AustLit

The American Magazine began in 1876 as Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly. It was renamed Leslie's Monthly Magazine in 1904, and the following year was known both as Leslie's Magazine and The American Illustrated Magazine. After being purchased in 1906 by a consortium headed by John S. Phillips it was renamed The American Magazine and given a significant revamping. Its new publisher retained a link with the former magazine, however, by contining the volume and issue numbering (this system remained in place for the magazine's entire life span).

In 1911 The American Magazine was acquired by the Crowell Publishing Company. Phillips continued on as editor until 1915. One of the biggest changes made during the immediate post-Phillips era was an expansion into the female readership market. The editors to succeed Phillips were: John M. Siddall (1915-1923), Merle Crowell (1923-1929), and Sumner Blossom (1929-1956). Fictional serials and short stories were a popular feature, and the magazine published several winners of the O. Henry Awards. High-profile writers contributed articles on a variety of topics. Between 1934 and its demise in 1956 the magazine was Crowell-Collier.

Among the authors to have their works published were: Ellis Parker Butler, Clarence Budington Kelland and James Francis Dwyer.

An American monthly publication published from 1873 to 1957, Woman's Home Companion was initially published out of Cleveland as The Home Companion. It was acquired by Mast, Crowell and Kirkpatrick (later Crowell Publishing) in 1883, and three years later given a new name - Ladies Home Companion. Featuring articles, advice and instructions on homemaking activities such as crochet, embroidery, cookery, crockery, housekeeping, the magazine also included short fiction and information of fashion. In 1897, Mast, Crowell and Kirkpatrick changed the title to Woman's Home Companion, preserving much of the previous content.

The most influential editor of Woman's Home Companion was Gertrude Battles Lane (1874-1941) who ran the magazine from 1911 until a few months before her death. Under her directorship each issue featured two serials, four to five short stories, six specials and many monthly departments.

Woman's Home Companion came to an end January 1957, a month after Crowell-Collier's closed down it operations in Springfield, Ohio.