R. W. Carroll & Co., Cincinnati

Here is a summary of this firm's history.

1. In 1856 (J. J.) Rickey, (W. L.) Mallory & Webb bought out the H. W. Derby publishing firm.
2. January, 1858 Rickey, Mallory & Company succeeded Rickey, Mallory & Webb.
3. 1861 Rickey & (Robert W.) Carroll succeeded Rickey, Mallory & Co.
4. March, 1864 Rickey retired from the book business and Rickey & Carroll dissolved.
5. 1864 R. W. Carroll & Co. was established.

Of all these predecessor companies, only Rickey, Mallory & Co. published a juvenile series: 1861 Oliver Optic's Boat Club Series.

Robert W. Carroll (1826-1897) started his working life as an attorney. He was in the publishing business between 1861 and 1880 after which he returned to the practice of law. Of note is that his business was destroyed in a fire in 1866 but he recovered from it and continued successfully in the publishing business thereafter. He is listed as an original member of the Cincinnati Baseball Club 1866-1871.

This firm published five series. Details of the relationship between Carroll and Harry Castlemon are noted in "Harry Castlemon" by Jacob Blanck, published by R. R. Bowker Co. in 1941.

Carroll published the first three of Castlemon's series. Two later Castlemon series, Rocky Mountain Series and the Frank Nelson Series were actually published by Porter and Coates with a R. W. Carroll co-imprint.

In addition to the three Castlemon series, two series for children were also published.