Arcadia Publishing has bought Applewood Books, which specializes in reissuing original versions of historical books for American cultural travelers. Phil Zuckerman, who founded Applewood Books in 1976, will join Arcadia and continue as Applewood's publisher.
Applewood has more than 2,500 titles in print, including The American Frugal Housewife by Lydia Maria Child, George Washington's Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior by George Washington, and the forthcoming Great Law of Peace by the Haudenosaunee peoples. Its imprints include Grab a Pencil Press, Benna Books, and CurlyQ Press. The company has partnered with various organizations throughout the years such as Preservation Society of Newport County, L.L. Bean, Apple, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, the Harriet Beecher Stowe House, Octavia Books, the Winterthur Museum, and Disney. In 2021, Arcadia purchased Commonwealth Editions, an imprint of Applewood.
Zuckerman said, "Whenever I have thought about a future home for Applewood, I always believed that Arcadia would be that perfect place. For many decades, I have admired their brilliant publishing model and the wonderful people who work there."
Arcadia CEO Brittain Phillips said, "Applewood's extraordinary catalog will enhance Arcadia's ability to deliver on our mission: to connect people with their past, with their communities, and with one another. Across decades, Phil Zuckerman and his team have taken a thoughtful and innovative approach to building the Applewood list, and the result is a beloved, vibrant brand. At Arcadia, we strive to be a destination for publishers like Applewood, and we're eager to continue its long tradition."