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Time Inc. Discover Publishing and Business Records: Publisher Bruce Barnet Files

Call Number

MS 3009-RG 43

Date

1980-1987, inclusive

Creator

Time, inc.

Extent

1.25 Linear feet in 2 record cartons

Language of Materials

The documents in the collection are in English.

Abstract

Publisher Bruce Barnet's files document the final review of feasibility of the popular science magazine Discover and its sale.

Historical Note

The popular science magazine Discover was created via task force outside of the Magazine Development Group and first published in 1980. Time Inc. sold Discover to Family Media, Inc. in 1987.

For the majority of Time Inc.'s existence, the company maintained a strict separation of editorial from the publishing and business side of each magazine, colloquially called the separation of "church" (editorial) and "state" (publishing). Publishing and Business Management includes the publisher, general manager, business manager, advertising sales, marketing services, letters, circulation, and public relations. Cofounder Henry Luce structured Time Inc. this way so that the business side could not (in theory) influence the editorial content of the publications. For example, the advertising sales people could not interfere with a magazine's decision to run an article on the dangers of cigarette smoking, even though it might mean losing millions of dollars in tobacco ads.

Biographical Note

Bruce Barnet was final Circulation Director of Life. He also held positions with Time-Life Films, Fortune publishing, and the Magazine Development Group (MDG) publishing. After serving in the MDG, the Discover board appointed him as publisher specifically to "take a hard look at the business potential for the magazine." Ultimately Barnet recommended in a report to the board that Time Inc. sell Discover. After the 1987 sale, Barnet was promoted to Vice President of Planning for the Magazine Group.

Arrangement

Organized alphabetically. All files but the Science 86 Acquisition binder were found together. Alphabetical arrangement was imposed.

Scope and Contents

Publisher Bruce Barnet's files document the final review of feasibility of Discover and its sale. The records include reports on finances and circulation, memoranda on options, press releases, crafted question and answers to use after the announcement, and personnel issues.

Conditions Governing Access

Open to qualified researchers with the exception of restricted materials. Restricted materials include contracts, personnel files, and records with personally identifiable information. Restricted materials are located in box R17.

Materials in this collection are stored offsite. For more information on making arrangements to consult them, please visit www.nyhistory.org/library/visit.

Conditions Governing Use

Taking images of documents from the library collections for reference purposes by using hand-held cameras and in accordance with the library's photography guidelines is encouraged. As an alternative, patrons may request up to 20 images per day from staff.

Application to use images from this collection for publication should be made in writing to: Department of Rights and Reproductions, The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024-5194, rightsandrepro@nyhistory.org. Phone: (212) 873-3400 ext. 282.

Copyrights and other proprietary rights may subsist in individuals and entities other than the New-York Historical Society, in which case the patron is responsible for securing permission from those parties. For fuller information about rights and reproductions from N-YHS visit: https://www.nyhistory.org/about/rights-reproductions

Preferred Citation

This record group should be cited as Time Inc. Discover Publishing and Business Records: Publisher Bruce Barnet Files, MS 3009-RG 43, New-York Historical Society.

Location of Materials

Materials in this collection are stored offsite. For more information on making arrangements to consult them, please visit www.nyhistory.org/library/visit.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Time Inc. in 2015.

Related Materials

This finding aid relates to just one record group of the Time Inc. Records. For information about the other record groups and for overall information about the archives, please see the Guide to the Time Inc. Records (MS 3009). The Henry Luce Papers (MS 3014) were acquired with the Time Inc. Records. The collection of books acquired with the records are cataloged as the Time Inc. Reference Library.

Information about the history of Discover and additional records from the editorial or publishing offices can be found in the Time Inc. Subject Files (MS 3009-RG 1) and the Time Inc. Annex Files (MS 3009-RG 39).

Collection processed by

Holly Deakyne

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-21 15:46:54 -0400.
Using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language: Description is written in: English, Latin script.

Processing Information

The collection was processed by Holly Deakyne in 2020. The original folders were retained although some documents were transferred to archival containers in instances of overcrowding. Documents were rehoused from one binder and the binder cover was discarded. Arrangement was imposed. Deakyne created the inventory and other descriptive notes to produce this finding aid.

Repository

New-York Historical Society
New-York Historical Society
170 Central Park West
New York, NY 10024