Celebrating 30 Years!
In 2024 Modern Memoirs, Inc. is marking several significant milestones, including the 30th anniversary of our company’s founding by retired president Kitty Axelson-Berry in 1994.
Watch this page for special ways that we are marking this anniversary and others as the year unfolds, and stay tuned for information about new products we are developing to help you mark milestones in your life, too.
MODERN MEMOIRS TIMELINE
This Modern Memoirs timeline presents the history of our full-service private publishing company since its founding in 1994. The business began with the bold vision of founder Kitty Axelson-Berry, whose work documenting her own mother's life story inspired her to help others create and share their memoirs and family histories as heirloom-quality books. Thirty years later, and five years since her retirement, Kitty's passion and expertise carry on in our growing team of devoted, creative, and sensitive publishing professionals. Together we have helped hundreds of writers publish books of all kinds, while maintaining a specialization in memoirs and family histories. Read on to see how we have expanded our range of products and services year after year, dedicated to the principle that everyone has a story worth telling, and grounded by an enduring love of books.
30 Years of Client Testimonials
Distinctive Designs Over 30 Years
A sampler of Commissioned (as-told-to) Memoirs by Modern Memoirs, from new to old
Commissioned by Harry Bookey
Commissioned by Mercer Reynolds
Commissioned by Mary Albert
Commissioned by Brooks Bradford, Sr.
Commissioned by Kitty Axelson-Berry
Commissioned by Isaac Erlich
Commissioned by Rhoda Mayerson
Commissioned by Helen Weaver and Charles Drake
Commissioned by Stanley R. Clemens
Commissioned by Liane Lunny
Commissioned by Robert and Barbara Hallam
Commissioned by Linda Peters
Commissioned by John M. Maki
Commissioned by Rusky and Rose Sun
Commissioned by Irwin Rose
Commissioned by Bob Dunsirn
Commissioned by Richard Atler
Commissioned by Kitty Axelson-Berry
A sampler of poetry and art books by Modern Memoirs, from new to old
Art book by Janet Tribus
Poetry book by Lawrence Kohn
Writing by Paul Jensen
Poetry book by Marian Leibold
Poetry book by James Heffernan
Poetry book by Eliza Gouverneur
Writing, poetry, photography, and art by Lydia Cartwright Rosen
Art and poetry by June Shatken and Tamar Stern
Commissioned by Bruce Brownstein
Poetry book by Mary Janson Leslie
Poetry book by Herbert Lerner
Art book by Janet Tribus
Photography book by Stephen Rostand
Poetry book by Nina Wood
A sampler of family history and genealogy books by Modern Memoirs, from new to old
by David B. Dearinger
Commissioned by Mercer Reynolds
by Stephen Rostand
by Patrick Winburn
by Chester G. Fenton
by David Workman
by Anthony La Bella
by Inge Staton and Ofelia Luz De Villa
by Joyce Bowden
by Joyce B. and Paul Gary Phillips
by Paul Cushman
by Ben Golub, published by Devora Publishing
By Edward B. Bynum
by Roderick Ard Nixon
A sampler of early, handbound Modern Memoirs books
A sampler of books created by the non-profit organization The American Tribute Center, co-founded by Kitty Axelson-Berry. The ATC created life-story tributes in honor of victims of the 9-11 attacks through interviews with the victims’ families, who received the books gratis.
Painting the U.S. Map Purple: Locations of Modern Memoirs’ U.S. Authors, 1994–present
Modern Memoirs is pleased to show our geographic reach in the United States, represented by the purple states on the map below, which we first shared on our social media platforms in January 2024. During our 30th anniversary year, we are especially eager to work with authors from those states we haven't yet reached, which appear in yellow on the map. If you or a writer you know resides in one of those places, we hope you will contact us today as we envision painting this entire map purple.
Modern Memoirs Goes Global: Locations of Modern Memoirs’ International Clients, 1994–present
Modern Memoirs is pleased to show our global reach through this infographic, shared on our social media platforms in February 2024. We are proud to have worked with clients based in 9 different countries (and 5 continents, including our US-based clients in North America) throughout our 30-year history. We are eager to expand our reach by helping more writers around the world publish their books and would be especially delighted to work with Australian authors in this special anniversary year.
Our greeting Card Gallery 1994—present
We are pleased to share this visual archive of greeting cards Modern Memoirs has sent out over the years, including many of our biannual solstice cards. Dating back to 1994, the practice of sending out winter and summer solstice greetings began with our founder, Kitty Axelson-Berry, and it remains a cherished tradition today. In addition to those special cards, you'll also find examples of mailings we created to highlight important milestones in our company’s history, such as the transition to new ownership and our moves into new offices.
“GROW” by Judith Ellen Sanders
Photography by Stephen Petegorsky
The Four Elements by Judith Ellen Sanders
Photography by Stephen Petegorsky
Meadow (Smoky Mountains) and shooting star wildflowers (Pinnacles, CA) by Ken Walden Photograph.
Photography by Ken Walden
Image includes die-cut logo test from printer and die-cut business card
(stock image)
Designed by Candace Bradbury-Carlin
Designed by Vinsula Hastings, Image by Susulyka
Victoria Regia Floating by Ellen Grobman
Solstice Kiss by Vinsula Hastings
Photography by Violet Guidera
illustration by David MacManus
Illustration by David MacManus
Illustration by Hannah Ellingwood
Illustration by Hannah Ellingwood
painting by former client Janet Tribus
Art by Lydia Carter Rosen
Photography by Stephen G. Rostand
Design by Nicole Miller
Design by Nicole Miller