DeVore & Sons

DeVore & Sons is a family-owned Bible publishing company based in Wichita, Kansas. The company specializes in producing and marketing Catholic and Protestant Bible editions, with a particular emphasis on large-format family Bibles, institutional distribution, and presentation-oriented editions. Its customers include Catholic parishes, schools, fraternal organizations, labor unions, and other institutions that purchase Bibles for congregational, educational, ceremonial, or commemorative use. The business began in 1948, when Floyd DeVore acquired John A. Hertel, a Chicago-based Bible publisher. This transaction established the DeVore family's presence in the specialized religious-publishing market. In 1968, the company moved from Chicago to Wichita, where it has remained based. DeVore & Sons continues to operate as a family business, and Ross DeVore is identified as the fourth generation of the DeVore family to lead it. The company markets its publications through two principal brands: Fireside Catholic Publishing and Heirloom Bible Publishers. Fireside focuses primarily on Catholic editions, including New American Bible, Douay-Rheims, and Spanish-language Sagrada Bible products. Heirloom publishes both Catholic and Protestant editions, including New American Bible, Douay-Rheims, and King James Version translations. Many of the Heirloom products are family Bibles in substantial presentation formats, reflecting the company's historic focus on institutional and household use rather than mass-market study-Bible publishing alone. Fireside has a notable place in the history of the New American Bible in the United States. In 1970, it was one of the original licensees authorized to publish the Catholic New American Bible text, and a Fireside edition was described as the first New American Bible edition to come off the press. The company subsequently developed a significant business supplying English Catholic family Bibles to parishes and schools. Catholic churches and schools have remained a central part of its customer base. The company has also addressed distinct religious and linguistic audiences. Its Douay-Rheims editions serve traditional Catholic readers, while its Sagrada Bible line serves Spanish-speaking customers. In 2004, Fireside announced a Catholic youth Bible, entering a segment in which Saint Mary's Press already had an established product. Saint Mary's Press brought a trademark-infringement action related to the competing title, but the challenge did not prevent Fireside from continuing to publish the Fireside Catholic Youth Bible. DeVore & Sons is therefore best understood as a specialized, institutionally oriented religious publisher rather than a general trade publishing house. Its business is organized around durable Bible editions, denominational and translation-specific offerings, and distribution relationships with churches, schools, and other organizations. Publicly available reference material does not provide detailed financial information, a complete executive roster, or a current corporate website, so those details remain unspecified here.

DeVore & Sons traces its origins to 1948, when Floyd DeVore purchased John A. Hertel, a Chicago-based Bible publisher. The acquisition formed the foundation of a family-owned company devoted to specialized Bible publishing. Rather than operating as a broad commercial publisher, DeVore & Sons developed around religious editions intended for churches, schools, families, and other institutions. The company relocated from Chicago to Wichita in 1968. Wichita has remained its base since that move. The relocation was an important organizational milestone because the business established its long-term operating identity in Kansas while continuing to serve customers connected to Catholic and Protestant institutions. The company has remained under DeVore family leadership; Ross DeVore is described as the fourth generation of the family to lead the business. DeVore & Sons operates its publishing activity through the Fireside Catholic Publishing and Heirloom Bible Publishers brands. Fireside is centered on Catholic products, while Heirloom covers both Catholic and Protestant Bible editions. Their catalogues include several established translations and formats, including the New American Bible, Douay-Rheims, King James Version, and Spanish-language Sagrada editions. The product mix reflects the company's focus on durable family and presentation Bibles as well as editions suited to institutional purchasing. Fireside became particularly associated with the New American Bible. In 1970, it was one of the original licensees of the Catholic New American Bible text. A Fireside edition was identified as the first New American Bible edition to be printed, giving the company an early role in the commercial publication of a translation that later became widely used by Catholics in the United States. Fireside subsequently built a substantial business in English Catholic family Bibles sold through Catholic parishes and schools. The company has also maintained a traditional Catholic publishing strand through its Douay-Rheims editions and has addressed Spanish-speaking readers through Sagrada Bibles. Its Heirloom brand extends beyond Catholic publishing, offering King James Version products for Protestant customers alongside Catholic translations. Large family Bible formats and presentation editions remain central to the identity of the Heirloom catalogue. In 2004, Fireside entered the Catholic youth Bible market with the Fireside Catholic Youth Bible. Saint Mary's Press, whose Catholic Youth Bible had been available since 1999, brought a trademark-infringement action against Fireside Publishing. The legal challenge was unsuccessful, and Fireside was able to continue publishing its youth Bible. This episode illustrates the company's willingness to extend its established Bible-publishing expertise into a more targeted audience segment. Public reference material characterizes DeVore & Sons as a continuing family business with a customer base led by Catholic churches and schools, supplemented by other institutional buyers such as fraternal lodges and labor unions. Detailed current financial results, employee numbers, ownership percentages, and a comprehensive leadership history are not available in the supplied sources.

• 2004

  Fireside enters the Catholic youth Bible segment

  [1]DeVore & Sonsen.wikipedia.org

  Fireside announced the Fireside Catholic Youth Bible, expanding its catalogue beyond family and institutional editions.

• 1970

  Fireside publishes an early New American Bible edition

  [1]DeVore & Sonsen.wikipedia.org

  Fireside was one of the original licensees of the Catholic New American Bible text and published the edition described as the first New American Bible off the press.

• 1968

  Company relocates to Wichita

  [1]DeVore & Sonsen.wikipedia.org

  DeVore & Sons moved from Chicago to Wichita, Kansas, which has remained the company's base.

• 1948

  Floyd DeVore acquires John A. Hertel

  [1]DeVore & Sonsen.wikipedia.org

  Floyd DeVore purchased the Chicago-based Bible publisher John A. Hertel, establishing the business that became DeVore & Sons.

A specialist, family-owned religious publisher focused on Catholic and Protestant Bible editions, especially large-format family Bibles and institutional sales to churches, schools, and affiliated organizations.

• Catholic Bible · 1970

  Fireside New American Bible

  Fireside's New American Bible editions are Catholic Bible publications aimed especially at parishes, schools, and families. Fireside was among the original licensees of the Catholic New American Bible text in 1970, and its edition was described as the first New American Bible to be printed. The line helped establish Fireside as a significant publisher of English Catholic family Bibles in the United States.

• Catholic youth Bible · 2004

  Fireside Catholic Youth Bible

  The Fireside Catholic Youth Bible was introduced as a youth-oriented Catholic Bible product. It represented Fireside's move into a segment already served by Saint Mary's Press. A trademark-infringement action brought by Saint Mary's Press did not prevent Fireside from continuing to publish the title.

• Catholic Bible

  Fireside Douay-Rheims Bibles

  Fireside's Douay-Rheims editions serve readers seeking a traditional Catholic English Bible translation. They form part of the company's broader Catholic catalogue alongside New American Bible and Spanish-language Sagrada products, and are offered in formats suitable for personal, family, and institutional use.

• Spanish-language Catholic Bible

  Fireside Sagrada Bibles

  The Sagrada Bible range addresses Spanish-speaking Catholic readers. It extends Fireside's religious publishing portfolio beyond English-language editions and reflects the company's focus on serving distinct Catholic communities through translation-specific products.

• Family and presentation Bible

  Heirloom Family Bibles

  Heirloom Family Bibles are large-format presentation-oriented editions intended for household, ceremonial, and institutional use. The brand publishes both Catholic and Protestant products, including editions based on the New American Bible, Douay-Rheims, and King James Version translations.

• Protestant Bible

  Heirloom King James Version Bibles

  Heirloom's King James Version editions serve Protestant Bible readers and complement the brand's Catholic offerings. They are associated with the company's family-Bible and presentation-format publishing model rather than with a general trade-book catalogue.

• 2004

  Launch of the Fireside Catholic Youth BibleProduct launch

  Background

  Fireside entered the Catholic youth Bible segment after Saint Mary's Press had established a competing title in 1999.

  Action taken

  Fireside announced and proceeded with publication of the Fireside Catholic Youth Bible.

  Aftermath

  Saint Mary's Press pursued a trademark-infringement action, but the challenge was unsuccessful and Fireside continued publishing the product.

  • Saint Mary's Press — Saint Mary's Press brought a trademark-infringement lawsuit related to the competing Catholic youth Bible.

  Source

1. 1DeVore & Sonsen.wikipedia.org