author
Charles C. (Charles Carroll) Soule
1842–1913
A lively figure in the world of books, he combined a publisher’s practical knowledge with a deep interest in libraries and how they should serve readers. His work moved easily between bookselling, legal reference, and thoughtful writing about library buildings and organization.
1 Audiobook
How to plan a library building for library work
by Charles C. (Charles Carroll) Soule
About the author
Charles Carroll Soule (June 25, 1842 – January 7, 1913) was an American bookseller, publisher, and writer whose career stayed closely tied to the world of libraries and legal publishing. Reliable reference sources describe him as a "bookman" with a particular interest in library architecture, and his published work reflects that mix of practical trade experience and concern for how books and readers meet.
Born in Boston, he studied at Boston Latin School and Harvard College, graduating in 1862. He also served in the Civil War in the 44th and 55th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantries. After the war, he worked in bookselling and publishing in Boston, where he became known for legal and bibliographic reference works as well as for writing on library rooms and buildings.
Soule is remembered less as a novelist than as a thoughtful professional voice in American book culture. For readers today, his appeal lies in that wide-ranging perspective: he understood books as objects, businesses, tools for study, and the heart of public libraries all at once.