Standard Publishing

Founding

Standard Publishing began with a group of physicians, attorneys, educators, preachers, and James A. Garfield, who would later become the twentieth president of the United States.

In December 1865, this group met at the home of T. W. Phillips, a noted businessman and philanthropist in New Castle, Pennsylvania. They met to consider launching a journal that would be "devoted to New Testament Christianity, its doctrine, its ordinances, and its fruits."

The group organized a publishing association, funded it with $20,000 in capital, and named the journal Christian Standard. Errett of Detroit, Michigan, was named the first editor.

The first issue came off the press dated April 7, 1866.

Errett continued as editor, even as he became president of a new college in Alliance, Ohio, in 1868.

In 1869, he partnered with R. W. Carroll, a printer and publisher, in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1872, Errett, Carroll, and Errett's 22-year-old son, Russell, incorporated their publishing house as Standard Publishing.

Printing history

A two-story building at Ninth and Cutter Streets was purchased in 1914. The Ferro Construction Company erected the company's building at Eighth and Cutter Streets, reported to be the first concrete and steel building put up west of Pittsburgh.

That year the company began to do color printing, which was new at that time. Also established was an engraving division known as the Sterling Engraving Company. In 1945, a new building at Parkway and Jackson Streets, was purchased to house the company's expanded offices. A bookstore opened in 1947.

In 1955, the company moved to a new, air-conditioned plant in Mount Healthy, a northern suburb of Cincinnati.

This single-story plant occupied about seven acres and housed composing, preliminary, printing, binding, and mailing operations. The printing plant included several web as well as large sheetfed presses including a press to apply felt backing to cut-out figures creating flannelgraph sets.

In 1973, the company's printing plant consumed 27,500,000 pounds of paper and more than 400,000 pounds of ink.

The company eventually moved out of the printing business and relocated to its current office complex just north of Cincinnati.

Publications

After the American Sunday School Union formed the International Sunday-School Lessons, the first Uniform Lessons appeared in Christian Standard in 1873.

The company has published Uniform Lessons in a variety of formats since that time. In 1954, this material was presented in an annual bound volume, The Standard Lesson Commentary. It continues today in various editions annually. Early examples of age-appropriate journals included Sunday School Standard, Boy’s Life, and Girlhood Days.

Today all ages of study are represented. Standard Lesson is adult Bible study materials for Sunday school, small groups or personal studies. Encounter offers Sunday school curriculum for junior high and high school teens. 40 Instant Studies caters to small group topical Bible studies for teens. For younger children, Standard Publishing publishes HeartShaper Sunday school curriculum for ages 1 – 12; 13 Very Series for small group Bible studies ages 3 – 12; Route 52 a Bible study curriculum for ages 3 – 12, CAMP - large group event for ages 5 – 12; and Biblical Choices which is designed for Christian school or homeschool bible study K – 6th grade.

Young People’s Standard was created to serve the Christian Endeavor movement for Christian Youth, founded in 1888. Six years later Young People’s Standard became The Lookout, a weekly Christian magazine for adults with features to apply their faith and study the Bible, still published weekly today.

The first edition of Training for Service was published in 1911, which in its several updated editions, is used as a Sunday school teacher training text.

In 1923, Standard Publishing became the first publisher of Vacation Bible School (VBS) materials with a five-week, all-day program.

Meanwhile, Christian Standard, the journal from which the company took its name, was published every week from 1866 till September 2012 when it introduced a new 64-page monthly edition. Today both The Lookout and Christian Standard along with HeartShaper, Standard Lesson, and Vacation Bible School maintain websites.

In 2014, Christian Standard introduced an app for digital editions available on smartphones and tablets.

After 1872, the Erretts bought Carroll’s share of the company. Standard Publishing continued under the ownership and control of the Errett family until 1955 when it was sold to John Bolten Sr. Under his leadership it became a multinational corporation, eventually known as Standex International,

In July 2006,the Wicks Group, a New York-based private equity firm, acquired Standard Publishing. It is used as an imprint of New Mountain Learning.

In 2007, the company moved to modern offices on the north side of Cincinnati, where it continues today.