In 1901, Tom formed a
partnership with George MacLeod, an American who had started
a publishing operation in Toronto two years earlier. That partnership,
MacLeod and Allen, continued for 15 years, and ended amicably
when Tom decided to strike out on his own. In 1916, he founded
Thomas Allen Limited.
The 1920s and '30s were difficult years for the publishing
industry in Canada, and in particular for Tom Allen's young
company. But just when the future looked bleakest, Tom discovered
a new American novelist - Lloyd C. Douglas. With the sale of
Douglas' Magnificent Obsession and subsequent novels including
The Robe, the firm gained the financial stability it required
to grow. The prosperity of the business continued as Tom published
books by Canadian poet Edna Jaques, pioneer feminist and parliamentarian
Nellie McClung, and one of the leading statesmen of the time
– Winston S. Churchill. Stephen Leacock, Foster Hewitt, and
W.L. Mackenzie King also joined the esteemed list of authors
published by the company.
By 1943, the business was thriving, and Tom convinced his
son Forbes Duncan (Dud) Allen to join as Vice-President. This
second-generation Allen was responsible for the start of a
long line of Maggie Muggins and Just Mary books from CBC writer/broadcaster
Mary Grannan. These story collections became Canada's best-selling
children's books in the 1950s. Dud also bought the S.J. Reginald
Saunders publishing company and ran it separately before selling
it to his younger son, Bob, who subsequently changed the name
to Saunders of Toronto Limited.
In 1954, Dud's older son, John D. Allen, joined the firm and
went on to become President and at one point founded a second
publishing company, Hamlyn Publishing Group Canada Limited.
After purchasing Saunders of Toronto from Bob, John closed
the Hamlyn operation. Saunders of Toronto is no longer a separate entity and its business activities have been folded into Thomas Allen & Son Limited.
John's son, T. James (Jim) Allen, joined the company in 1980.
In October 1999 Jim took over the position of President and
CEO of Thomas Allen & Son Ltd., from his father, John,
who is now retired.
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