The American Magazine began in 1876 as Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly. It was renamed Leslie's Monthly Magazine in 1904, and the following year was known both as Leslie's Magazine and The American Illustrated Magazine. After being purchased in 1906 by a consortium headed by John S. Phillips it was renamed The American Magazine and given a significant revamping. Its new publisher retained a link with the former magazine, however, by contining the volume and issue numbering (this system remained in place for the magazine's entire life span).
In 1911 The American Magazine was acquired by the Crowell Publishing Company. Phillips continued on as editor until 1915. One of the biggest changes made during the immediate post-Phillips era was an expansion into the female readership market. The editors to succeed Phillips were: John M. Siddall (1915-1923), Merle Crowell (1923-1929), and Sumner Blossom (1929-1956). Fictional serials and short stories were a popular feature, and the magazine published several winners of the O. Henry Awards. High-profile writers contributed articles on a variety of topics. Between 1934 and its demise in 1956 the magazine was Crowell-Collier.
Among the authors to have their works published were: Ellis Parker Butler, Clarence Budington Kelland and James Francis Dwyer.
