BENZIGER

A family associated with the publication of Catholic books in Europe and the United States. The founder of the publishing house was Joseph Charles Benziger (1762–1841), who had started a small business in religious articles in Einsiedeln, Switzerland in 1793. When the French invaded Switzerland during the French Revolution, he and his family were forced to abandon the enterprise and flee the country. On returning home, he set up as a bookseller. In 1833, when Charles and Nicholas Benziger succeeded their father, they began printing and publishing books. In 1853 a sales branch of the firm was opened in New York, and it became a publishing house in 1860, under the direction of J. N. Adelrich Benziger (d. 1878) and Louis Benziger (d. 1896). In 1897, the American branch separated from the Swiss firm.

When Louis Benziger retired, he was followed by Louis G. Benziger and Nicholas C. Benziger. In 1912, 1919, and 1923, respectively, Xavier N., Bernard A., and Alfred F. Benziger were admitted to membership in the firm, their father, Nicholas, having retired. In 1964, Bernard C. Benziger, a member of the family's sixth generation, was president of Benziger Brothers, Inc., with headquarters in New York City. The publishing house also maintained branch stores in Cincinnati (1860), Chicago (1887), San Francisco (1929), and Boston (1937). In 1968, the company was acquired by Crowell Collier Macmillan, and its headquarters were moved to California.

Bibliography: k. j. benziger, Geschichte der Familie Benziger von Einsiedeln, Schweiz (New York 1923).

[w. c. smith/eds.]