World Book Company
—The house was established in 1905 by Casper W. Hodgson. “It was really founded,” Mr. Hodgson writes, “in the Philippine Islands, a little farther west or east than any other American house has started.” The first office was in Manila, but soon another was established at Park Hill, Yonkers, N. Y.
The first books issued were six Philippine publications. The World Book Company now does a considerable business not only in the Philipine Islands, but also in the United States and Latin America. O. S. Reimold and M. A. Purcell have been connected with the business almost from its beginning. M. J. Hazelton, who joined the Company in 1908, has been the Philippine representative of the house. Professor John W. Ritchie has given his full time to the organization since 1915.
The titles of the first educational books published for use in American schools are Ritchie’s Human Physiology, and Wohlfarth-Rogers’ New World Spellers.