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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), 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 5000 titles published to date, including more than 3000
still in print. McFarland publishes nearly 400 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
pop culture
(especially film),
sports
(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.
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