Dick & Fitzgerald

Dick & Fitzgerald was a New York publishing firm founded in 1858 by William Brisbane Dick and Lawrence R. Fitzgerald. Both men had worked as apprentices in publishing before taking over the business that became Dick & Fitzgerald, and the company operated from New York City, including an address at 18 Ann Street.

The firm became known for popular, affordable books meant for entertainment and self-improvement. Its catalog ranged widely, covering songsters, plays, card games, magic tricks, dancing, etiquette, dream books, sports, and other practical amusements that appealed to a broad 19th-century readership.

That wide reach is part of what makes the name memorable today: books from Dick & Fitzgerald offer a window into everyday leisure and popular culture of their era. Some of their music publishing also reflected the racist minstrel tradition of the time, an important part of the historical record that should be recognized plainly.