Taylor Publishing Company history

Business thrived, and Bill, the youngest Taylor brother, joined Star as a traveling salesman in 1929, just before the Depression pulled the rug out from under the American economy.

In 1936 Taylor & Francis became a private limited company with leading scientists as directors and shareholders.

The Taylors sold their shares of the company and, in 1938, launched Taylor Engraving Company in Houston.

Founded in 1939 by Herbert, Edgar, and Bill Taylor in Dallas, Texas, Taylor Publishing Company, Taylor Specialty Books’ Parent company, has grown and thrived in an industry transformed by innovation and technology.

1943: Company incorporates, changes name to Taylor Publishing.

1946: 'Blue Book' yearbook production guide is introduced.

By 1947 plant expansion had eaten up all the space at the company's existing location, so it bought land for a new plant.

Sales volumes climbed to an all-time high in 1963, but Taylor was creaking from its own sudden growth.

The merger agreement went through in 1967.

In 1970, 80 percent of Taylor's yearbook sales came from combined sales offices.

By 1972, Taylor's efforts were paying off and the company celebrated its best production season ever.

A Fine Books Division and a Publishing Division were created, growing by 1989 to account for 12 percent of Taylor's annual sales.

The digital picture publishing gave Taylor an edge over competitors and the company reported an increase in yearbook orders in 1994.

The company filed suit against top competitor Jostens, Inc. in 1997, alleging that the country's dominant yearbook company was trying to monopolize the market.

In December 1999, Insilco announced that it was selling Taylor Publishing to New York-based Castle Harlan Partners III, a unit of merchant bank Castle Harlan, Inc.