Ada Patterson (5 July 1867 – 26 June 1939) was an American print journalist.[1]
Patterson was born in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, and received her education at Franklin Academy in Franklin, Nebraska.[2]
Patterson wrote for the St. Louis Republican, where she was dubbed "the Nellie Bly of the West".[3] She also wrote for the Salt Lake Herald, the San Francisco Call, and the New York American.[2] For several years, Patterson also wrote a column in Theatre Magazine, which she signed as "The Lady with the Lorgnette".[2]
Patterson covered a number of notable murder trials, including those of Anne Madison Bradley (charged with the murder of Utah Senator Arthur Brown) and Charles Becker.[2] Patterson covered the trial of Harry Kendall Thaw along with three other women (Winifred Black, Dorothy Dix, Nixola Greeley-Smith) and together, they were given the dismissive nickname of the "sob sisters." The phrase became a term of derision for other female journalists, who were believed to be overly emotional or compassionate.[4]
Patterson wrote a biography of Maude Adams By the Stage Door and co-wrote a Broadway play, Love's Lightning, with Robert Edeson.
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