Corporate History

The beginnings of the Ingram family business can be traced to the 1930s and 1940s. O.H. "Hank" Ingram started out investing in the oil refining business in New Orleans, eventually transporting petroleum through southern river systems.

From there, the Ingram name branched into many different industries, including books, entertainment, computer products, and insurance. Ingram became half-owner of the Tennessee Book Company (a textbook depository for schools) and developed a revolutionary, microfiche-based ordering system for the book business. At that time, booksellers typically purchased books directly from a multitude of publishers. Delivery times were long (up to six weeks) and orders complicated. But Ingram's new ordering system and expansive stock allowed bookstores to order and receive books within a matter of days.

Ingram Book Group quickly grew its available inventory of 500 books, in the early 1970s, to become the largest wholesale distributor of book product in the United States.