Smithsonian and HarperCollins Announce Book Deal

Posted on March 4, 2005

The Smithsonian Institution and HarperCollins Publishers have announced a publishing partnership. The companies plan to create a line of high quality reference and adult nonfiction books: approximately 100 Smithsonian branded titles a year in categories such as Science, American History, Natural History, Native American History, Biography, Popular Reference, Art and Design. The launch list will be published in Fall 2005. In the future, the Smithsonian line of books will expand to publish books for children and for the Latino market.

The Smithsonian line of books will be published as part of the Collins Division of the HarperCollins General Books Group led by Joseph Tessitore, President of Collins. Don Fehr, former Director of Smithsonian Institution Press, will be Publisher of Smithsonian Books and will acquire books for the joint program. Smithsonian Books is the trade book publishing arm of the Smithsonian Institution and is part of the Smithsonian Business Ventures Group, which also publishes Smithsonian Magazine. HarperCollins Publishers will also be the exclusive distributor of the Smithsonian Books' backlist.

"This unique collaboration furthers our Publishing+ initiative of establishing Collins in the U.S.," said Jane Friedman, President and CEO of HarperCollins Publishers. "With the Smithsonian's stellar reputation, vast archives and scholarship on a broad range of subjects, and HarperCollins' publishing expertise and sales and distribution capabilities, the partnership will work to maximize the Smithsonian's trusted brand through books. Publishing+ continues to generate momentum, excitement and results."

The Smithsonian Institution has been publishing scholarly and academic books since 1848. Smithsonian Magazine, in its 35 year of publication, has more than 7 million readers a month. The Smithsonian attracts more than 20 million visitors to its 18 museums and 30 million visitors to traveling exhibits each year. And over 20 million unique visitors reach the Institution's various websites every month.