The American Review'' and reprinted shortly thereafter in the August 9, 1845 issue of the ''Broadway Journal''. Summary The poem is a ...

Johnny Gruelle John Barton Gruelle (December 24, 1880 – January 9, 1938) was an American artist, political cartoonist, children's book and comics author, illustrator, and storyteller. He is best known as the creator of Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy dolls and ...

* Justin C. Gruelle * Mercer Gruelle * Molly Anderson Haley * Maude McGehee Hankins * Muriel E. Halstead * Julia Dyar Hardy *

Ruby Hart Ruby is a pinkish-red-to-blood-red-colored gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum (aluminium oxide). Ruby is one of the most popular traditional jewelry gems and is very durable. Other varieties of gem-quality corundum are called sapphir ...

* Dick Hartley * Louise Marshall Haynes * John Held, Jr. *

Helen West Heller Helen West Heller (1872 – November 19, 1955)Various sources provide a date of birth in either 1870 or 1885, but most agree on a date of 1872. was an American painter, printmaker, poet, and illustrator. Heller was born Helen Barnhart in Rushvi ...

Arthur Henderson Arthur Henderson (13 September 1863 – 20 October 1935) was a British iron moulder and Labour Party (UK), Labour politician. He was the first Labour Cabinet of the United Kingdom, cabinet minister, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1934 and, uniqu ...

*D. Henderson * Charlotte B. Herr * Alice Higgins * Elizabeth O. Hiller *

Caroline Hofman Caroline may refer to: People * Caroline (singer) (born 1981), Japanese glitch pop musician * Caroline (given name), a feminine given name * J. C. Caroline (1933–2017), American football player * Jamie Caroline (born 1999), British racing drive ...

* Holling C. Holling * Lucille Webster Holling * R. S. Hubbell * Eleanore Mineah Hubbard *

Carrie Jacobs-Bond Carrie Minetta Jacobs-Bond (August 11, 1862 – December 28, 1946) was an American singer, pianist, and songwriter who composed some 175 pieces of popular music from the 1890s through the early 1940s. She is perhaps best remembered for writing ...

* Norman Jacobsen * May Justus * Ilona de Karekjarto *

Gertrude Alice Kay Gertrude Alice Kay (January 30, 1884 – December 17, 1939) was an American children's literature illustrator and author best known for her work in fairy tales and beginner novels. She was active during America's Golden Age of Illustration. B ...

Alexander Key Alexander Hill Key (September 21, 1904 – July 25, 1979) was an American science fiction writer who primarily wrote children's literature. Early life Alexander Key was born in 1904 in LaPlatte, Maryland to Alexander Hill and Charlotte ( ...

* L. Kirby-Parrish * Edith Brown Kirkwood *

S. E. Kiser S is the nineteenth letter of the English alphabet. S may also refer to: History * an Anglo-Saxon charter's number in Peter Sawyer's, catalogue Language and linguistics * Long s (ſ), a form of the lower-case letter s formerly used where "s ...

Clayton Knight Clayton Knight OBE (March 30, 1891 – July 17, 1969) was an American aviator during World War I. He was also an aviation artist and illustrator, and is known for being one of the founders of the Clayton Knight Committee and the illustrator of t ...

* C. L. Kohler * Tom Lamb * W. T. Larned * Ring W. Lardner *

Jeanette Lawrence Jeanette Carolyn Heintzen Lawrence (May 3, 1869 – July 6, 1960) was an American writer and lecturer. Biography Jeanette Carolyn Heintzen was born on May 3, 1869 in Sierra County, California, the daughter of Charles Heintzen, Jr and Sarah V. Bu ...

* Ella Dolbear Lee * Michael Lipman * Albert Edgar Lownes * William Briggs MacHarg *

Douglas Malloch Douglas Malloch (May 5, 1877 – July 2, 1938) was an American poet, short-story writer and Associate Editor of American Lumberman, a trade paper in Chicago. He was known as a "Lumberman's poet" both locally and nationally. He is noted for writi ...

George C. Mason George may refer to: Names * George (given name) * George (surname) People * George (singer), American-Canadian singer George Nozuka, known by the mononym George * George Papagheorghe, also known as Jorge / GEØRGE * George, stage name of Giorg ...

* J. P. McEvoy * Jo McMahon * John L. Mee * Edna Merritt * Mildred Plew Merryman *

Ervine Metzl Ervine Metzl (1899–1963) was an American graphic artist and illustrator best known for his posters and postage stamp designs. Biography Ervine Metzl was born in Chicago in 1899 to Ignatz and Bertha (Kohn) Metzl, Jewish immigrants from Bohemia. ...

* Nellie Burget Miller * Olive Beaupre Miller *

Edith Mitchell Edith Peterson Mitchell (November 20, 1947 – January 21, 2024) was a retired Brigadier general of the United States Air Force and an oncologist. She was clinical professor of medicine and medical oncology at Thomas Jefferson University. In 20 ...

*George William Mitchell *Lebbus Mitchell *

Muriel Moscrip Mitchell Muriel may refer to: Places *Muriel de Zapardiel, a municipality in the province of Valladolid, Spain *Muriel, Zimbabwe, a settlement *Muriel Lake, British Columbia, Canada *Muriel Lake (Alberta), Canada *Muriel Peak, a summit in California Peopl ...

* P. Moscheowitz * Gladys Nelson Muter * Marie Honre Myers *

Wilbur D. Nesbit Wilbur Dick Nesbit (1871-1927), also known by the pen name Josh Wink, was an American poet and humorist. He is most known for his poem, "Your Flag and My Flag", which was popular during World War I. Throughout his career, he contributed his humor ...

* David McCheyne Newell * June Norris *Joseph Pierre Nuytenns *

Jane Ort Jane may refer to: * Jane (given name), a feminine given name including list of persons and characters with the name * Jane (surname), related to the given name including list of persons and characters with the name Film and television * ''Jan ...

* Margerita Osborne *John Edward Perkins *

M. C. Potter M, or m, is the thirteenth letter of the English alphabet. M may also refer to: Companies and products * M (fragrance), a 2008 fragrance by Mariah Carey * M-series rangefinder, a series of Leica camera models * M (virtual assistant), a form ...

*Edward Poucher * Jane Priest * Nina Wilcox Putnam * John Rae *Fletcher C. Ransom * Margaret Thomsen Raymond * Sybill Rebman *Earl H. Reed *Sidney Reid *

Frederick Richardson Frederick Richardson (1862 – 15 January 1937) was an American illustrator of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, best remembered for his illustrations of works by L. Frank Baum. Life and career A native Chicagoan, Richardso ...

* M. T. Ross *

Herman Rosse Hermann Rosse (1 January 1887 – 13 April 1965) was a Dutch-American architect, illustrator, painter, theatrical designer, and art director. He won an Academy Awards, Academy Award for Best Art Direction for the film the ''King of Jazz''. ...

Ethel Rundquist Ethel (also '' æthel'') is an Old English word meaning "noble", today often used as a feminine given name. Etymology and historic usage The word means ''æthel'' "noble". It is frequently attested as the first element in Anglo-Saxon names, ...

*Frederic L. Ryder * Tony Sarg * Anna M. Scott * Janet Laura Scott * Wilhelmina Seegmiller *Charles Livingston Snell * Fairmont Snyder *

Johanna Spyri Spyri (; ; 12 June 1827 – 7 July 1901) was a Swiss author of novels, notably children's stories. She wrote the popular book ''Heidi''. Born in Hirzel, a rural area in the canton of Zürich, as a child she spent several summers near Chur i ...

* Beatrice Stevens *

Robert Louis Stevenson Robert Louis Stevenson (born Robert Lewis Balfour Stevenson; 13 November 1850 – 3 December 1894) was a Scottish novelist, essayist, poet and travel writer. He is best known for works such as ''Treasure Island'', ''Strange Case of Dr Jekyll ...

* Wilhelmina Stitch *Charles H. Sylvester * Kate S. Teetshorn *

Gustaf Tenggren Gustaf Adolf Tenggren (November 3, 1896 – April 9, 1970) was a Swedes, Swedish illustrator and animator. He is known for his Arthur Rackham-influenced fairy-tale style and use of silhouetted figures with caricatured faces. Tenggren was a chief i ...

* Mabel Dunham Thayer *

Ruth Plumly Thompsen Ruth Plumly Thompson (27 July 1891 – 6 April 1976) was an American writer of children's stories, best known for writing many novels placed in Oz, the fictional land of L. Frank Baum's classic children's novel ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' an ...

* Pamela Mori Tigher *Lew Tower * Helen Van Valkenburgh * Helen Vanderveer * Dugald Stewart Walker * Satella Waterstone * Mary L. Watson *

Jessie Penniman White Jessie may refer to: People and fictional characters * Jessie (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters * Jessie (surname), a list of people Arts and entertainment * ''Jessie'' (2011 TV series), a 2011–15 Disney Channel ...

* Lois Willoughby *

Dixie Willson Dixie Lucile Reiniger Willson (30 July 1890 - 6 February 1974) was an American screenwriter, as well as an author of children's books, novels, and short stories. Life Willson was born in Estherville, Iowa to John David Willson, a lawyer, and ...

*Edward Arthur Wilson * Isa L. Wright * Annette Wynne

Book series published by P.F. Volland

*Classics series *Friendship series *Golden Youth series *Good Cheer series *Happy Children series *Hug Me Toy Books *Jolly Jingle series *Jolly Kid series * Punky Dunk *Philadelphia Ledger Newspaper Books *Read Me A Story series *Sunny Book series *Volland "Fairy Children" series *Volland Inglenook series

References

Bibliography

* * * * {{Authority control Defunct companies based in Chicago 1908 establishments in Illinois Greeting cards Book publishing companies based in Illinois Defunct book publishing companies of the United States 1959 mergers and acquisitions