The Ryerson Press published the Chatterbox under licence for about three years in Canada.  It is very strange that the company waited 63 years before getting involved – after all their founder, Dr Egerton Ryerson, and Chatterbox’s founder, Rev. Erskine Clarke had led almost parallel lives in their respective countries.  As far as I know, Ryerson only published Chatterbox from 1929 until 1932.

Although Dr Egerton Ryerson was 24 years older than Canon Erskine Clarke, it is difficult to believe that they never met, or knew of each other.  Both held important posts in their respective churches, both were educational innovators on a large scale, both were involved in publishing a lot of material both religious and educational., and both were greatly respected in their own countries. 

Back in 1829 the Methodist Church had established the Methodist Book and Publishing House, the first publishing company in Canada.   Egerton Ryerson (1803-1882), a minister and educator with the Church was the founder and he took the house from religious press into a more worldly publishing program.

By 1841,  upon incorporation of Victoria College (Ontario), Ryerson was unanimously chosen first president of that institution of learning.  The same year saw the degree of Doctor of Divinity conferred upon him and his acceptance of the pastorate of Adelaide Street Church, Toronto.

In 1844, Dr. Ryerson was named as Superintendent of Education for Upper Canada, an office in which he was to attain lasting distinction in the public life of his country.  Eminently fitted for the position, he gave himself for the next 32 years to the task of re-modelling and building up Ontario’s educational system.  From the time of his appointment until he resigned in 1876, he continued to administer the school affairs of this province with zeal, energy and efficiency.  At the outset he made an extensive tour of the United States, England and continental Europe in order to familiarize himself with the most modern educational systems. His findings were embodied in an elaborate report published in 1846. Four years later, a new Schools Act was passed by the Legislature, based on the principal Ryerson recommendations.  While the Common School system was his primary care, he also gave much attention to the establishment and improvement of Grammar, Normal and Model schools throughout Ontario.  He set up the system of county school inspectors. He introduced compulsory education and he advocated township school boards.

It wasn’t until 1919,  37 years after Ryerson’s death, that the Methodist Book & Publishing House changed its name to Ryerson Press in honour of their founder.  By 1960 the United Church owned the publishing house and was wondering if it belonged in the publishing trade, competing with privately owned firms. Throughout the sixties, many attempts were made to reorganize the house. However, by the end of the decade it was decided that the Ryerson Press would be offered to sale to a company that would keep the name and the list alive.

In 1970 McGraw-Hill Book Company of Canada bought the inventory, copyrights and contracts of the Ryerson Press.  This included a list of some 500 titles, divided almost equally between its areas of specialty - elementary and school texts, and general interest trade books. Some of these titles included the works of L. M. Montgomery and Robert Service.  As is common in today's nationalistic climate, the sale of the Ryerson Press to McGraw-Hill attracted much attention from those concerned about foreign ownership of a Canadian cultural institution.

Finally, in 1971, the two names were combined and became what it is today:  McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited.

Chatterbox
1929

Chatterbox
1931

Chatterbox
1932