. >> who was a william norton? he's the founder of our firm, ww norton and company. interesting man who came out of ohio to new york city. probably as important as he were to the history my firm is that he married a fascinating woman mary norton. in the two of them together founded the firm. mrs. norton was always very much a part of the operation even though he realized that she was never a paid employee because this was the 19 twenties. the firm was founded in 1923. began publishing mostly trade books, the original book an academic slant on because mr. and mrs. norton like to go down to the people's institute which is a adult education branch of the cooper union in new york city. one can imagine mrs. norton talking that mr. norton sleeve saying, someone should publish these lectures. so we originally found that he kept his day job at the import export industry but began to publish these from the people's institute. their first founded at the people's institute press operated under that name for three years. mr. norton taught the public shame big time. three years l

. >> who was william warter nor norton. >> probably as important in the history of my firm is that he married a fascinating woman. mary norton and the two of them effectively together founded the firm. mrs. norton was always very much a part of the operation even though they realized that she was never a paid employee because this was the 1920's, the firm was founded in 1923. began publishing mostly trade books. the original book had academic plant to them because mr. and mrs. norton like to go to the people's institute which is a sort of adult-education branch, cooper union in new york city and one can imagine mrs. norton tugging and saying, someone should publish these lectures. it was mr. norton kept his day job in import-export industry but began to published from the people's institute. we were first founded at people's institute press and operated under that name for three years. mr. norton 1926, the firm was reincorporated as w.w. norton and company, he quit job in the industry and became a full-time publisher. >> how long was mr. norton active? >> he was with the firm for 19 y

. >> who was william warter nor norton. >> probably as important in the history of my firm is that he married a fascinating woman. mary norton and the two of them effectively together founded the firm. mrs. norton was always very much a part of the operation even though they realized that she was never a paid employee