AMERICAN LITHOGRAPHIC COMPANY
Founded February 1892
J. P. Knapp's Baby
As I mentioned in January 31, 1951 New York Herald Tribune piece on the life of Joseph Palmer Knapp, February is a Big Knapp month here. Along with the birth of his only son Joseph F. Knapp in February of 1892, Joe Knapp "gave birth" to a new kind of company. They were called "Trusts" in the 19th century, and conglamorates in the 20th. Although I have several other pages on the site about the start of ALCO, I thought I'd give you another look at the beginnings of American Lithographic Company and of course a look at some more of it's varied prints.
To start things off , why not have a report on it from one William B. Dana. Buck was the man who built Moss Lots on Forge River and grandfather of J. F. Knapp's future Mastic neighbor and pal, William Shepherd Dana who was also born in 1892. Seems appropiate don't you think?
12 and half million dollars in capital is no drop in the bucket even today...113 years ago it was one heck of a kick off for the company. Add in the fact that Knapp was buying out or bringing into the company most of the leading lithographers of the day like the Donaldson Brothers and your really off and running.
A DONALDSON LITHO FROM 1885
