Follett's Story
For more than 140 years, Follett has been taking care of the critical details that make it easier for schools to run, teachers to teach and students to learn.
1873
Follett Corporation was founded in 1873 when Charles M. Barnes opened a used book store in his Wheaton, Illinois home. Three years later, Barnes moved his business, now named C.M. Barnes & Company, to Chicago where he opened a store at 23 LaSalle Street. Here, he sold new and used textbooks, stationery and school supplies.
1901
C.W. Follett joined the company in 1901 as a stock clerk. The following year, Charles Barnes retired and his son William became president. The company had now evolved into a wholesaler, selling used books throughout the Midwest and as far away as the Oklahoma Territory.
In 1908, the company was reorganized as C.M. Barnes - Wilcox Company when John Wilcox, William Barnes' father-in-law, became the company's primary shareholder.
Photo caption: C.W. Follett in his office.
1910
In 1912, C.W. Follett became vice president and a shareholder of the company.
In 1917, William Barnes sold his remaining interest in the company to John Wilcox. Later that year Barnes moved to New York where he partnered with G. Clifford Noble and founded Barnes & Noble.
The following year, with Wilcox nearing retirement, C.W. Follett took over management of the company and it was once again renamed, this time as J.W. Wilcox & Follett Company.
1920
John Wilcox died in 1923 and the following year, C.W. Follett and his wife, Edythe, purchased the company. During the next two years, C.W. Follett's three oldest sons--R.D. (Bob), Garth and Dwight- - joined the family business. C.W.'s youngest son Laddie, who was still in grade school, joined the company in 1930.
During the next two decades, C.W.'s sons infused the company with ideas and enthusiasm, helping the company to evolve and grow. In 1925, Dwight founded the Follett Publishing Company. In 1930, R.D. Follett founded the Follett College Book Company and began wholesaling used textbooks to professors and college bookstores. The following year, R.D. established the company's first retail bookstore on a college campus outside of Chicago. And in 1940, Garth Follett created Follett Library Book Company. Laddie Follett ran the company's original business - Wilcox & Follett - from 1952 until 1986.
Photo caption: Wilcox & Follett, 1255 S. Wabash office, Chicago, Illinois. 1934.
1950
When C.W. Follett passed away in 1952 at the age of 70, Dwight Follett succeeded his father as chairman. The company continued to grow and was renamed Follett Corporation in 1957, which it is still known by today.
Photo caption: Follett Accounting Department. Circa 1950's.
1990
In 1997, Follett joined Internet Systems, Inc. in forming Library Systems & Services, L.L.C., a joint venture that provides library management services to public, academic and corporate libraries across the country. In addition, Follett purchased Book Wholesalers, Inc. (BWI) - a distributor of children's books to public libraries.
In 1998, Follett associates celebrated the company's 125th anniversary. To strengthen the company's ability to meet the needs of its customers, Follett aligned its various business units under three market groups - Higher Education, Elementary and High Schools and Libraries.
In 1999, Follett launched the eFollett.com web site.
2000
In 2000, Follett's three core market groups were combined to form Follett Higher Education Group and Follett Library and School Group.
Following a rigorous analysis of the company's portfolio of business units, Follett merged Follett Media Distribution, which provided audio visual products to school and public libraries, into BWI in an effort to provide our library customers with one-stop shopping for all of their book and media needs. In addition, in June of 2003, Follett sold its interest in Library Systems & Services, LLC (LSSI).
2010
In 2011, the Follett School and Library Group was created to serve the K-12 market under one business group. Strategic business decisions were made to move the focus of the school and library group into the K-12 classroom, and in 2011, certain assets of Follett's public library business, BWI, were sold.
In March 2014, approximately 750 employees from the Company's corporate office and higher education businesses at Chicago-area suburban operations in Oak Brook, Westmont and River Grove relocated to Three Westbrook Corporate Center, a 160,000 square-foot tower in Westchester, IL.
In April 2014, Follett's PreK-12 businesses became one legal entity - Follett School Solutions, Inc. The new entity simplifies the customer experience and enhances Follett's offerings by integrating the content, technology, and services previously offered by three separate businesses: Follett Educational Services, Follett Library Resources and Follett Software Company.
Between 2015 and 2016, Follett announced multiple acquisitions to bolster and expand its services. Most notably, Baker & Taylor, Follett's largest acquisition to date, extends the company's reach into public library and global retail markets.
TODAY
Follett Corporation is the world's largest single source of books, entertainment products, digital content and multi-media for libraries, schools and retailers. The company maintains an eye on the future, focusing on e-commerce, digital offerings and text rental in addition to its core areas of expertise.
