P. F. Volland Company of Chicago, Illinois published poetry books, greeting cards, 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.
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Founder
The company was founded by Paul Frederick Volland. He was shot and killed by Vera Trepagnier in a business dispute on May 5, 1919 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. Griffin also had offices in the Monroe Building and his wife, architect Marion Mahony Griffin, 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 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, 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. Other officers of the company in 1919 were W. R. Anderson, vice president; H. S. Adams, secretary; Edwin J. Clampitt, 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.
The P. F. Volland Company merged with the Gerlach Barlow Company in the 1924 and moved some of its offices to the Gerlach Barlow Building in Joliet, Illinois. 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, 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.
Authors and illustrators of the P.F. Volland Co.
Volland hired many significant early 20th century artists and writers. Many worked as freelancers.