Frederic G. Melcher

Frederic G. Melcher
Born12 April 1879 Edit this on Wikidata
Malden Edit this on Wikidata
Died9 March 1963 Edit this on Wikidata (aged 83)
OccupationOpinion writer, editor, publisher Edit this on Wikidata
Employer

Frederic Gershom Melcher (April 12, 1879 – March 9, 1963) was an American publisher, bookseller, editor, and a major contributor to the library science field and book industry. He is particularly known for his contributions to the children's book genre, including the Newbery Medal and Caldecott Medal.[1][2] Melcher was named as one of the most important 100 leaders in the library science field of the 20th century in an American Libraries article and has been described as "the greatest all-round bookman in the English-speaking world".[1]

Melcher was born in 1879 in Malden, Massachusetts, a suburb on the north side of Boston.[3][4] In 1883, the family moved to Newton Center, another Boston suburb.[3] A 1945 essay describes his childhood growing up near a lake, fishing, ice skating and swimming.[3] He was also an avid reader from a young age, making many visits to the library, as well as enjoying books passed on or given by friends and family.[3]

  1. ^ a b "100 of the most important leaders we had in the 20th century". American Libraries. 30 (11): 38–46. December 1999. JSTOR 25637411. Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  2. ^ Melcher, Sue (May 9, 2022). "Family Memories of Frederic G Melcher". The Horn Book. Archived from the original on May 9, 2022. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d Melcher, Frederic (1945). "On Becoming Acquainted with Books". Smith, pp. 3–10.
  4. ^ "On Frederic G Melcher". The Children's Book Council. June 30, 2022. Archived from the original on August 8, 2022. Retrieved January 28, 2023.