The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001-07.
Putnam, George Haven
1844–1930, American publisher, b. England; son of G. P. Putnam. He served in the Civil War until he was captured by the Confederates in 1864; he retired with the rank of major. On his father’s death he became head of G. P. Putnam’s Sons. Major Putnam was active in many civic and social causes. He organized the American Publishers’ Copyright League in 1887 and led the successful battle for passage of an international copyright law in 1891. Among his many books are Books and Their Makers during the Middle Ages (2 vol., 1896–97), Memories of My Youth (1914), Memories of a Publisher (1915), and Some Memories of the Civil War (1924).
