Biography of Gerald Galison
A lifelong New Yorker, Gerald (Jerry) Galison was graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Colgate University and pursued an advanced degree at the Harvard Graduate School of International Studies. He served in the Air Force.
Jerry sold a successful chain of retail apparel stores in 1973. Long interested in art, he left the workplace for five years to sculpt.
In 1978 he started a small business, GMG Publishing--now known in the industry as Galison, to publish books in association with museums. In the early 80’s museums began to appreciate the potential of museum stores to generate revenue. And so, in 1982, he began to work with the National Gallery of Art and several other key museums to create paper products based on works from their collections.
In 1984 business expanded dramatically when Galison introduced note cards packaged in well-designed, carefully manufactured boxes that were nice enough to keep or be given as a gift. (Previously, the industry standard was a throwaway box useless when the cards were gone.)
Other museum-based products followed, such as jigsaw puzzles, journals, address books, calendars, recipe cards, books of days, and diaries. Though museums remained the focus, the company began to include projects with institutions such as the Nature Conservancy and the Sierra Club.
Mudpuppy, Galison's childrens division emphasizing well-designed educational non-electronic toys and games, was added in 1993 and the Holiday collection
in 1994.
The business has grown steadily since then. While museums remain an important part of Galison/Mudpuppy’s customer base, it has expanded to include upscale gift, stationery, book, and department stores. Exports are significant and international interest is growing.
Private label production has recently become an important part of the business. Cultural and other non-profit organization clients include the Metropolitan Museum of Art, BMFA, Unicef, Art Gallery of Ontario, the Cleveland Museum, the Metropolitan Opera, and Heifer International.
Retail customers for custom projects include Real Simple, Starbucks, Target, Anthropologie, Marriot Hotels, PepsiCola, Old Navy, Barnes and Noble, FedEx, American Eagle, and Pottery Barn Kids.
In March 2012, GMG Publishing was sold to the McEvoy Group, a San Francisco-based media company. Fellow group members include Chronicle Books, Princeton Architectural Press, and becker&meyer! The new company name is officially Galison Publishing LLC, doing business as Galison/Mudpuppy. Gerald Galison will continue to guide the company as Publisher and President.
Jerry is married with three children, each of whom has pursued diverse careers: Peter, Harvard professor and filmmaker, William, jazz musician, and Maria, entrepreneur.
|
