Blog post by Cathy Ricciardi, Processing Archivist

The paperback book business had started in the 1930s, but really took off after World War II.  The paper rationing that had been in place during the war was over.  New methods allowed for paperbacks to be produced cheaply and distributed to a public that could now buy a book for 25¢, where before, a hardcover book might have cost $2.00.  This made books more widely accessible, portable, and popular.  And all of this led to the creation of new business and distribution models.

It was the paperback revolution.  And Sidney B. Kramer (1915-2014) was right in the middle of it.

Kramer became a certified public accountant (CPA) in 1939, and was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1940. Kramer practiced law and accounting in New York from 1940-1945, and his clients included both publishers and publishing executives.  He handled work for Penguin Books, Inc., Penguin Distribution, Enoch Publishing Co., Pantheon, Jacques Schiffrin and Jacques Schiffrin & Co., as well as tax, estate, and trust work related to the parents of Ian Ballantine and Walter Pitkin, Jr.  Kramer audited books, prepared financial statements and tax filings, and handled other financial and legal work.  And in 1945, he became one of the founders of Bantam Books, with Ian and Betty Ballantine, and Walter Pitkin, Jr.

Kramer had a long tenure at Bantam Books.  In the early years, his role is described as being “the comptroller and administrative executive” and “secretary-treasurer”.  Kramer was elected Vice-President of Bantam Books in 1952, and Senior Vice-President in 1955. He was elected to the company’s Board of Directors in 1961.  Kramer was the only founder of Bantam Books to remain at Bantam under Oscar Dystel: the Ballantines had departed in 1952, and Pitkin resigned in 1954, the same year that Dystel became chief executive.  Kramer remained at Bantam as a senior executive until 1967: shortly after his departure, he became president at New American Library (1967-1972).

This collection, although small, has valuable records on the business operations of Penguin Books, Inc., Bantam Books, and New American Library, 1940-1972.  The strength of Kramer’s records lies in their documentation of business, financial, and legal issues.  The collection includes various financial records, including Kramer’s financial records for Penguin Books from the early 1940s:

And early records from Bantam Books:

The collection includes not only these records, but also Kramer’s own appointment books, meeting notes, other notes, and personal correspondence with business contacts.

Kramer’s notes are frequently handwritten, but are sometimes typed up for his reference or for distribution to others:

Kramer also routinely kept carbon copies of his outgoing correspondence in both his business and his personal files, which helps add context to the discussion of various issues.   This report and correspondence to Allan Cheek relate to the situation at Transworld in 1953-1954:

 

Kramer’s papers compliment the Ian and Betty Ballantine Books and Business Records, processed in 2018 – https://findingaids.library.columbia.edu/archives/cul-13511438.  The Ballantines’ papers also contain records related to the founding of Bantam Books and its early years (1945-1952). These include some early executive records that Kramer lacks, as well as a book library that includes both Penguin and Bantam Books.

Kramer’s papers also have a large book library, as discussed in this blog by student Sam Higgins, who processed the library: https://blogs.library.columbia.edu/rbml/2024/01/18/collections-highlight-sam-higgins-on-the-sidney-kramer-paperbacks/

If you are interested in the development of the paperback book business, this collection is invaluable.  While Kramer is remembered as a founder of Bantam Books, his records expand beyond the publisher’s founding years and cover issues outside of the editorial sphere.  The collection is also important due to the current lack of publicly available documentation for the early years of Penguin Books, Inc. (USA) and Bantam Books.  Archives related to Penguin Books, Inc., Bantam Books, and New American Library either remain privately held, or do not cover the relevant business functions or time periods.