Accession 89-58 - Western Producer Prairie Books

Western Producer Prairie Books was established as an independent department of the newspaper Western Producer in 1975. Its mandate was to publish books which would contribute to the enjoyment and enlightenment of the farmers of western Canada, to preserve a record of western tradition and history, and to encourage western writers. Manuscripts relating to the three prairie provinces, the various types of farming found in the region, and the ethnic groups which settled Western Canada were among those selected for publication.

Prior to the establishment of Western Producer Prairie Books, books were published by the Western Producer itself. It began to publish in 1954, and in 1968 the Prairie Books Committee was established to deal specifically with the publication of books. In 1973 Prairie Books purchased the publishing rights, remaining books and unbound sheets of the Institute of Applied Arts Ltd. from the estate of William Clarence Richards of Edmonton, its publisher. To obtain Manitoba title for Prairie Books, the list of Prairie Publishing Co. Ltd. was purchased from J.A.D. Stuart of Winnipeg.

In 1975, the new Editor and Publisher of the Western Producer, R. Phillips, decided that the book publishing end of the business could no longer be run through the Executive Editor. He hired a manager, who would be in charge of editorial and marketing functions and Chairman of what had become the Publications Selection committee. Soon after, additional staff members were added, and in that same year, Western Producer Prairie Books became an independent department.

In 1991, Western Producer Prairie Books' assets were sold to Douglas and McIntyre of Vancouver.