Curtis G. Benjamin papers

Curtis G. Benjamin was born in Providence, Kentucky on July 13, 1901. He attended the University of Kentucky, the University of Chicago, and the University of Arizona, from which he obtained a Bachelor of Arts in English. During his time in Tucson, he wrote and directed plays and contributed to the The Arizona Wildcat newspaper. In the summer of 1928, he received a telegram notifying him of an immediate job opening with a publishing house in New York. Having received the telegram three weeks later, the position in New York had been filled by the time he arrived. Shortly after, he began his career with the publishing firm McGraw-Hill.

On July 24, 1928, Mr. Benjamin was hired by McGraw-Hill’s College Department as a traveler. He was later promoted to President of the McGraw-Hill Book Company, Special Consultant, and served as Chairman of the Board. He was an advocate of educational and library programs and served on various professional, government, and local committees and associations. His work with McGraw-Hill and the committees and associations in which he was active greatly influenced his written work.

During his lifetime Mr. Benjamin authored articles and books relating to the publishing industry, the import and trade of books, library and information science, copyright, and other subjects surrounding books and the dissemination of information. In 1961, the University of Arizona awarded Mr. Benjamin the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters and he was also awarded the honary degree of Doctor of Laws by the University of Kentucky.