Yosemite Publishing

2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000

The Yosemite Association (Association) has an editorial mission to build on its long and illustrious publishing heritage by connecting people to Yosemite through a wide range of high quality publications and other media that foster a deeper understanding of Yosemite and Sierra Nevada literature, history, art, the environment, social issues and culture. Many of these publications are available in the web store and at the Association’s bookstores in Yosemite. The Association is committed to provide a platform for talented writers, artists, scholars and storytellers with a passion for Yosemite.

In 2007 the Association began partnering with Heyday Books in Berkeley to continue the strong Yosemite publishing tradition. Since its founding in 1974, Heyday Books has occupied a unique niche in the publishing world, specializing in books that foster an understanding of California history, literature, art, environment, social issues, and culture.  Heyday is also a nonprofit organization committed to providing a platform for writers, poets, artists, scholars, and storytellers who help keep California’s diverse legacy alive.

2005

Among the Yosemite Association’s new publications and products in 2005 was the “Yosemite Commemorative Edition” of the 2005 California State Quarter. Two uncirculated quarters (one from each mint) were included in a special package that highlighted the importance of John Muir and Yosemite (both depicted on the quarter) in California’s history. It proved to be the big hit of 2005, helping us generate $19,000 of website store and mail order sales for the month of March, and becoming our number one retail item for 2005.

We also developed a new Yosemite Historic Postcard Book that featured twenty vintage postcards from the collection of the Yosemite Museum. A second logo (this one for Yosemite Valley) was developed as part of YA’s park identity program. Products bearing the logo included t-shirts, ball caps, decals, patches, and enamel pins. We expect to add four or five more logos to the series over the next year or two.

In a nice recognition of our work, the American Institute of Graphic Arts named the association’s most recent fine press book, A Trip to the Yosemite, one the “Best 50 Books of the Year” for 2004.

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2004

Our publishing program continued to issue quality, educational products. Highlights in 2004 included the new book, The Ahwahnee: Yosemite’s Grand Hotel, a collaborative effort with Delaware North Parks & Resorts at Yosemite, along with an attractive gift set of notecards featuring a selection of Chiura Obata’s prints. The association also produced a guide to Trumbull Peak in conjunction with the U.S. Forest Service. We released the fifth edition of The Complete Guidebook to Yosemite National Park, one of our best sellers, and a paperback edition of the popular Missing in the Minarets. Even with our new initiatives, our wholesale business continued to struggle, posting a decline in revenues of 8% from the prior year.

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2003

During 2003, YA published Yosemite Once Removed - Portraits of the Backcountry (a full-color coffee table book with photographs by Claude Fiddler, and essays by Steve Roper, Nancy Fiddler, John Hart, Anne Macquarie, and Doug Robinson), and Yosemite Meditations, a small gift book offering a collection of Yosemite photographs by Michael Frye matched with quotations about nature, the environment, and the national parks.

Major financial support for Yosemite Once Removed was received from the William J. Shupper Family Foundation. YA also was pleased to receive a grant from James McClatchy and the McClatchy Company for publication of a history of the Tioga Road area written by Gene Rose.

Non-book products developed during the year include an enamel, cloisonné-style pin to commemorate YA's 80th anniversary, and a YA member t-shirt, fleece vest, and water bottle emblazoned with our 80th anniversary logo. The new logo was created by Michael Osborne Design of San Francisco. A poster entitled "Sierra Nevada Buffalo Soldiers," reproducing a historic photo of a black cavalry detachment on its way to Yosemite, also was undertaken.

Our two most profitable publications during 2003 were The Complete Guidebook to Yosemite National Park and Two Bear Cubs. Other strong-selling titles included Map and Guide to Yosemite Valley, The Wild Muir, Yosemite - An Enduring Treasure, The Photographer's Guide to Yosemite, and Yosemite Once Removed.

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2002

During the year YA published a revised and updated edition of The Complete Guidebook to Yosemite National Park, two limited edition fine art prints entitled “Wild Lupines” (from a painting by Walter Sydoriak) and “Two Bear Cubs with Blackberries” (from a painting by Daniel San Souci), and a limited edition, letter press book entitled A Trip to the Yosemite.

Several YA publications received “Interpretive Excellence” awards from the National Park Service at the APPL convention, including An Illustrated Flora of Yosemite National Park, and our children’s book, Antelope, Bison, Cougar, won a “Gold” National Parenting Publications Award.

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2001

The biggest publishing event for Y.A. in 2001 was the completion of An Illustrated Flora of Yosemite National Park. This landmark treatise, over eighteen years in the making, received critical acclaim but did not sell as well as we had projected. Because it was a very expensive volume to produce, we found ourselves with more capital tied up in flora inventory than we had hoped.

Other new publications included Antelope, Bison, Cougar - A National Park Wildlife Alphabet Book (and accompanying note cards), a pictorial guide entitled Yosemite - An Enduring Treasure, and Missing in the Minarets - the story of the disappearance of Walter Starr, Jr., in 1933. Each of these new titles sold strongly during the year.

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2000

At the biennial conference of the Association of Partners for Public Lands, the National Park Service recognized YA publications with awards in six different categories. Three titles received first place honors (Fur and Loafing in Yosemite, The Waterfalls of Yosemite, and Such A Landscape!), and three others were named for "Honorable Mention" recognition. YA also earned an award from the American Association of Museums for the design of the fundraising mailing sent in conjunction with the development of our illustrated flora.

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