American Printer to Print No More; Online Operations Ceasing as Well

How do you say goodbye after 128 years?

AMERICAN PRINTER has published its last issue. There won’t be a September issue.

Penton, our parent company, stuck with us through some mighty lean months, but ultimately, there was no foreseeable model to achieve profitability. (Many of our readers are all too familiar with this problem.)

I have had three jobs since I graduated from the University of Illinois in 1987. This was by far the best one.

I would like to thank all of my fellow Penton sales, production, marketing, art and editorial employees. It is particularly difficult to say goodbye to Denise Kapel, Michael Koch, Nsenga Thompson, Yolanda Simonsis, Claudia Hine, Tim Janes and Cheryl Mangano. I can only echo Lou Grant: I cherish you people.

I can’t possibly thank all of the people who helped me personally and professionally. Just to name a few: Scott Bieda, John Berthelsen, Deirdre D’Aniello, Seth Dorfler, Don Goldman, Bill Lamparter, Dennis Mason, Wayne Madden, Steve Johnson, Ray Prince, Bob Rosen, Jill Roth, Julie Shaffer, Joan Smuda, Werner Rebsamen and Frank Romano.

Thanks to the vendors and PR staffs for their support over the years, especially to Brian Blair, John Hebert, Irv Press, Craig Kevghas, Kristi Mendez, Helene Smith and Tom Williams for their many kindnesses to me.

Thanks also to my brother and sister journalists. I’ve laughed with you, traveled with you and danced with you. You’re the best.

And finally, thanks to all of our loyal readers. It has been a pleasure serving you.

—Katherine O’Brien

Adding a footnote…

Published under the auspices of Henry O. Shepard’s printing company, INLAND PRINTER debuted in October 1883. A few years later, Shepard created the Inland Printer Co. to keep his printing plant and publishing activities separate. In addition to publishing the magazine, the Inland Printer Co. produced technical books for the trade and operated the Inland Printer Technical School.

Reeling from the Great Depression, the Inland Printer Co. sold the magazine to Tradepress Publishing Corp. in 1941. In 1945, Maclean-Hunter Publishing Corp. acquired INLAND PRINTER. In November 1958, Maclean Hunter acquired a New York-based publication, originally called THE AMERICAN PRINTER. In deference to the rapid growth of the offset lithographic industry, the magazine had changed its name to THE AMERICAN LITHOGRAPHER. The combined Maclean Hunter publications became THE INLAND and AMERICAN PRINTER AND LITHOGRAPHER.

In 1961, the magazine was renamed INLAND PRINTER/AMERICAN LITHOGRAPHER. Several other variations ensued. In January 1979, the title changed to AMERICAN PRINTER AND LITHOGRAPHER and was subsequently shortened to AMERICAN PRINTER in January 1982.

As of September 2011, AMERICAN PRINTER ceased publication.