Harcourt (publisher)

Harcourt was a major American educational publisher specializing in textbooks, standardized tests, and other educational materials for elementary schools, secondary schools, and higher education. The company also published trade books, reference works, and scientific, technical, and medical publications.

Founded in 1919 as Harcourt, Brace & Company by Alfred Harcourt and Donald Brace, the firm initially focused on general trade publishing before expanding into educational materials. The company grew through acquisitions and internal development, becoming a significant player in the educational publishing industry. Notable acquisitions included Academic Press, a leading scientific publisher.

Over the years, Harcourt underwent several mergers and acquisitions. In 2001, it merged with General Cinema's publishing assets to become Harcourt General. Reed Elsevier acquired Harcourt General in 2001. In 2007, Houghton Mifflin acquired Harcourt Education from Reed Elsevier, creating Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. The Harcourt name, as a distinct publishing entity, effectively ceased to exist after these transactions. While some titles originally published by Harcourt continue to be published under the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (later HMH) imprint, the original Harcourt company is no longer an independent operation. The Harcourt name continues to hold historical significance in the field of educational publishing.