CRC Press

CRC Press is an academic and professional publishing imprint principally associated with technical books and reference works. Its strongest areas are science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine, while its catalogue also extends into information technology, business, forensics, and related professional subjects. The imprint serves researchers, university instructors, students, engineers, laboratory professionals, and other specialist readers through monographs, textbooks, handbooks, reference titles, and digital publications. The business originated in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1903 as the publishing component of the Chemical Rubber Company. That company developed from an earlier enterprise established by Arthur Friedman, who began selling rubber laboratory aprons around 1900. Arthur, Leo, and Emanuel Friedman subsequently expanded the business into laboratory equipment and supplies for chemists. Publishing became an important part of the operation because practical technical information could be distributed alongside laboratory products. A formative title appeared in 1913, when the company offered a short Rubber Handbook as an incentive connected with the purchase of laboratory aprons. The handbook later developed into the CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, the imprint’s best-known reference work and one of the enduring landmarks of scientific publishing. CRC also built a substantial reference publishing business around mathematical tables and other compact technical handbooks. CRC Standard Mathematical Tables became another major commercial success, with the historical account of the imprint reporting sales of more than two million copies. The company progressively shifted away from manufacturing and toward publishing. In 1964, Chemical Rubber decided to concentrate on its publishing activities. In 1973, the company adopted the name CRC Press, Inc., while its laboratory-apparatus manufacturing activities were separated into the Lab Apparatus Company. This change clarified the identity that CRC Press would develop in the academic and professional information market. CRC Press later became part of larger media and publishing groups. Times Mirror acquired the company in 1986. Times Mirror began considering a sale in the 1990s, and CRC was sold to Information Ventures in December 1996. Taylor & Francis acquired CRC Press in 2003. Taylor & Francis subsequently became part of Informa in 2004, placing CRC within a large international academic publishing group. Taylor & Francis continues to operate CRC Press alongside imprints such as Routledge. The imprint’s modern scope combines established print reference traditions with textbooks, research books, professional manuals, and electronic content. Its catalogue remains particularly identified with authoritative, information-dense works intended for repeated consultation rather than general trade reading. As of 2025, CRC Press branding is presented in association with the Routledge brand, reflecting its position within the Taylor & Francis publishing architecture while retaining the CRC name in specialist markets.

CRC Press traces its origins to the Chemical Rubber Company, founded in 1903 in Cleveland, Ohio, by brothers Arthur, Leo, and Emanuel Friedman. The company developed from Arthur Friedman’s earlier business, begun around 1900, selling rubber laboratory aprons. It expanded into laboratory equipment and supplies for chemists, creating a natural market for concise technical information. In 1913, the company offered a 116-page Rubber Handbook as an incentive associated with the purchase of a dozen aprons. The handbook became the foundation for the CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, which developed into the imprint’s signature reference title. CRC also established a broader reputation through technical handbooks and tables, including CRC Standard Mathematical Tables, reported in the historical account as having sold more than two million copies. Chemical Rubber increasingly emphasized publishing over manufacturing. In 1964, it decided to focus on its publishing ventures. In 1973, the business changed its name to CRC Press, Inc., and the manufacturing activities were separated as the Lab Apparatus Company. The reorganization established the publishing identity that would later become internationally recognized in specialist academic markets. CRC Press was acquired by Times Mirror in 1986. During the 1990s, Times Mirror explored a sale, and CRC was transferred to Information Ventures in December 1996. Taylor & Francis acquired CRC Press in 2003. The following year, Taylor & Francis became part of Informa, placing CRC within a larger international information and academic publishing group. Within Taylor & Francis, CRC Press and Routledge became important publishing imprints serving different but overlapping scholarly and professional audiences. The imprint’s catalogue has centered on scientific and technical books, especially in engineering, science, mathematics, and medicine. It also includes titles in business, forensic studies, and information technology. Its products include reference works, handbooks, textbooks, research monographs, and electronic publications. The brand is particularly associated with books intended for practical consultation by researchers, students, professionals, and educators. By 2025, CRC Press branding was presented as part of the Routledge branding, reflecting its integration into Taylor & Francis while preserving the CRC name and its established technical identity.

• 2025

  CRC Press branding is associated with Routledge

  [1]CRC Pressen.wikipedia.org

  CRC Press is presented within the Routledge branding architecture while continuing its specialist technical publishing role.

• 2004

  Taylor & Francis joins Informa

  [1]CRC Pressen.wikipedia.org

  Taylor & Francis becomes part of Informa, which becomes the wider corporate owner of the CRC Press imprint.

• 2003

  Acquisition by Taylor & Francis

  [1]CRC Pressen.wikipedia.org

  Taylor & Francis acquires CRC Press and incorporates it into its academic publishing portfolio.

• 1996

  Sale to Information Ventures

  [1]CRC Pressen.wikipedia.org

  CRC Press is sold to Information Ventures in December after Times Mirror considers divesting the business.

• 1986

  Acquisition by Times Mirror

  [1]CRC Pressen.wikipedia.org

  Times Mirror acquires CRC Press.

• 1973

  The company adopts the CRC Press name

  [1]CRC Pressen.wikipedia.org

  The publishing business changes its name to CRC Press, Inc., while laboratory-apparatus manufacturing is separated into the Lab Apparatus Company.

• 1964

  Publishing becomes the central focus

  [1]CRC Pressen.wikipedia.org

  Chemical Rubber decides to concentrate on its publishing activities rather than maintaining its earlier balance between publishing and manufacturing.

• 1913

  Rubber Handbook is introduced

  [1]CRC Pressen.wikipedia.org

  The company publishes a short Rubber Handbook as a promotional item connected with laboratory-apron purchases.

• 1903

  Chemical Rubber Company is established

  [1]CRC Pressen.wikipedia.org

  Arthur, Leo, and Emanuel Friedman establish the Cleveland-based Chemical Rubber Company, the business from which CRC Press originates.

A specialist academic and professional publishing brand built around authoritative, practical, and frequently consulted resources in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, medicine, and related technical disciplines.

• Scientific reference handbook · 1913

  CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics

  CRC’s flagship reference work evolved from the Rubber Handbook first issued in 1913. It is designed as a compact source of frequently consulted chemical and physical data for scientists, engineers, educators, students, and laboratory professionals. Its continuing association with the CRC name reflects the imprint’s historical emphasis on authoritative, practical technical reference publishing.

• Mathematical reference handbook

  CRC Standard Mathematical Tables

  CRC Standard Mathematical Tables is a major reference title associated with the imprint’s mathematical publishing program. It provides organized mathematical tables and related technical information for educational, scientific, and engineering use. The historical account of CRC Press identifies it as one of the company’s highly successful handbooks, with reported sales exceeding two million copies.

• Academic and professional publishing

  CRC technical and engineering books

  This broad catalogue includes engineering books, scientific monographs, textbooks, professional manuals, and specialized reference works. Subject coverage includes engineering, science, mathematics, medicine, information technology, business, and forensics. The books are primarily aimed at university-level and professional audiences rather than the general trade market.

• Digital academic publishing

  CRC electronic books and digital content

  CRC Press extends its specialist book programme into electronic formats and digital academic distribution. These publications complement the imprint’s print monographs, textbooks, and reference works and allow institutional, research, and professional users to access technical content through contemporary scholarly information channels.

• 2025

  Association with Routledge brandingStrategy

  Background

  CRC Press operates within Taylor & Francis, whose publishing portfolio includes the Routledge brand.

  Action taken

  The CRC Press brand is presented as part of the Routledge branding architecture.

  Aftermath

  The change signals closer brand integration while retaining CRC Press recognition in technical and scientific publishing.

  Source

• 2003

  Taylor & Francis acquisitionM&A

  Background

  CRC Press had passed through Times Mirror and Information Ventures before the acquisition.

  Action taken

  Taylor & Francis acquired CRC Press and added it to its academic publishing portfolio.

  Aftermath

  CRC Press became a key specialist imprint within Taylor & Francis and later within Informa’s wider publishing group.

  Source

• 1973

  Creation of the CRC Press identityStrategy

  Background

  The publishing business had been separated from the company’s laboratory-apparatus activities.

  Action taken

  The company changed its name to CRC Press, Inc., while the manufacturing line was spun off as the Lab Apparatus Company.

  Aftermath

  CRC Press became the enduring name for the technical publishing operation.

  Source

• 1964

  Shift toward publishingStrategy

  Background

  Chemical Rubber had operated across laboratory products and publishing, but its technical books and reference works had become an important part of the business.

  Action taken

  The company decided to focus on its publishing ventures.

  Aftermath

  The decision led toward the later separation of manufacturing activities and the establishment of CRC Press as the principal publishing identity.

  Source

1. 1CRC Pressen.wikipedia.org
2. 2CRC Press official websitecrcpress.com