Sadlier and Co. was one of several publishing houses owned by Irish Americans that began to sell books to immigrants and their children during the 19th century. Who were these publishers and who were their readers? Dr. Eileen Sullivan, who teaches political science at Rutgers University, discusses the publishers’ lists, customers, distribution systems, and profits as well as their role in forging an Irish American community in this formative period. This publishing company began in 1832 when two brothers, Denis and James Sadlier, emigrated from Dublin to New York and began to publish materials to meet the spiritual and educational needs of the small but rapidly growing Catholic community. Under the name D & J Sadlier, they published devotional works and a weekly Catholic newspaper, The Tablet. Writing as Mrs. J. Sadlier, Mary Anne Sadlier translated many religious books from French and wrote over sixty inspirational novels for which she received the Laetare Medal and a special blessing from Pope Leo XIII. William H. Sadlier joined his uncles in the publishing business and founded his own company which was carried on by his young widow, Annie, and later, their son, Frank. The company still bears William’s name and remains a family business that specializes in catechetical and educational publications.