One last book was published in the offices at 126 Chambers Street, New York, in 1901: The Authentic Life of William McKinley written by Alexander K. McClure and Charles Morris and published by the California Perfume Company.
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The California Perfume Company was founded because of the book business. David H. McConnell used small bottles of perfume to gain entry into the homes of prospective book buyers. As Mr. McConnell soon discovered, the bottles of perfume were definitely in higher demand than his books. In his 1903 autobiography, The Story Of A Man Who Worked With His Heart As Well As With His Hands, McConnell chronicles his purchase of the Union Publishing House from his previous employer and how he managed it (the book publishing) himself for sometime. Following the transition of the business focus from that of publishing to that of perfumes and toiletries, McConnell did publish (at least) one book under California Perfume Company banner: The Authentic Life of William McKinley. According to Mr. George Gaspar, a CPC collector and historical authority, David H. McConnell and William McKinley we very close friends. This book was McConnell's memorial to honor the United State's 25th President following his assassination on 6 September, 1901.
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No date has been firmly established for the transition referenced above: from the book business to the perfume and toiletries business. However, a few historical items yield a date somewhere in the 1895 to 1896 time period. Of these historical items, the first is a book published by the Union Publishing House, New York, in 1894 entitled Picturesque Hawaii (see pictures immediately below). Second, a newspaper article placed in the 29 March, 1895 edition of the New York Times, recounts that David H. McConnell, president of the Union Publishing Company, was saved by his secretary, Josephine Sawyer, when she extinguished a fire that was burning McConnell's beard and clothes. The fire started while McConnell was engaged in manufacturing alcohol-based goods (see full article below). And third, the Tribeca South Historic District Extension Designation Report published in 2002 identifies the occupants for 126 Chambers Street, New York as the Union Publishing House from 1890 to 1895 and David H. McConnell - Publishing from 1895 to 1905.
If anyone has further information related to the Union Publish House, 126 Chambers Street, NY, or the publishing of books by the California Perfume Company, please contact russell (at) californiaperfumecompany.net.
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