Donohue, Henneberry & Company, Donohue Brothers, Chicago

Michael A. Donohue (1841-1915) and William Henneberry founded this company in 1878.

Initially Donohue and Henneberry was exclusively a bookbinder. By 1879 it was publishing the very popular "Red Line Series". This was not a series of books however but rather a series of items for schools. By 1887 the Red Line Series included school registers, class records, report cards, diplomas, examination records and writing spellers, etc. In 1887 the Red Line series included catalogues, blank books, ledgers, various forms for schools , certificates, etc., for numerous midwest states. The catalogue was unchanged through 1889.

In 1900 Donohue petitioned a local circuit court to legally help to dissolve the partnership between him and William Henneberry. Apparently the partners had been unable to come to an amicable dissolution of their partnership. Donohue started up a new firm, Donohue Brothers, in April, 1900. Soon after its founding the Donohue Brothers purchased the plates of the W. L. Allison Company, a prominent New York book publisher. By 1901 Donohue had purchased Henneberry's share of the original company and continued the business under the M. A. Donohue & Co. name. Henneberry continued in the book publishing business as the Henneberry Company.

The legal fights between the two partners went on for several years. In 1906 it ended with Donohue being told to vacate its Dearborn Street location or pay a significantly increased rent to Henneberry.

Both the Donohue and Henneberry names continued to be of major import in the book publishing world for many years.

The Donohue, Henneberry & Company books were mainly reprints published in series form. Each hard cover series generally had the same covers for every title. The covers frequently came in multiple colors. This publisher also printed a number of paperback series. All of the books were published between 1890 and 1900. Without exception, all of the volumes either came in a labeled box or originally had a dust jacket.

Series:

Aetna
Cloth. Various colors. Cover design as below-common to all of the books in this series. 7.5” x 5”.

Donohue Brothers published this series in the same format.

Handy Volume Series
This series included "Ten Nights" in several cover formats beginning in 1897. These books, published by Donohue, Henneberry & Co. are 6" x 4". This series was also published by Donohue Brothers.

Alpine Series
Silk cloth. Blindstamped. Gilt spine lettering. 7.5” x 5"

Older edition (1896-)

Later edition
Donohue Brothers published this book in the same format.