Stackpole Books is a trade book publisher with a proud, 90-year history of publishing titles in the categories of Outdoors, Crafts and Military History. Strong in Fly Fishing, Nature Guides, Civil War and World War II History, Military Reference and Specialty Crafts and Hobbies, we publish deep in our niche areas, releasing 60 new titles a year and maintaining a solid backlist of 1,500 titles. Stackpole has expanded into the world of eBooks while continuing to produce authoritative, high-quality hardcovers and trade paperbacks.

Founded in the late 1920s by the Stackpole family, the company grew under the leadership of three generations of Stackpoles. From the early days, Stackpole published books for the military services, including the Army Officer’s Guide which is still in print in an updated edition. In the 1930s Stackpole published a variety of subjects including fiction by Damon Runyon and John Fante and autobiographies by Benny Goodman and Huey Long.

In the 1950s Stackpole developed a strong emphasis in nonfiction, especially outdoor and history titles which continues to this day. Notable authors included Bradford Angier and E.J.Stackpole Jr. himself, both of whom continue to be published on the backlist. In the 1960s the company prospered under the leadership of Stackpole son-in-law Meade Detweiler with outdoor, military history and craft and hobby titles. The company acquired Samworth gun titles and expanded to distribute Arms & Armor Press and Outdoor Life Books. In 1980 Meade’s son, David Detweiler joined the company along with Judith Schnell and together they built upon Stackpole’s roots of publishing outdoor and how-to books. The company started two specialty magazines and developed books for this market, began the relationship with NOLS, and expanded the program to 100 new titles year. Well-known author and editor Jack Davis acquired Civil War titles, Chris Evans brought in WW II titles and Judith Schnell and Jay Nichols built Stackpole’s reputation as leading publisher of fly fishing and fly tying titles. In this period Stackpole published Ralph Peters, Don Troiani, Dave Hughes and Pete Dunne. Recently the company has expanded its craft and hobby line to include knitting, crochet, stained glass and cookbooks.

With Detweiler’s death in 2014, the family-owned company was acquired by Rowman & Littlefield and now continues the long tradition of publishing outdoor, military history and craft and hobby titles under the Globe Pequot division.

Underwater naturalist Keith Williams has spent the last 15 years exploring and documenting the life in freshwater rivers and streams. He has snorkeled with alligators in Florid springs, migrating salmon in Oregon rivers, giant shrimp in Latin America, and darters in Pennsylvania. He has snorkeled frozen Maine rivers in the middle of winter and world heritage sites in China. He shares the life he has seen, and the adventures he has experienced, in this engaging, entertaining presentation. Copies of his latest book Snorkeling Rivers and Streams an Aquatic Guide to Underwater Discovery and Adventure will be available for purchase and signing.

Keith Williams - Snorkeling Rivers & Streams

Join us for a talk by underwater naturalist Keith Williams to explore freshwater rivers and streams that contain some of the most stunning and fascinating life on the planet. The biological treasure hidden from view may range from fish that make thousand-mile spawning migrations to freshwater mussels who depend on fish as part of their reproductive cycle, so finely tuned female mussels create lures to attract the right species of fish. Yet we are losing that treasure faster than we are losing biodiversity from any other ecosystem.

Underwater naturalist Keith Williams has spent the last 15 years exploring and documenting the life in freshwater rivers and streams. He has snorkeled with alligators in Florid springs, migrating salmon in Oregon rivers, giant shrimp in Latin America, and darters in Pennsylvania. He has snorkeled frozen Maine rivers in the middle of winter and world heritage sites in China. He shares the life he has seen, and the adventures he has experienced, in this engaging, entertaining presentation.

Free and open to the public.

The Ware Center

Join Keith Williams discuss his experiences snorkeling, detailed in his book "Snorkeling Rivers and Streams." 

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