History
The Company
McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, was founded in the spring
of 1979 by Robert McFarland Franklin. McFarland is located in
Jefferson, North Carolina, a small Appalachian town in the
northwestern corner of the state (close to both Tennessee and
Virginia). From the beginning, McFarland has been a
library-oriented publisher, producing comprehensive reference
works and scholarly monographs on a variety of subjects. The
books are manufactured to the highest specifications. They have
the best design in the business, the best typography (with
minutely reworked fonts for grace and easy reading), superb
fact-checking, readability-oriented editing, and the finest
available printing (acid-free, strong opacity paper with
extra-sturdy cloth, board and paper bindings).
McFarland is now one of the leading publishers of reference
books and scholarly monographs in the United States, with nearly
4000 titles published to date, including nearly 2400 in print.
McFarland publishes 325 new titles each year for a worldwide
market; many of them have received awards as outstanding titles.
In addition to libraries, McFarland books have found a home with
enthusiasts and savvy individuals. For example, McFarland is
recognized for its serious works in such popular fields as the
performing arts (especially
film),
sports & leisure (especially
baseball) and
automotive history.
The Name
McFarland was a family name for founder Robert Franklin, and was
in part chosen because of a strong North Carolina and Tennessee
heritage. One early namesake, Robert McFarland, was an officer at
the Battle of Kings Mountain, later spent time in or near the
Ashe County, North Carolina area, then went on to become the
first ever sheriff of Greene County, Tennessee. That McFarland's
grandson, Robert McFarland, fought at Vicksburg and was a justice
of the Tennessee Supreme Court in the 1870s and 80s. There's also
a Scottish connection. The "McFarland's Lantern" of Scottish
folklore has been incorporated into the company logo, and the
clan tartan appears on the company banner.
The Arts
McFarland is a three-time winner of the Governor's Business Award
in the Arts and Humanities. The company is a supporter of the
region's Little Theater, and several McFarland employees are
active members. McFarland also has an enormous collection of folk
art and regional art within its offices. Included among the
artists are Sam Doyle, Raymond Coins, Moses Tolliver and Florence
Thomas. Click here to view a gallery
featuring some of the artworks.
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