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{{Use American English|date=March 2023}}
⚫
'''Bookcraft''' was a major publisher of books and products for members of [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (LDS Church).
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox publisher
| name = Bookcraft
| image =
| caption =
| parent =
| status =
| traded_as =
| predecessor =
| founded = 1943
| founder = John Kenneth Orton
| successor = [[Deseret Book]]
| country = United States
| headquarters = Salt Lake City
| distribution =
| keypeople =
| publications = Books
| topics =
| genre =
| imprints =
| revenue =
| owner =
| numemployees =
| website =
}}

⚫
'''Bookcraft''' was a major publisher of books and products for members of [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (LDS Church).


==History==
==History==
In 1940, [[LDS Church President]] [[Heber J. Grant]] asked the church's ''[[Improvement Era]]'' magazine to compile his sermons into a book called ''Gospel Standards''. Compiler [[G. Homer Durham]] published it in 1941 as "An Improvement Era Publication", rather than through [[Deseret Book]], the church's official book publisher. During production, Grant suggested that the magazine's staff should start a new LDS publishing company, separate from Deseret Book. In 1942, the ''Era'''s business manager, John Kenneth Orton, started Bookcraft as a private publishing house in [[Salt Lake City]], [[Utah]].<ref name=50th>{{cite news|author=Pusey, Roger|title=Bookcraft Celebrates its 50th|work=[[Deseret News]]|date=September 13, 1992}}</ref>
In 1940, LDS Church [[President of the Church (LDS Church)|president]] [[Heber J. Grant]] asked the church's ''[[Improvement Era]]'' magazine to compile his sermons into a book called ''Gospel Standards''. Compiler [[G. Homer Durham]] published it in 1941 as "An Improvement Era Publication", rather than through [[Deseret Book]], the church's official book publisher. During production, Grant suggested that the magazine's staff should start a new LDS publishing company, separate from Deseret Book. In 1942, the ''Era'''s business manager, John Kenneth Orton, started Bookcraft as a private publishing house in [[Salt Lake City]], [[Utah]].<ref name=50th>{{cite news|author=Pusey, Roger|title=Bookcraft Celebrates its 50th|work=[[Deseret News]]|date=September 13, 1992}}</ref>


When Durham presented a later manuscript to the ''Era'', church leadership restricted book publishing to Deseret Book. [[John A. Widtsoe]] and [[Richard L. Evans]], staff members of the ''Era'' and early supporters of Bookcraft, referred Durham to Orton's new publishing house. ''The Gospel Kingdom'', Durham's compilation of [[John Taylor (Latter Day Saints)|John Taylor]]'s teachings, was Bookcraft's first major venture in 1943.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Durham, G. Homer|authorlink=G. Homer Durham|title=Joseph Fielding Smith – The Kindly, Helpful Scholar|journal=[[Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought]]|pages=12–15|date=Spring 1972|volume=7|issue=1|url=http://content.lib.utah.edu/u?/dialogue,4904|accessdate=2008-08-21}}</ref>
When Durham presented a later manuscript to the ''Era'', church leadership restricted book publishing to Deseret Book. [[John A. Widtsoe]] and [[Richard L. Evans]], staff members of the ''Era'' and early supporters of Bookcraft, referred Durham to Orton's new publishing house. ''The Gospel Kingdom'', Durham's compilation of [[John Taylor (Latter Day Saints)|John Taylor]]'s teachings, was Bookcraft's first major venture in 1943.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Durham, G. Homer|author-link=G. Homer Durham|title=Joseph Fielding Smith – The Kindly, Helpful Scholar|journal=[[Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought]]|pages=12–15|date=Spring 1972|volume=7|issue=1|url=http://content.lib.utah.edu/u?/dialogue,4904|access-date=August 21, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613215738/http://content.lib.utah.edu/u/?%2Fdialogue%2C4904|archive-date=June 13, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>


Bookcraft remained an Orton family business. When John K. Orton retired to Arizona in 1946, Marvin Wallin became the company's general manager. When Orton died in 1959, ownership passed to his wife. When she died in 1980, the Ortons' son Russell took over with his sister-in-law, Diane Orton.<ref name=50th/>
Bookcraft remained an Orton family business. When John K. Orton retired to Arizona in 1946, Marvin Wallin became the company's general manager. When Orton died in 1959, ownership passed to his wife. When she died in 1980, the Ortons' son Russell took over with his sister-in-law, Diane Orton.<ref name=50th/>
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With growth, Bookcraft relocated to new facilities in 1947. In 1969, it moved again to a [[West Valley City]] location between Mountain States Bindery and Publisher's Press, the businesses that actually printed and produced Bookcraft's publications.<ref name=50th/> Bookcraft expanded again into new facilities in 1977.<ref name=GAsell/>
With growth, Bookcraft relocated to new facilities in 1947. In 1969, it moved again to a [[West Valley City]] location between Mountain States Bindery and Publisher's Press, the businesses that actually printed and produced Bookcraft's publications.<ref name=50th/> Bookcraft expanded again into new facilities in 1977.<ref name=GAsell/>


Though independent, Bookcraft established itself as a quasi-official<ref name=GAsell/> publisher of conservative, faith-promoting works,<ref>{{cite journal|author=Roberts, Allen D.|title=Selling the LDS Sacred: A Visit to the LDS Booksellers Convention|journal=[[Sunstone Magazine|Sunstone]]|pages=38–39|date=October 1989|volume=13|issue=5|url=https://www.sunstonemagazine.com/pdf/073-40-41.pdf|accessdate=2008-09-16}}</ref> and was very careful to follow church leadership.<ref name=MMmcconkie>{{cite web|author=McConkie, Joseph Fielding|authorlink=Joseph Fielding McConkie|title=The Bruce R. McConkie Story: The Mormon Doctrine Saga|year=2004|work=[[Meridian Magazine]]|url=http://www.meridianmagazine.com/books/040511mcconkie.html|accessdate=2008-08-25}}</ref> Bookcraft eventually became large enough to compete with Deseret Book's lower publishing costs,<ref name=GAsell>{{cite journal|title=If It Is Written by a Living General Authority, It Will Sell: A Report on Mormon Publishing|journal=[[Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought]]|date=Spring 1977|pages=122–125|volume=10|issue=3|url=http://content.lib.utah.edu/u?/dialogue,699|accessdate=2008-08-25}}</ref> and become the second largest LDS publisher.<ref>In 1989, Bookcraft had twenty percent of the LDS publishing market, compared to Deseret Book's fifty percent.</ref><ref name=booksellers>{{cite journal|author=Kofford, Greg|title=LDS Booksellers Meet, Plot, and Plan to Expand|journal=[[Sunstone Magazine|Sunstone]]|date=October 1989|pages=50|volume=13|issue=5|format=[[PDF]]|url=https://www.sunstonemagazine.com/pdf/073-46-53.pdf|accessdate=2008-08-25}}</ref>
Though independent, Bookcraft established itself as a quasi-official<ref name=GAsell/> publisher of conservative, faith-promoting works,<ref>{{cite journal|author=Roberts, Allen D.|title=Selling the LDS Sacred: A Visit to the LDS Booksellers Convention|journal=[[Sunstone Magazine|Sunstone]]|pages=38–39|date=October 1989|volume=13|issue=5|url=https://www.sunstonemagazine.com/pdf/073-40-41.pdf|access-date=September 16, 2008}}</ref> and was very careful to follow church leadership.<ref name=MMmcconkie>{{cite web |author=McConkie, Joseph Fielding |author-link=Joseph Fielding McConkie |title=The Bruce R. McConkie Story: The Mormon Doctrine Saga |year=2004 |work=[[Meridian Magazine]] |url=http://www.meridianmagazine.com/books/040511mcconkie.html |access-date=August 25, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080818104821/http://www.meridianmagazine.com/books/040511mcconkie.html |archive-date=August 18, 2008 }}</ref> Bookcraft eventually became large enough to compete with Deseret Book's lower publishing costs,<ref name=GAsell>{{cite journal|title=If It Is Written by a Living General Authority, It Will Sell: A Report on Mormon Publishing|journal=[[Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought]]|date=Spring 1977|pages=122–125|volume=10|issue=3|url=http://content.lib.utah.edu/u?/dialogue,699|access-date=August 25, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613215821/http://content.lib.utah.edu/u/?%2Fdialogue%2C699|archive-date=June 13, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> and become the second largest LDS publisher.<ref>In 1989, Bookcraft had twenty percent of the LDS publishing market, compared to Deseret Book's fifty percent.</ref><ref name=booksellers>{{cite journal|author=Kofford, Greg|title=LDS Booksellers Meet, Plot, and Plan to Expand|journal=[[Sunstone Magazine|Sunstone]]|date=October 1989|pages=50|volume=13|issue=5|format=[[PDF]]|url=https://www.sunstonemagazine.com/pdf/073-46-53.pdf|access-date=August 25, 2008}}</ref>

In 1968, Bookcraft hired George Bickerstaff as a full-time publishing editor. Before then, it lacked in-house editing, which [[Bruce R. McConkie]]'s [[Joseph Fielding McConkie|son]] blames for the criticisms of the 1958 first edition of ''[[Mormon Doctrine (book)|Mormon Doctrine]]''.<ref name=MMmcconkie/>


Bookcraft also innovated and tried new approaches to LDS publishing. In the 1960s, the company experimented with developing LDS [[young-adult fiction]].<ref>{{cite journal|author=Hinckley, Helen|title=An Experiment in Mormon Publishing|journal=[[Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought]]|date=Winter 1967|pages=126–129|volume=2|issue=4|url=http://content.lib.utah.edu/u?/dialogue,2832|accessdate=2008-09-03}}</ref> In the early 1970s,<ref>{{cite journal|author=Bradford, Mary L.|title=New Acts of Poetry|journal=[[Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought]]|date=Summer 1972|pages=60–62|volume=7|issue=2|url=http://content.lib.utah.edu/u?/dialogue,5225|accessdate=2008-09-03}}</ref> it began the Parliament Press imprint for authors to [[self-publish]] their books.<ref name=GAsell/> In 1992, Bookcraft began work with The Beehive Shuppan to translate some titles into Japanese.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Numano, Jiro|title=Mormonism in Modern Japan|journal=[[Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought]]|date=Spring 1996|pages=234|volume=29|issue=1|url=http://content.lib.utah.edu/u?/dialogue,12331|accessdate=2008-09-03}}</ref> In 1995, Bookcraft produced ''The Book of Mormon Studybase'', a [[digital library]] [[CD-ROM]] of books about ''[[The Book of Mormon]]'', and contributed to [[Infobases]]' ''LDS Collectors Library'' CD-ROM.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Ashton, Alan C.|authorlink=Alan Ashton (executive)|title=Book of Mormon Reference Library|journal=[[FARMS Review]]|year=1996|volume=8|issue=2|url=http://farms.byu.edu/publications/review/?vol=8&num=2&id=233|accessdate=2008-09-03}}</ref>
Over the years, Bookcraft innovated and tried new approaches to LDS publishing. In the 1960s, the company experimented with developing LDS [[young adult fiction]].<ref>{{cite journal|author=Hinckley, Helen|title=An Experiment in Mormon Publishing|journal=[[Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought]]|date=Winter 1967|pages=126–129|volume=2|issue=4|url=http://content.lib.utah.edu/u?/dialogue,2832|access-date=September 3, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614015456/http://content.lib.utah.edu/u/?%2Fdialogue%2C2832|archive-date=June 14, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1968, Bookcraft hired George Bickerstaff as its first full-time publishing editor. In the early 1970s,<ref>{{cite journal|author=Bradford, Mary L.|title=New Acts of Poetry|journal=[[Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought]]|date=Summer 1972|pages=60–62|volume=7|issue=2|url=http://content.lib.utah.edu/u?/dialogue,5225|access-date=September 3, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613215856/http://content.lib.utah.edu/u/?%2Fdialogue%2C5225|archive-date=June 13, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> it began the Parliament Press imprint for authors to [[self-publish]] their books.<ref name=GAsell/> In 1992, Bookcraft began work with The Beehive Shuppan to translate some titles into Japanese.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Numano, Jiro|title=Mormonism in Modern Japan|journal=[[Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought]]|date=Spring 1996|pages=234|volume=29|issue=1|url=http://content.lib.utah.edu/u?/dialogue,12331|access-date=September 3, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614015505/http://content.lib.utah.edu/u/?%2Fdialogue%2C12331|archive-date=June 14, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1995, Bookcraft produced ''The Book of Mormon Studybase'', a [[digital library]] [[CD-ROM]] of books about ''[[The Book of Mormon]]'', and contributed to [[Infobases]]' ''LDS Collectors Library'' CD-ROM.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Ashton, Alan C.|author-link=Alan Ashton (executive)|title=Book of Mormon Reference Library|journal=[[FARMS Review]]|year=1996|volume=8|issue=2|url=http://farms.byu.edu/publications/review/?vol=8&num=2&id=233|access-date=September 3, 2008}}</ref>


Because Deseret Book was the largest LDS publisher and bookseller, independents like Bookcraft also distributed to national retailers like [[B. Dalton]], [[Media Play]], and [[Barnes & Noble]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Holzapfel, Richard Neitzel|authorlink=Richard Neitzel Holzapfel|chapter=Publishers and Bookstores|editor=[[Arnold K. Garr]], [[Donald Q. Cannon]], [[Richard O. Cowan]]|title=Encyclopedia of Latter-Day Saint History|pages=967|publisher=[[Deseret Book]]|year=2000|location=Salt Lake City, Utah}}</ref> For a time, Bookcraft even planned to create its own chain of retail bookstores.<ref name=booksellers/>
Because Deseret Book was the largest LDS publisher and bookseller, independents like Bookcraft also distributed to national retailers like [[B. Dalton]], [[Media Play]], and [[Barnes & Noble]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Holzapfel, Richard Neitzel|author-link=Richard Neitzel Holzapfel|chapter=Publishers and Bookstores|editor=Arnold K. Garr|editor-link=Arnold K. Garr|editor2=Donald Q. Cannon|editor2-link=Donald Q. Cannon|editor3=Richard O. Cowan |editor3-link=Richard O. Cowan |title=Encyclopedia of Latter-Day Saint History|pages=967|publisher=[[Deseret Book]]|year=2000|location=Salt Lake City, Utah}}</ref> For a time, Bookcraft even planned to create its own chain of retail bookstores.<ref name=booksellers/>


===Infobases acquisition===
===Infobases acquisition===
In 1997, Russell Orton sold Bookcraft to [[Infobases]],<ref name=joined>{{cite news|author=Kratz, Gregory P.|title=Happily Joined|work=[[Deseret News]]|date=April 5, 1998}}</ref> makers of the popular ''LDS Collectors Library'' [[digital library]] since the early 1990s.<ref>{{cite web|title=Infobase Media Corporation Plans to Expand Following $1.15 Million Angel Investment |date=October 6, 2004 |work=LDSLibrary.com |publisher=Deseret Digital Media, LLC |url=http://www.ldslibrary.com/press/view.aspx?id=8 |accessdate=2008-09-16 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/20070704211735/http://www.ldslibrary.com/press/view.aspx?id=8 |archivedate=July 4, 2007 }}</ref> Infobases [[president]] and [[CEO]], [[Brad Pelo]], assumed these same roles in the new Bookcraft, Inc., and [[WordPerfect]] founder [[Alan C. Ashton]] became chairman.
In 1997, Russell Orton sold Bookcraft to [[Infobases]],<ref name=joined>{{cite news|author=Kratz, Gregory P.|title=Happily Joined|work=[[Deseret News]]|date=April 5, 1998}}</ref> makers of the popular ''LDS Collectors Library'' [[digital library]] since the early 1990s.<ref>{{cite web|title=Infobase Media Corporation Plans to Expand Following $1.15 Million Angel Investment |date=October 6, 2004 |work=LDSLibrary.com |publisher=Deseret Digital Media, LLC |url=http://www.ldslibrary.com/press/view.aspx?id=8 |access-date=September 16, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070704211735/http://www.ldslibrary.com/press/view.aspx?id=8 |archive-date=July 4, 2007 }}</ref> Infobases [[president (corporate title)|president]] and [[CEO]], [[Brad Pelo]], assumed these same roles in the new Bookcraft, Inc., and [[WordPerfect]] founder [[Alan C. Ashton]] became chairman.


With Bookcraft's licenses, the company released the ''Infobases PocketLibrary'' for [[PalmPilot]] in 1997, an electronic 25-book collection.<ref name=joined/> To counter Deseret Book's ''GospeLink'' CD-ROM and website, Bookcraft released an expanded ''Infobases Collectors Library'' in 1998 on CD-ROM and on the new LDSWorld.com.<ref name=pubexpand>{{cite news|author=Fidel, Steve|title=2 LDS book publishers expand on Web|work=[[Deseret News]]|date=October 2, 1998}}</ref> Bookcraft then created [[online stores]] for its network of resellers, to counter Deseret Book's web sales.<ref name=pubexpand/>
With Bookcraft's licenses, the company released the ''Infobases PocketLibrary'' for [[PalmPilot]] in 1997, an electronic 25-book collection.<ref name=joined/> To counter Deseret Book's ''GospeLink'' CD-ROM and website, Bookcraft released an expanded ''Infobases Collectors Library'' in 1998 on CD-ROM and on the new LDSWorld.com.<ref name=pubexpand>{{cite news|author=Fidel, Steve|title=2 LDS book publishers expand on Web|work=[[Deseret News]]|date=October 2, 1998}}</ref> Bookcraft then created [[online stores]] for its network of resellers, to counter Deseret Book's web sales.<ref name=pubexpand/>


By 1999, Bookcraft was adding about 100 products annually to its catalog, including general authority titles, an important market shared only with Deseret Book. Bookcraft also had strong sales with titles by [[BYU]] professors, titles on church history and doctrine, and the best-selling ''[[The Work and the Glory]]'' series by [[Gerald N. Lund]], which sold millions of copies.<ref>{{cite news|author=Kratz, Gregory P.|title=2 LDS publishers may join forces: Deseret Book parent announces plans to acquire Bookcraft|work=[[Deseret News]]|date=February 9, 1999}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | author=Cracroft, Richard H. | authorlink=Richard H. Cracroft | title=Telling the Restoration: Gerald N. Lund's The Work and the Glory saga | journal=[[Journal of Mormon History]] | date=Spring 2003 | volume=29 | issue=1 | pages=233–253 | url=http://content.lib.utah.edu/u?/jmh,12381 | accessdate=2008-09-16}}</ref>
By 1999, Bookcraft was adding about 100 products annually to its catalog, including general authority titles, an important market shared only with Deseret Book. Bookcraft also had strong sales with titles by [[BYU]] professors, titles on church history and doctrine, and the bestselling ''[[The Work and the Glory]]'' series by [[Gerald N. Lund]], which sold millions of copies.<ref>{{cite news|author=Kratz, Gregory P.|title=2 LDS publishers may join forces: Deseret Book parent announces plans to acquire Bookcraft|work=[[Deseret News]]|date=February 9, 1999}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | author=Cracroft, Richard H. | author-link=Richard H. Cracroft | title=Telling the Restoration: Gerald N. Lund's The Work and the Glory saga | journal=[[Journal of Mormon History]] | date=Spring 2003 | volume=29 | issue=1 | pages=233–253 | url=http://content.lib.utah.edu/u?/jmh,12381 | access-date=September 16, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614015518/http://content.lib.utah.edu/u/?%2Fjmh%2C12381 | archive-date=June 14, 2011 | url-status=dead }}</ref>


===Deseret Book merger===
===Deseret Book merger===
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The Bookcraft brand name continued as an imprint for inspirational, self-help, youth and fiction titles, while doctrinal, historical and biographical works would be under the Deseret Book brand. Shadow Mountain was also created as a new imprint for "values-oriented" books in the national market, and Eagle Gate Press was created for specialty items such as library editions, art books and non-book products such as bookmarks and jewelry.<ref name=DNlarge>{{cite news|title=Deseret Book has made other large acquisitions|work=[[Deseret Morning News]]|date=December 29, 2006}}</ref>
The Bookcraft brand name continued as an imprint for inspirational, self-help, youth and fiction titles, while doctrinal, historical and biographical works would be under the Deseret Book brand. Shadow Mountain was also created as a new imprint for "values-oriented" books in the national market, and Eagle Gate Press was created for specialty items such as library editions, art books and non-book products such as bookmarks and jewelry.<ref name=DNlarge>{{cite news|title=Deseret Book has made other large acquisitions|work=[[Deseret Morning News]]|date=December 29, 2006}}</ref>


DMC then formed World Media Inc. to oversee Bookcraft's electronic projects, and decide fate of Infobase products and GospeLink.<ref>{{cite news|author=Kratz, Gregory P.|title=Deseret Book adds brand, reorganizes|work=[[Deseret News]]|date=June 12, 1999}}</ref> A new ''Infobases Library'' was released in 1999, before merging into ''GospeLink'',<ref>{{cite journal | title=Infobase Library, CD-ROM | author=Bennett, Richard E. | authorlink=Richard E. Bennett |author2=John P. Livingstone | journal=[[Journal of Mormon History]] | date=Spring 2000 | volume=26 | issue=1 | pages=205–209 | url=http://content.lib.utah.edu/u?/jmh,13464 | accessdate=2008-09-16}}</ref> to become ''GospeLink 2001''.<ref>{{cite news|author=Lloyd, R. Scott|title=LDS library largest ever assembled as a database|work=[[Church News]]|publisher=[[Deseret News]]|date=January 8, 2005}}</ref> The expanded collection was also at LDSWorld.com, along with new [[General Conference (LDS Church)|General Conference]] [[audio streaming]], and was hosted by Millennial Star (MStar.net), the church's new [[ISP]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Kratz, Gregory P.|title=A Net link for LDS members: New company aims to form 'digital community'|work=[[Deseret News]]|date=October 3, 1999}}</ref>
DMC then formed World Media Inc. to oversee Bookcraft's electronic projects, and decide fate of Infobase products and GospeLink.<ref>{{cite news|author=Kratz, Gregory P.|title=Deseret Book adds brand, reorganizes|work=[[Deseret News]]|date=June 12, 1999}}</ref> A new ''Infobases Library'' was released in 1999, before merging into ''GospeLink'',<ref>{{cite journal | title=Infobase Library, CD-ROM | author=Bennett, Richard E. | author-link=Richard E. Bennett | author2=John P. Livingstone | journal=[[Journal of Mormon History]] | date=Spring 2000 | volume=26 | issue=1 | pages=205–209 | url=http://content.lib.utah.edu/u?/jmh,13464 | access-date=September 16, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613215956/http://content.lib.utah.edu/u/?%2Fjmh%2C13464 | archive-date=June 13, 2011 | url-status=dead }}</ref> to become ''GospeLink 2001''.<ref>{{cite news|author=Lloyd, R. Scott|title=LDS library largest ever assembled as a database|work=[[Church News]]|publisher=[[Deseret News]]|date=January 8, 2005}}</ref> The expanded collection was also at LDSWorld.com, along with new [[General Conference (LDS Church)|General Conference]] [[audio streaming]], and was hosted by Millennial Star (MStar.net), the church's new [[ISP]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Kratz, Gregory P.|title=A Net link for LDS members: New company aims to form 'digital community'|work=[[Deseret News]]|date=October 3, 1999}}</ref>


The merger created a massive LDS publisher, but most independent players in the market didn't worry it would hurt their business.<ref>{{cite news|author=Kratz, Gregory P.|title=One for the books: Most of the players in the world of LDS literature give a thumbs-up to the merger of Deseret Book and Bookcraft|work=[[Deseret News]]|date=October 3, 1999}}</ref> Over next few years, Deseret Book would also acquire [[Excel Entertainment Group]] (an LDS film and music company),<ref name=DNlarge/> [[Seagull Book & Tape]] (the next largest LDS bookstore chain), and [[Covenant Communications]] (the next largest LDS publisher).<ref>{{cite news|author=Nii, Jenifer K.|title=Deseret Book buys 2 top competitors|work=[[Deseret Morning News]]|date=December 29, 2006|url=http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,650218716,00.html|accessdate=2008-09-16}}</ref>
The merger created a publisher with a dominant position in the LDS market. Over next few years, Deseret Book would also acquire [[Excel Entertainment Group]] (an LDS-oriented film and music company),<ref name=DNlarge/> [[Seagull Book & Tape]] (the next largest LDS-oriented bookstore chain), and [[Covenant Communications]] (the next largest LDS-oriented publisher).<ref>{{cite news|author=Nii, Jenifer K.|title=Deseret Book buys 2 top competitors|work=[[Deseret Morning News]]|date=December 29, 2006|url=http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,650218716,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070108021110/http://www.deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,650218716,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 8, 2007|access-date=September 16, 2008}}</ref>


Several years later the Bookcraft imprint was no longer used by Deseret Book Publishing,<ref>As of 2010 Bookcraft was not listed as an imprint of Deseret Book. {{cite web | title=Deseret Book | publisher=Deseret Media Companies | url=http://www.deseretmediacompanies.com/content/view/48 | accessdate=2010-02-16}}</ref> and currently the only imprints in use are Deseret Book, Shadow Mountain, and Ensign Peak.<ref>{{cite web | title=Deseret Book | publisher=Deseret Management Corporation | url=http://deseretmanagement.com/our-companies/deseret-book/ | accessdate=2014-08-25}}</ref>
The Bookcraft imprint was eventually discontinued by Deseret Book Publishing and currently its only imprints in use are Deseret Book, Shadow Mountain, and Ensign Peak.<ref>{{cite web | title=Deseret Book | publisher=Deseret Management Corporation | url=http://deseretmanagement.com/our-companies/deseret-book/ | access-date=August 25, 2014 | archive-date=August 26, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826113706/http://deseretmanagement.com/our-companies/deseret-book/ | url-status=dead }}</ref>


==Notable work==
==Notable work==
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The ''Teachings of the Latter-day Prophets'' series, compilations of teachings of LDS Church presidents, which included ''The Gospel Kingdom: Selections from the Writings and Discourses of John Taylor'', ''Discourses of Wilford Woodruff'', ''Teachings of Lorenzo Snow'', ''Teachings of George Albert Smith'', ''Teachings of Harold B. Lee'', ''Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball'', ''Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson'', and ''Teachings of Howard W. Hunter''.
The ''Teachings of the Latter-day Prophets'' series, compilations of teachings of LDS Church presidents, which included ''The Gospel Kingdom: Selections from the Writings and Discourses of John Taylor'', ''Discourses of Wilford Woodruff'', ''Teachings of Lorenzo Snow'', ''Teachings of George Albert Smith'', ''Teachings of Harold B. Lee'', ''Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball'', ''Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson'', and ''Teachings of Howard W. Hunter''.


Bookcraft also published some works for [[BYU Press]],<ref>{{cite journal|author=Sessions, Gene A.|title=Brief Notices|journal=[[Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought]]|date=Winter 1978|volume=11|issue=4|pages=126–128|url=http://content.lib.utah.edu/u?/dialogue,454|accessdate=2008-09-16}}</ref> the BYU [[Religious Studies Center]],<ref>{{cite journal|author=Ostler, Blake T.|authorlink=Blake Ostler|title=Responsible Apologetics|journal=[[Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought]]|date=Winter 1983|volume=16|issue=4|pages=140–143|url=http://content.lib.utah.edu/u?/dialogue,21529|accessdate=2008-09-16}}</ref> and the LDS Church.
Bookcraft also published some works for [[BYU Press]],<ref>{{cite journal|author=Sessions, Gene A.|title=Brief Notices|journal=[[Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought]]|date=Winter 1978|volume=11|issue=4|pages=126–128|url=http://content.lib.utah.edu/u?/dialogue,454|access-date=September 16, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614015526/http://content.lib.utah.edu/u/?%2Fdialogue%2C454|archive-date=June 14, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> the BYU [[Religious Studies Center]],<ref>{{cite journal|author=Ostler, Blake T.|author-link=Blake Ostler|title=Responsible Apologetics|journal=[[Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought]]|date=Winter 1983|volume=16|issue=4|pages=140–143|url=http://content.lib.utah.edu/u?/dialogue,21529|access-date=September 16, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216013919/http://content.lib.utah.edu/u/?%2Fdialogue%2C21529|archive-date=December 16, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> and the LDS Church.


===Authors===
===Authors===
Line 69: Line 94:
* '''LDS Church presidents and apostles:''' [[Ezra Taft Benson]], [[Hugh B. Brown]], [[J. Reuben Clark]], [[Henry B. Eyring]], [[Gordon B. Hinckley]], [[Howard W. Hunter]], [[Spencer W. Kimball]], [[Harold B. Lee]], [[Neal A. Maxwell]], [[Bruce R. McConkie]], [[David O. McKay]], [[Dallin H. Oaks]], [[Boyd K. Packer]], [[Mark E. Petersen]], [[LeGrand Richards]], [[Joseph Fielding Smith]], [[John A. Widtsoe]]
* '''LDS Church presidents and apostles:''' [[Ezra Taft Benson]], [[Hugh B. Brown]], [[J. Reuben Clark]], [[Henry B. Eyring]], [[Gordon B. Hinckley]], [[Howard W. Hunter]], [[Spencer W. Kimball]], [[Harold B. Lee]], [[Neal A. Maxwell]], [[Bruce R. McConkie]], [[David O. McKay]], [[Dallin H. Oaks]], [[Boyd K. Packer]], [[Mark E. Petersen]], [[LeGrand Richards]], [[Joseph Fielding Smith]], [[John A. Widtsoe]]
* '''Fiction & literature:''' [[Gordon T. Allred]], [[Susan Evans McCloud]], [[Carol Lynn Pearson]], [[Jack Weyland]], [[Blaine M. Yorgason]], [[Brenton G. Yorgason]]
* '''Fiction & literature:''' [[Gordon T. Allred]], [[Susan Evans McCloud]], [[Carol Lynn Pearson]], [[Jack Weyland]], [[Blaine M. Yorgason]], [[Brenton G. Yorgason]]
* '''Scholars & historians:''' [[Hyrum L. Andrus]], [[Leonard J. Arrington]], [[Milton V. Backman]], [[Lowell L. Bennion]], [[Susan Easton Black]], [[Eugene England]], [[Richard Neitzel Holzapfel]], [[Milton R. Hunter]], [[Arthur Henry King]], [[Daniel H. Ludlow]], [[N. B. Lundwall]], [[Truman G. Madsen]], [[Robert J. Matthews]], [[Joseph Fielding McConkie]], [[Robert L. Millet]], [[Hugh W. Nibley]], [[Preston Nibley]], [[Stephen E. Robinson]], [[W. Cleon Skousen]], [[Sidney B. Sperry]], [[John W. Welch]]
* '''Scholars & historians:''' [[Hyrum L. Andrus]], [[Leonard J. Arrington]], [[Milton V. Backman]], [[Lowell L. Bennion]], [[Susan Easton Black]], [[Eugene England]], Richard Neitzel Holzapfel, [[Milton R. Hunter]], [[Arthur Henry King]], [[Daniel H. Ludlow]], [[N. B. Lundwall]], [[Truman G. Madsen]], [[Robert J. Matthews]], [[Joseph Fielding McConkie]], [[Robert L. Millet]], [[Hugh W. Nibley]], [[Preston Nibley]], [[Stephen E. Robinson]], [[W. Cleon Skousen]], [[Sidney B. Sperry]], [[John W. Welch]]
* '''Popular authors:''' [[Duane S. Crowther]], [[Paul H. Dunn]], [[George D. Durrant]], [[Richard M. Eyre]], [[Vaughn J. Featherstone]], [[Bruce C. Hafen]], [[Bryant S. Hinckley]], [[Oscar W. McConkie]], [[Chieko Okazaki]], [[Marvin Payne]], [[S. Michael Wilcox]]
* '''Popular authors:''' [[Duane S. Crowther]], [[Paul H. Dunn]], [[George D. Durrant]], [[Richard M. Eyre]], [[Vaughn J. Featherstone]], [[Bruce C. Hafen]], [[Bryant S. Hinckley]], [[Oscar W. McConkie]], [[Chieko Okazaki]], [[Marvin Payne]], [[S. Michael Wilcox]]
* '''National figures:''' [[Shawn Bradley]], [[Orson Scott Card]], [[Stephen R. Covey]], [[Henry Eyring (chemist)|Henry Eyring]], [[Dale Murphy]]
* '''National figures:''' [[Shawn Bradley]], [[Orson Scott Card]], [[Stephen R. Covey]], [[Henry Eyring (chemist)|Henry Eyring]], [[Dale Murphy]]
Line 87: Line 112:
[[Category:Book publishing companies based in Utah]]
[[Category:Book publishing companies based in Utah]]
[[Category:Christian publishing companies]]
[[Category:Christian publishing companies]]
[[Category:Companies based in Salt Lake City, Utah]]
[[Category:Companies based in Salt Lake City]]
[[Category:Publishing companies established in 1942]]
[[Category:Publishing companies established in 1942]]
[[Category:Latter Day Saint literature]]
[[Category:Mormon literature]]
[[Category:Deseret Management Corporation]]
[[Category:Deseret Management Corporation]]
[[Category:1942 establishments in Utah]]
[[Category:1942 establishments in Utah]]

Latest revision as of 22:27, 7 November 2024

Bookcraft
Founded1943
FounderJohn Kenneth Orton
SuccessorDeseret Book
Country of originUnited States
Headquarters locationSalt Lake City
Publication typesBooks

Bookcraft was a major publisher of books and products for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).

History

[edit]

In 1940, LDS Church president Heber J. Grant asked the church's Improvement Era magazine to compile his sermons into a book called Gospel Standards. Compiler G. Homer Durham published it in 1941 as "An Improvement Era Publication", rather than through Deseret Book, the church's official book publisher. During production, Grant suggested that the magazine's staff should start a new LDS publishing company, separate from Deseret Book. In 1942, the Era's business manager, John Kenneth Orton, started Bookcraft as a private publishing house in Salt Lake City, Utah.[1]

When Durham presented a later manuscript to the Era, church leadership restricted book publishing to Deseret Book. John A. Widtsoe and Richard L. Evans, staff members of the Era and early supporters of Bookcraft, referred Durham to Orton's new publishing house. The Gospel Kingdom, Durham's compilation of John Taylor's teachings, was Bookcraft's first major venture in 1943.[2]

Bookcraft remained an Orton family business. When John K. Orton retired to Arizona in 1946, Marvin Wallin became the company's general manager. When Orton died in 1959, ownership passed to his wife. When she died in 1980, the Ortons' son Russell took over with his sister-in-law, Diane Orton.[1]

Growth

[edit]

With growth, Bookcraft relocated to new facilities in 1947. In 1969, it moved again to a West Valley City location between Mountain States Bindery and Publisher's Press, the businesses that actually printed and produced Bookcraft's publications.[1] Bookcraft expanded again into new facilities in 1977.[3]

Though independent, Bookcraft established itself as a quasi-official[3] publisher of conservative, faith-promoting works,[4] and was very careful to follow church leadership.[5] Bookcraft eventually became large enough to compete with Deseret Book's lower publishing costs,[3] and become the second largest LDS publisher.[6][7]

Over the years, Bookcraft innovated and tried new approaches to LDS publishing. In the 1960s, the company experimented with developing LDS young adult fiction.[8] In 1968, Bookcraft hired George Bickerstaff as its first full-time publishing editor. In the early 1970s,[9] it began the Parliament Press imprint for authors to self-publish their books.[3] In 1992, Bookcraft began work with The Beehive Shuppan to translate some titles into Japanese.[10] In 1995, Bookcraft produced The Book of Mormon Studybase, a digital library CD-ROM of books about The Book of Mormon, and contributed to Infobases' LDS Collectors Library CD-ROM.[11]

Because Deseret Book was the largest LDS publisher and bookseller, independents like Bookcraft also distributed to national retailers like B. Dalton, Media Play, and Barnes & Noble.[12] For a time, Bookcraft even planned to create its own chain of retail bookstores.[7]

Infobases acquisition

[edit]

In 1997, Russell Orton sold Bookcraft to Infobases,[13] makers of the popular LDS Collectors Library digital library since the early 1990s.[14] Infobases president and CEO, Brad Pelo, assumed these same roles in the new Bookcraft, Inc., and WordPerfect founder Alan C. Ashton became chairman.

With Bookcraft's licenses, the company released the Infobases PocketLibrary for PalmPilot in 1997, an electronic 25-book collection.[13] To counter Deseret Book's GospeLink CD-ROM and website, Bookcraft released an expanded Infobases Collectors Library in 1998 on CD-ROM and on the new LDSWorld.com.[15] Bookcraft then created online stores for its network of resellers, to counter Deseret Book's web sales.[15]

By 1999, Bookcraft was adding about 100 products annually to its catalog, including general authority titles, an important market shared only with Deseret Book. Bookcraft also had strong sales with titles by BYU professors, titles on church history and doctrine, and the bestselling The Work and the Glory series by Gerald N. Lund, which sold millions of copies.[16][17]

Deseret Book merger

[edit]

In early 1999, Bookcraft was acquired by Deseret Management Corporation (DMC), the parent company of the LDS Church's for-profit businesses. This allowed the church to expand in the larger "values-oriented" publishing market, and reduce translation costs of titles for international sale. The merger also brought more writings by general authorities under the church's ownership, allowing for electronic and print collaborations with other DMC entities (such as Deseret Book, the Deseret News, and Bonneville International) and church entities (such as Brigham Young University and other entities within the Church Educational System).[18]

The Bookcraft brand name continued as an imprint for inspirational, self-help, youth and fiction titles, while doctrinal, historical and biographical works would be under the Deseret Book brand. Shadow Mountain was also created as a new imprint for "values-oriented" books in the national market, and Eagle Gate Press was created for specialty items such as library editions, art books and non-book products such as bookmarks and jewelry.[19]

DMC then formed World Media Inc. to oversee Bookcraft's electronic projects, and decide fate of Infobase products and GospeLink.[20] A new Infobases Library was released in 1999, before merging into GospeLink,[21] to become GospeLink 2001.[22] The expanded collection was also at LDSWorld.com, along with new General Conference audio streaming, and was hosted by Millennial Star (MStar.net), the church's new ISP.[23]

The merger created a publisher with a dominant position in the LDS market. Over next few years, Deseret Book would also acquire Excel Entertainment Group (an LDS-oriented film and music company),[19] Seagull Book & Tape (the next largest LDS-oriented bookstore chain), and Covenant Communications (the next largest LDS-oriented publisher).[24]

The Bookcraft imprint was eventually discontinued by Deseret Book Publishing and currently its only imprints in use are Deseret Book, Shadow Mountain, and Ensign Peak.[25]

Notable work

[edit]

Books

[edit]

Before becoming an imprint of Deseret Book, Bookcraft made many notable contributions to LDS literature, including:

The Teachings of the Latter-day Prophets series, compilations of teachings of LDS Church presidents, which included The Gospel Kingdom: Selections from the Writings and Discourses of John Taylor, Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, Teachings of Lorenzo Snow, Teachings of George Albert Smith, Teachings of Harold B. Lee, Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, and Teachings of Howard W. Hunter.

Bookcraft also published some works for BYU Press,[26] the BYU Religious Studies Center,[27] and the LDS Church.

Authors

[edit]

During its years as an independent company, Bookcraft published books by many notable LDS figures, including:

Films

[edit]

Some Bookcraft books have been adapted into movies.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Pusey, Roger (September 13, 1992). "Bookcraft Celebrates its 50th". Deseret News.
  2. ^ Durham, G. Homer (Spring 1972). "Joseph Fielding Smith – The Kindly, Helpful Scholar". Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought. 7 (1): 12–15. Archived from the original on June 13, 2011. Retrieved August 21, 2008.
  3. ^ a b c d "If It Is Written by a Living General Authority, It Will Sell: A Report on Mormon Publishing". Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought. 10 (3): 122–125. Spring 1977. Archived from the original on June 13, 2011. Retrieved August 25, 2008.
  4. ^ Roberts, Allen D. (October 1989). "Selling the LDS Sacred: A Visit to the LDS Booksellers Convention" (PDF). Sunstone. 13 (5): 38–39. Retrieved September 16, 2008.
  5. ^ McConkie, Joseph Fielding (2004). "The Bruce R. McConkie Story: The Mormon Doctrine Saga". Meridian Magazine. Archived from the original on August 18, 2008. Retrieved August 25, 2008.
  6. ^ In 1989, Bookcraft had twenty percent of the LDS publishing market, compared to Deseret Book's fifty percent.
  7. ^ a b Kofford, Greg (October 1989). "LDS Booksellers Meet, Plot, and Plan to Expand" (PDF). Sunstone. 13 (5): 50. Retrieved August 25, 2008.
  8. ^ Hinckley, Helen (Winter 1967). "An Experiment in Mormon Publishing". Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought. 2 (4): 126–129. Archived from the original on June 14, 2011. Retrieved September 3, 2008.
  9. ^ Bradford, Mary L. (Summer 1972). "New Acts of Poetry". Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought. 7 (2): 60–62. Archived from the original on June 13, 2011. Retrieved September 3, 2008.
  10. ^ Numano, Jiro (Spring 1996). "Mormonism in Modern Japan". Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought. 29 (1): 234. Archived from the original on June 14, 2011. Retrieved September 3, 2008.
  11. ^ Ashton, Alan C. (1996). "Book of Mormon Reference Library". FARMS Review. 8 (2). Retrieved September 3, 2008.
  12. ^ Holzapfel, Richard Neitzel (2000). "Publishers and Bookstores". In Arnold K. Garr; Donald Q. Cannon; Richard O. Cowan (eds.). Encyclopedia of Latter-Day Saint History. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book. p. 967.
  13. ^ a b Kratz, Gregory P. (April 5, 1998). "Happily Joined". Deseret News.
  14. ^ "Infobase Media Corporation Plans to Expand Following $1.15 Million Angel Investment". LDSLibrary.com. Deseret Digital Media, LLC. October 6, 2004. Archived from the original on July 4, 2007. Retrieved September 16, 2008.
  15. ^ a b Fidel, Steve (October 2, 1998). "2 LDS book publishers expand on Web". Deseret News.
  16. ^ Kratz, Gregory P. (February 9, 1999). "2 LDS publishers may join forces: Deseret Book parent announces plans to acquire Bookcraft". Deseret News.
  17. ^ Cracroft, Richard H. (Spring 2003). "Telling the Restoration: Gerald N. Lund's The Work and the Glory saga". Journal of Mormon History. 29 (1): 233–253. Archived from the original on June 14, 2011. Retrieved September 16, 2008.
  18. ^ "Deseret Management seeking to acquire Bookcraft". Church News. Deseret News. February 13, 1999.
  19. ^ a b "Deseret Book has made other large acquisitions". Deseret Morning News. December 29, 2006.
  20. ^ Kratz, Gregory P. (June 12, 1999). "Deseret Book adds brand, reorganizes". Deseret News.
  21. ^ Bennett, Richard E.; John P. Livingstone (Spring 2000). "Infobase Library, CD-ROM". Journal of Mormon History. 26 (1): 205–209. Archived from the original on June 13, 2011. Retrieved September 16, 2008.
  22. ^ Lloyd, R. Scott (January 8, 2005). "LDS library largest ever assembled as a database". Church News. Deseret News.
  23. ^ Kratz, Gregory P. (October 3, 1999). "A Net link for LDS members: New company aims to form 'digital community'". Deseret News.
  24. ^ Nii, Jenifer K. (December 29, 2006). "Deseret Book buys 2 top competitors". Deseret Morning News. Archived from the original on January 8, 2007. Retrieved September 16, 2008.
  25. ^ "Deseret Book". Deseret Management Corporation. Archived from the original on August 26, 2014. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  26. ^ Sessions, Gene A. (Winter 1978). "Brief Notices". Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought. 11 (4): 126–128. Archived from the original on June 14, 2011. Retrieved September 16, 2008.
  27. ^ Ostler, Blake T. (Winter 1983). "Responsible Apologetics". Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought. 16 (4): 140–143. Archived from the original on December 16, 2008. Retrieved September 16, 2008.
  28. ^ Gabriel, Ana (November 21, 1998). "CBS movie based on Christmas story by stake president". Church News. Deseret News.
  29. ^ Lloyd, R. Scott (October 20, 2001). "Missionary odyssey in Tonga hits silver screen". Church News. Deseret News.
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