Call Number:

Ms. Coll. 1556

Repository:

University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts

Extent:

.2 linear_foot (1 box)

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

Collection of material relating to William Wait copyright legacy, 1877-1933, Ms. Coll. 1556, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books, and Manuscripts. University of Pennsylvania

Date:

1877-1933 (inclusive)

Form:

Advertisements, Correspondence, and Financial records

Abstract:

William Wait (1821-1880) was a lawyer and an author of a number of legal texts pertaining to the law in New York. His last will and testament allowed for the continuation of the publication and sale of the law books for which he had copyright until his youngest son turned 21 in 1889. This collection contains information about the legacy of Wait's copyrighted works following his death in 1880.

Born in 1821 in Ephratah, New York, William Wait studied the law and was admitted to the bar in 1846. In 1848, he became district attorney of Fulton County, New York. From 1865 to 1879, he authored or edited a number of legal texts relating to New York law, including The Law and Practice in Civil Actions and Proceedings in Justices' Courts and on Appeals to the County Courts in the State of New York, 1865 (two volumes); The New York Annotated Code of Procedure, 1871; A Table of Cases Affirmed, Revised, or Cited in the Reports of the State of New York, 1872; and Wait's Actions and Defenses at Law and in Equity, 1869-1879 (7 volumes).

It appears that in 1880, Wait was aware of his declining health and added a codicil to his last will and testament allowing for the continuation of the publication and sale of his law books, for which he had copyright, until his youngest son, Isaac, turned 21, in 1889. In 1889, his children, Mary Ball, William Jr. (1863-1941), Isaac P.V. (1868-1941), and Hattie Esther Van Allen were listed as the owners to all the rights and interests of Wait's works.

Works consulted

Appleton's Cyclopedia of American Biography, 1600-1889, Volume IV, page 317.

New York Wills and Probate records for Fulton County, Wills, Volume 0006-0007, 1865-1884, pages 460-461.

This collection documents, in a limited way, the sale and publication of William Wait's copyrighted work, following his death in 1880. It appears that the Wait Publishing Company was established after Wait's children came of age so that they had the ability to continue publishing and selling their father's works. In addition to the Wait Publishing Company continuing to publish and sell, Wait's works were sold by Baker, Voorhis & Co. It is possible that Wait heirs were in contact with the American Law Institute Publishers and the Georgia Law Book, Co.; but it is unclear from their advertising ephemera if they sold Wait's works.

Between 1889 and 1901, there was a flurry of correspondence surrounding a change in the selling and publishing of Wait's works as a result of the youngest Wait child (Isaac) turning 21. Correspondents include Banks & Brother and Banks & Company; Law Offices of Edwin Baylies; William H. Rainey, cashier for National Union Bank; Isaac and William Wait; and William Gould & Son Law Book Publishers. Copyright certificates from the Library of Congress show the transferal of copyright from Wait (pre-1880) to his executors (1882), to his sons (1906). Royalty statements from 1894 to 1902 are present.