Woolworth, Ainsworth & Co.

This publisher succeeded Crosby and Ainsworth in 1868. In 1875 it was succeeded by Potter, Ainsworth & Co.

Joseph Ainsworth (1824-1888) was a native of Bethel, Vermont. He had been a partner with the Crosby, Nichols & Company firm starting in 1852. Later he was with Crosby, Nichols, Lee & Co. and Crosby & Ainsworth (1864-1868). Between 1868 and 1875 Ainsworth along with his partner, W. H. Woolworth were the named partners in Woolworth, Ainsworth & Co. The latter firm and its successors were mainly educational book publishers.

Crosby and Ainsworth 1864-1868
Woolworth, Ainsworth & Co. 1869-1874
Potter, Ainsworth & Co. 1875-1886
Potter, Knight & Ainsworth 1886-1888

Boston addresses:
1868-1869 117 Washington Street
1870 32 Bromfield street

In 1868/ 1869 this firm was in Boston. In 1870 Boston and Chicago was noted as the imprint. Sometime in 1871 this publisher moved out of Boston. Thereafter the imprint stated New York and sometimes also Chicago.

This firm was a prolific educational book publisher but did print a few juvenile series. Except for the Woodlawn Series, these series had been published previously in the same formats; most recently by Woolworth, Ainsworth's predecessor - Crosby and Ainsworth.