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The Boston Post
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The Boston Post was a daily newspaper in New England for over a hundred years before its final shutdown in 1956. The Post was founded in November 1831 by two prominent Boston businessmen, Charles G. Greene and William Beals.[1][2]
Key Information
Edwin Grozier bought the paper in 1891. Within two decades, he had built it into easily the largest paper in Boston and New England. Grozier suffered a total physical breakdown in 1920, and turned over day-to-day control of the Post to his son, Richard. Upon Edwin's death in 1924, Richard inherited the paper. Under the younger Grozier, The Boston Post grew into one of the largest newspapers in the country. At its height in the 1930s, it had a circulation of well over a million readers. At the same time, Richard Grozier suffered an emotional breakdown from the death of his wife in childbirth from which he never recovered.
Throughout the 1940s, facing increasing competition from the Hearst-run papers in Boston and New York and from radio and television news, the paper began a decline from which it never recovered.
When it ceased publishing in October 1956, its daily circulation was 230,000.[3]
Former contributors
[edit]- Olin Downes, music critic.[4]
- Richard Frothingham Jr., a Massachusetts historian, journalist, and politician who was a proprietor and managing editor of The Boston Post.
- Frederick E. Goodrich, journalist and political figure who worked for the Post for 54 years, including a five years as editor-in-chief.[5]
- Robert F. Kennedy, U.S. Attorney General and U.S. Senator; correspondent for The Boston Post in 1948, 1951[6][7]
- Bernard G Richards
- Kenneth Roberts
- Olga Van Slyke Owens Huckins, literary editor, 1941–1954.[8] Huckins letter to Rachel Carson inspired the book Silent Spring.[9][10]
- Newton Newkirk was hired by the Post in 1901 and produced the Bingfield Bugleville comic strip that lent its name to Bing Crosby
"Sunday Magazine" supplement
[edit],_1912.jpg)
From 1904 through 1916, "Sunday Magazine" was a regular syndicated supplement to Sunday editions of newspapers in various cities across the United States, including The Boston Post, The Philadelphia Press, New-York Tribune, Chicago Tribune, St. Louis Republic, Detroit Free Press, and Minneapolis Journal.[11] The supplement in Boston was initially titled "Sunday Magazine of the Boston Sunday Post"; later, as "Boston Sunday Post Sunday Magazine". The regular 20-page periodical has a magazine-like format that is essentially identical to the versions that accompanied other major newspapers in the early 1900s, featuring the same cover illustration, articles, short stories, serials, and advertisements.[11][12]
Pulitzer Prizes
[edit]- 1921 – Meritorious Public Service. The Boston Post was awarded the Pulitzer prize for its investigation and exposure of Charles Ponzi's financial fraud. Ponzi was first exposed by the investigative work directed by Richard Grozier, then acting publisher, and Edward Dunn, long time city editor, after complaints by Bostonians that the returns Ponzi offered were "too good to be true". It was the first time that a Boston paper had won a Pulitzer, and was the last Pulitzer for public service awarded to a Boston paper until the Globe won it in 2003.[13]
Boston Post Cane tradition
[edit]In 1909, under the ownership of Edwin Grozier, The Boston Post engaged in its most famous publicity stunt. The paper had 700 ornate, ebony-shafted, gold-capped canes made and contacted the selectmen in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island towns. The Boston Post Canes were given to the selectmen with the request that the canes be presented in a ceremony to the town's oldest living man. The custom was expanded to include a community's oldest women in 1930. More than 500 towns in New England still carry on the Boston Post Cane tradition with the original canes they were awarded in 1909.[14]
Usage
[edit]According to H. W. Fowler, the first recorded instance of the term O. K. was made in the Boston Morning Post of 1839.[15]
See also
[edit]Image gallery
[edit]-
"Sunday Magazine of the Boston Sunday Post" (September 18, 1910) -
The Boston Post Building, 15–17 Milk Street, Boston, Massachusetts -
"Boston Sunday Post Sunday Magazine" (July 5, 1914)
References
[edit]- ^ Chisholm, Hugh (1911). . In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 19 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 544–581, see page 567, para seven.
Among modern Boston papers the most important are....and Post (1831).
- ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 4 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 292–293, see page 293, last line.
Among the city's daily newspapers.....and the Post (1831) are the most important.
- ^ "Former Boston Post publisher died obscure and penniless". The Lewiston Daily Sun. Associated Press. January 24, 1985. p. 3.
- ^ Tommasini, Anthony (December 28, 2001), "Edward Downes, 90, Opera Quizmaster", The New York Times, New York, NY
- ^ "For 54 Years on The Boston Post". The Boston Globe. January 12, 1925.
- ^ "Robert F. Kennedy: A Brief Biography | RFK Human Rights".
- ^ "Attorney General: Robert Francis Kennedy". October 23, 2014.
- ^ Special to The New York Times (July 13, 1968), "Olga Huckins, Ex-Editor At Boston Transcript, 67", New York Times, New York, NY, p. 27
- ^ Matthiessen, Peter (2007), Courage for the Earth: Writers, Scientists, and Activists Celebrate the Life and Writing of Rachel Carson, Boston, MA; New York, NY: Mariner Books, p. 135, ISBN 978-0-618-87276-3
- ^ Himaras, Eleni (May 26, 2007), Rachel's Legacy – Rachel Carson's groundbreaking 'Silent Spring' was inspired by Duxbury woman, Quincy, MA: The Patriot Ledger
- ^ a b To see 1912 covers of Sunday Magazine in various cities, refer to the gallery of images at Internet Archive (San Francisco, California). Further searches of other years from 1904 through 1916 at the same site provide many other cover examples of this supplement. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
- ^ The full contents of the August 20, 1905 and February 25, 1912 issues of the Sunday Magazine Of the Boston Sunday Post are also available for viewing at the Internet Archive. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
- ^ Ponzi's Scheme, Mitchell Zukoff.
- ^ "The Boston Post Cane Information Center - News and History of a New England Tradition". web.maynard.ma.us. Archived from the original on September 2, 2011. Retrieved April 14, 2010.
- ^ H W Fowler, A Dictionary of Modern English Usage (Oxford 1965) p. 413
External links
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Boston Post.
- "The Boston Post Cane" Information Center. Archived September 2, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
The Boston Post
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History
Founding and Early Years
The Boston Post was founded on November 9, 1831, by Boston businessmen Charles Gordon Greene and William Beals as the Boston Morning Post, a daily newspaper with initial offices located at 19-21 Water Street in the city's commercial district.[6][1] Greene, a staunch Jacksonian Democrat and experienced journalist, partnered with Beals, a merchant, to launch the venture amid a landscape dominated by Whig-aligned publications like the Daily Advertiser and Columbian Centinel. The paper aimed to provide an alternative voice for working-class and Democratic interests in Boston, a hub of Federalist and Whig influence. It absorbed the Boston Statesman, establishing itself as a key Democratic-leaning publication.[7] From its inception, the Boston Morning Post emphasized local news, political commentary, and commercial reports to appeal to merchants, laborers, and urban readers. Priced affordably at around four cents per single issue—lower than many competitors at six cents—it incorporated serialized fiction and light features to broaden its audience beyond elite subscribers. The paper's editorials often championed Jacksonian policies, such as opposition to the Second Bank of the United States, while critiquing Whig economic orthodoxy. In its early years, the newspaper covered pivotal local events that highlighted Boston's social tensions, including the 1837 Broad Street Riot, a violent clash between Yankee firefighters and Irish immigrants that underscored ethnic divisions in the growing city. Editorials also addressed anti-Masonic sentiments prevalent in the 1830s, reflecting broader national debates over secret societies following the 1826 disappearance of William Morgan. By 1836, the publication had solidified its daily format and transitioned to the simpler name The Boston Post, marking its evolution into a stable fixture of Boston's press amid increasing competition. Ownership remained with Greene and Beals through the decade, laying the groundwork for later expansions under subsequent leaders like Edwin Grozier.[8]Growth and Peak Under Grozier
In 1891, Edwin A. Grozier, a former aide to Joseph Pulitzer, acquired controlling interest in the struggling Boston Post, aiming to make it "the greatest breakfast table paper of New England."[9] Under his leadership, the paper adopted elements of sensationalist "yellow journalism," including bold headlines and dramatic reporting on scandals, which helped revitalize its appeal and draw in a broader readership.[10] This shift marked a departure from its earlier conservative tone, emphasizing aggressive news coverage to compete in Boston's crowded media landscape. Grozier's strategies propelled the Post to extraordinary growth, with circulation rising from fewer than 30,000 copies daily in 1891 to over 600,000 by 1919, establishing it as the largest broadsheet newspaper in the United States at its peak.[9] The paper expanded distribution across Massachusetts and into neighboring New England states through innovative promotions, such as the 1909 Boston Post Cane giveaway to 700 towns, which boosted subscriptions by tying the newspaper to local traditions.[2] It also catered to specific communities with targeted content, including special editions addressing Irish-American interests and labor concerns, reflecting Grozier's pro-labor editorial stance that resonated with Boston's working-class demographics.[11] Coverage of high-profile events, like the 1919 Black Sox scandal, exemplified the Post's sensational approach, drawing national attention and further increasing its influence.[12] Technological advancements enhanced the Post's visual appeal during the 1920s, including the adoption of rotogravure printing for higher-quality photo reproductions in supplements, which helped sustain reader engagement amid rising competition.[13] Edwin Grozier's death on May 9, 1924, at age 64, came suddenly after a day of writing editorials, leaving the newspaper to his son, Richard Grozier.[14] Richard maintained the paper's pro-labor and anti-corruption positions through the Great Depression, continuing exposés on political graft and supporting workers' rights, which preserved its status as a leading morning daily into the 1930s.[12][15]Decline and Closure
Following the death of longtime publisher Richard Grozier in 1946, The Boston Post entered a period of instability and decline, lacking the firm leadership that had previously sustained its operations. Under interim management by editors with a strong sentimental attachment to the paper's traditional style, the newspaper failed to innovate or produce major scoops, contributing to its eroding market position.[16] By the mid-1950s, the Post faced acute financial pressures, including weekly losses of $12,000 and disadvantages in advertising rates compared to competitors offering bundled discounts. Its daily circulation had dwindled to 306,383 amid broader industry challenges, such as rising production costs from postwar inflation and wage hikes, as well as competition from television and magazines that siphoned away ad lineage.[16][17] In 1952, self-made tycoon John Fox acquired the newspaper for approximately $3.1 million (some reports cite $6 million), aiming to leverage it as a platform for his anti-communist views and financial commentary. Despite efforts to revitalize the publication through new ownership and editorial adjustments, the Post could not reverse its fortunes amid ongoing revenue shortfalls and operational inefficiencies.[16][18][19] The newspaper published its final issue on October 4, 1956, marking the end of its 125-year run as Boston's last independent afternoon daily. Its assets, including the extensive photo morgue, were subsequently sold to The Boston Globe, reflecting the wave of consolidations sweeping the U.S. newspaper industry in the 1950s, where smaller papers struggled against economies of scale and media fragmentation. This closure underscored the vulnerabilities of afternoon editions in urban markets, contributing to a more concentrated media landscape in Boston.[16][20][17][1]Publishing and Operations
Ownership and Key Editors
The Boston Post was founded on November 9, 1831, by Boston businessmen Charles Gordon Greene and William Beals, with Greene serving as the initial editor and proprietor.[1] Greene, a Jacksonian Democrat, shaped the paper's early tone through satirical and humorous content, including the 1839 invention of the abbreviation "O.K." as a playful misspelling of "oll korrect."[21] He remained editor and a key proprietor into the mid-19th century, guiding the Post as a Democratic-leaning publication that emphasized accessible, entertaining journalism for a broad readership.[7] By the mid-19th century, ownership and editorial leadership began to evolve amid changing political landscapes. The paper maintained strong Democratic affiliations during this period, reflecting the partisan press era.[22] Greene continued as a central figure until his death in 1886, after which the paper faced financial challenges, leading to its near-bankruptcy by the 1890s.[23] The Grozier family assumed dominance in 1891 when Edwin Atkins Grozier, a former editor at Joseph Pulitzer's New York World, acquired controlling interest in the struggling paper.[3] Under Grozier's ownership as editor and publisher, the Post emphasized populist themes, innovative promotions, and expanded coverage to revive circulation from under 3,000 to over 200,000 by the early 1900s.[16] He led the paper until his death in 1924, during which time the Post Publishing Company was formally established in 1904 to manage operations.[24] Edwin's son, Richard Grozier, inherited ownership in 1924 and served as editor and publisher until his death in 1946, maintaining the paper's anti-establishment editorial voice amid growing competition from other Boston dailies.[25] Following a period of financial strain, John Fox purchased the Post in 1952 for $6 million, attempting operational reforms to stem losses from declining advertising and circulation.[18] However, persistent debts led Fox to file for bankruptcy in 1956, resulting in the paper's closure on October 4 after 125 years; its assets, including real estate, machinery, and equipment, were liquidated via court-ordered auction the following year.[26] Key editors beyond the owners included Frederick E. Goodrich, who joined in the 1870s and contributed for 54 years, eventually serving as editor-in-chief for five years and focusing on political reporting that aligned with the paper's evolving stances.[22] Eugene Gordon, an African American journalist, started as a staff writer post-World War I and rose to assistant feature editor by 1919, handling investigative pieces on social issues before leaving in the late 1920s.[27] These figures influenced the Post's direction, with owners' preferences often dictating its populist and partisan editorial style.[3]Format, Circulation, and Facilities
The Boston Post was established as a morning broadsheet newspaper in 1831, initially titled the Boston Daily Morning Post, and maintained this standard-sized format throughout its history, distinguishing it from emerging tabloid competitors. By 1839, it had adopted an eight-column layout, a design innovation that allowed for prominent multi-column headlines and contributed to its nickname as "New England’s Great Breakfast Table paper." This format emphasized comprehensive coverage with an average of 18 pages per issue by the early 20th century, including front-page editorials, society sections, and feature stories, while Sunday editions incorporated additional humor and illustrated supplements. The paper's reliance on this traditional broadsheet style persisted even as technological advancements like linotype machines were introduced in the 1890s, enabling faster typesetting and supporting its expansion into a high-volume daily production.[12] Circulation grew steadily from modest beginnings, reaching approximately 20,000 daily subscribers by 1891 as the paper solidified its morning delivery focus and extended distribution across New England via rail networks to over 100 towns. By the early 1900s, under Edwin A. Grozier's leadership, it surpassed 200,000 copies daily in 1913, driven by sensational stories and promotional campaigns, and peaked at 674,490 in 1928, making it the largest morning paper in the region and one of the nation's leading standard-sized dailies with over 600,000 subscribers. In the 1930s, circulation hovered around 500,000 to 600,000, reflecting its broad appeal to local businesses and households, though it began declining post-World War II due to competition from radio and television, falling to over 300,000 by 1948 and approximately 230,000 by its closure in 1956. This wide reach was facilitated by rail distribution, which allowed bundled copies to reach remote New England communities efficiently, underscoring the paper's role as a regional powerhouse.[12][28][29] The newspaper's facilities were centered on Boston's Newspaper Row along Washington Street, comprising a labyrinthine complex of six interconnected buildings acquired and expanded in the early 20th century, including the former Herald structure purchased in 1906. This "rabbit warren" setup featured a third-floor city room for editorial operations, cramped hallways with wire services like the Associated Press, and massive printing presses housed in five-to-six-story-deep subterranean cellars that extended to bedrock, equipped with water pumps to combat tidal flooding. To meet rising demand, Grozier invested in additional underground presses and conveyor systems for paper handling, while maintaining backup facilities elsewhere in the city for emergency printing; newsprint arrived via specialized trucks through narrow Pi Alley. As circulation waned in the 1940s and 1950s, the paper shifted to smaller, less elaborate sites, reflecting operational downsizing before its eventual closure. Advertising formed the backbone of revenue, with early reliance on local display and classified ads for liquor, consumer goods, and services—such as medical remedies and business schools—accounting for a significant portion of income, though the Post later neglected classifieds amid space shortages and rate reductions during World War II, contributing to financial strain as competitors captured ad dollars from emerging media. Technological adaptations included the adoption of linotype machines by the 1890s for streamlined production and limited color printing in 1940s supplements to enhance visual appeal, though the paper lagged in broader innovations like television-era integrations compared to rivals.[12][2]Content and Features
Editorial Style and Coverage
The Boston Post, established in 1831 by Charles G. Greene, initially embraced a pro-Democratic editorial stance with an anti-elite tone, characterized by humorous and satirical editorials that lampooned political and social establishments.[30][31] Greene's sharp wit, evident in pieces like the 1839 satirical invention of "O.K." as slang for "oll korrect," infused the paper's commentary with populist irreverence aimed at challenging Whig dominance and elite interests during the Jacksonian era.[30][32] Under Edwin A. Grozier, who acquired controlling interest in 1891 after working under Joseph Pulitzer in New York, the Post shifted toward independent populism, broadening its appeal to working-class readers through advocacy for social reforms like labor rights and women's suffrage while maintaining a focus on accessible, issue-driven journalism.[12][5] This evolution positioned the paper as a leading voice in New England, emphasizing comprehensive coverage over partisan rigidity. The Post's signature reporting highlighted labor struggles, political corruption, and local scandals, often via extended investigative series that exposed systemic abuses. For instance, its detailed accounts of the 1912 Lawrence Textile Strike captured the workers' demands for fair wages and conditions amid the "Bread and Roses" campaign, reflecting the paper's pro-labor sympathies.[33] Similar scrutiny targeted graft in city government and financial schemes, underscoring a commitment to public accountability. Sports and entertainment received prominent emphasis, with the Post providing consistent coverage of the Boston Red Sox starting from the franchise's inaugural 1903 season, including vivid play-by-play reports of early World Series games that captured the city's baseball fervor.[34] After the 1920s, the paper steered away from overt sensationalism—despite earlier flirtations with dramatic fictional serializations like the 1898 adaptation of H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds—while preserving bold, attention-grabbing headlines to engage readers on crime and urban life.[35][36] Politically, the Post offered endorsements aligned with Democratic priorities, notably backing Franklin D. Roosevelt during the 1930s amid the Great Depression, as seen in its supportive coverage of his 1932 campaign in a traditionally Republican-leaning Massachusetts.[37] Earlier critiques of Calvin Coolidge's policies, including his handling of labor issues like the 1919 Boston Police Strike, highlighted the paper's independent streak, though it occasionally praised aspects of his administration.[38] By the 1940s, the Post's reporting evolved toward greater balance on national issues, yet it faced criticism for initial isolationist leanings in World War II coverage, reflecting broader Democratic hesitations before full U.S. entry into the conflict.[39] This period marked a transition from fiery populism to more measured analysis, though the paper retained its core focus on local and labor concerns.Sunday Magazine Supplement
The Sunday Magazine Supplement of The Boston Post debuted around 1904 as a syndicated weekly insert produced by the Associated Sunday Magazines, aimed at enhancing reader engagement with the newspaper's Sunday edition through diverse entertainment content. Launched in December 1903 by publisher Joseph Palmer Knapp, the supplement was initially distributed to nine independent newspapers across the Northeast, Midatlantic, and Midwest, including The Boston Post from its initial launch, reaching a combined circulation of approximately 1.5 million copies.[40] Under the ownership of Edwin A. Grozier, who acquired the Post in 1891 and led its expansion into one of New England's largest dailies, the supplement gained prominence as a key feature, often incorporating holiday-themed specials to drive additional sales during peak seasons.[41] The supplement's content evolved to include serialized fiction, such as H. Rider Haggard's adventure tale Red Eve in 1910, alongside short stories, humor columns, and comics that appealed to a broad family audience.[42] Women's pages offered practical advice on fashion, home management, and domestic trends, while early photo essays provided visual storytelling on contemporary topics, all drawn from national syndicates to maintain consistent quality.[40] By the 1910s, it had adopted a 20-page magazine format with illustrated covers, exemplified by artist T.K. Hanna's colorful designs like the 1912 "Unlucky 13" depiction of superstitious figures.[43] This mix of syndicated material from providers like Associated Sunday Magazines helped elevate the Post's Sunday circulation, which peaked at over 1,000,000 during the 1920s and 1930s during the later Grozier era.[40] As national syndication waned after World War I—with Associated Sunday Magazines folding by 1918—the Post transitioned to in-house production, sustaining the supplement's role in featuring emerging authors' works, including mystery tales by Jacques Futrelle in the early 1900s.[40][44] However, rising production costs amid postwar economic shifts and the Post's overall decline contributed to a simplification of the Sunday edition by the mid-20th century, with the full magazine supplement phasing out around 1950 in favor of a more streamlined format.[41] The feature's cultural impact lay in its promotion of accessible literature and visual arts, introducing readers to influential creators and traditions that reflected early 20th-century American popular culture.Notable Contributors
Olin Downes served as the music critic for The Boston Post from 1906 to 1924, beginning his career at the newspaper at age 20.[45] During this period, he covered significant events for the Boston Symphony Orchestra, including welcoming conductor Pierre Monteux in his writings for the paper in 1919 and reviewing premieres such as Ernest Bloch's Schelomo in 1916.[46][47] Downes' tenure at the Post established him as a prominent voice in American music criticism before his move to The New York Times.[48] Richard Frothingham Jr., a historian and politician, contributed articles to The Boston Post in its early decades and later became a proprietor and managing editor from 1852 to 1865.[49] Born in 1812, he focused on historical essays and political topics, drawing from his research on Massachusetts history; notable works include The History of Charlestown, Massachusetts (1845–1849) and History of the Siege of Boston (1849), which reflected his engagement with Revolutionary-era themes during the 1830s and 1840s.[50] As a Democrat and former mayor of Charlestown, Frothingham's writings for the paper aligned with its political stance, blending scholarly analysis with contemporary commentary.[51] Eugene Gordon joined The Boston Post as a staff writer after World War I service, advancing to assistant feature writer by 1919. As an African American journalist studying at Howard and Boston Universities, he contributed to the paper's features during the 1920s, later transitioning to editorial roles at the New York Amsterdam News amid growing activism on racial issues.[52] Gordon's early work at the Post marked a pioneering presence for Black writers in mainstream Boston journalism.[27] John Gould wrote for the Boston Sunday Post from 1924 to 1954, starting as a stringer and becoming a featured columnist known for humorous essays on rural New England life.[53] His lighthearted pieces, often drawing from Maine settings, appeared alongside his longer career at The Christian Science Monitor, where he penned one of the longest-running columns in U.S. journalism history.[54] Gould's contributions to the Post captured everyday absurdities, influencing his later books like those on Down East humor.[55] Prunella Hall, the pseudonym of early film critic Alice E. Fuller, reviewed movies for The Boston Post in the 1930s as part of a notable group of women critics in Boston.[56] Her columns often appeared in the paper's women's section, offering insights into Hollywood releases and contributing to the era's growing film discourse among female journalists.[57] Hall's work highlighted the Post's coverage of popular culture during the Depression years.[58] Frederick E. Goodrich spent 54 years at The Boston Post, joining early in his career and serving in editorial roles, including writing on sports during the Babe Ruth era as the paper covered Boston Red Sox games.[59] By the time Edwin Grozier acquired the paper in 1891, Goodrich was an established staff member handling editorials and other assignments, contributing to its sports and general reporting through the 1920s and beyond.[12]Awards and Traditions
Pulitzer Prizes
The Boston Post earned a Pulitzer Prize in 1921 for Public Service, recognizing its investigative series that exposed the fraudulent financial operations of Charles Ponzi, culminating in his arrest on August 12, 1920.[60] The award cited the newspaper "for its exposure of the operations of Charles Ponzi through a series of articles that ultimately led to his arrest," highlighting the staff's role in unraveling a scheme that had defrauded thousands of investors with promises of 50 percent returns in 45 days via international postal reply coupons.[60] Under publisher Edwin A. Grozier, the Post initiated the coverage on July 24, 1920, with reporter William H. McMasters authoring a pivotal front-page exposé that questioned Ponzi's claims and revealed the scheme's reliance on new investor funds to pay earlier ones, rather than legitimate profits.[61] This reporting prompted federal authorities to investigate, leading to Ponzi's indictment on 86 counts of mail fraud and the recovery of some investor assets.[62] The series exemplified the Post's strengths in investigative and public service journalism during Grozier's tenure, which emphasized aggressive scrutiny of local economic issues.[63] As the first Public Service Pulitzer awarded to a Boston newspaper since the category's inception in 1918, it affirmed the Post's status as a leading voice in regional media, enhancing its credibility amid competition from papers like the Boston Globe and Herald.[64] The exposure not only halted Ponzi's operations, which had attracted over $15 million from 40,000 investors, but also popularized the term "Ponzi scheme" in financial lexicon, influencing modern understandings of pyramid frauds.[65] Despite this high-profile achievement, the Boston Post received no additional Pulitzer Prizes during its operation from 1831 to 1956. The 1921 win remains a cornerstone of the paper's legacy, demonstrating how targeted editorial initiative could drive systemic accountability in early 20th-century America.[63]Boston Post Cane Tradition
The Boston Post Cane tradition originated on August 2, 1909, when Edwin A. Grozier, publisher of the Boston Post newspaper, initiated a publicity stunt to boost circulation by distributing approximately 700 ebony canes topped with 14-carat gold heads to the boards of selectmen in towns across Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island (excluding cities, Connecticut, and Vermont).[2][66] Each cane was inscribed with the town's name and presented as a compliment from the newspaper to the oldest male resident, who was expected to use it during their lifetime while residing in the town.[2] Upon the recipient's death or departure, the cane—owned by the town and overseen by selectmen—would pass to the next qualifying individual, fostering a sense of community continuity and generating ongoing stories for the paper, often accompanied by photographs and articles that highlighted local ceremonies in town halls.[67][68] The tradition's rules emphasized eligibility based on age and long-term residency, with the cane serving as a symbol of respect for longevity rather than a personal possession.[2] In 1930, following public debate, eligibility was expanded to include the oldest female resident in participating towns, broadening the honor while maintaining the matrilineal or patrilineal succession model.[2][69] Over time, the practice evolved independently after the Boston Post ceased publication in 1956, with towns continuing the custom through local presentations, though challenges arose including lost, stolen, or destroyed canes—estimated at about 30% of the original set—and occasional disputes over authenticity, as some communities now use replicas due to missing originals.[70][71] As of 2016, updates from 517 towns confirmed active participation, demonstrating the tradition's resilience.[66] As a cultural emblem of New England endurance and community pride, the Boston Post Cane has inspired scholarly works, such as Barbara Staples' 1997 book The Bay State's Boston Post Canes: The History of a New England Tradition, which documents its spread and significance, along with state-specific volumes on Maine, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.[72][73] The canes are often featured in local festivals and events like Old Home Days, where presentations reinforce intergenerational ties and celebrate centenarians, perpetuating the stunt's unexpected legacy long beyond the newspaper's demise.[67][74]Legacy
Cultural and Journalistic Impact
The Boston Post significantly shaped local discourse in Boston by influencing labor movements through its Democratic-leaning coverage. [1] This focus helped amplify labor voices in a city where immigrants and their descendants formed a key part of the working class. The Post's intense rivalry with The Boston Globe fostered competitive journalism that elevated standards in local reporting. In the late 19th century, both papers vied for readership through sensational coverage, exemplified by the 1892 Lizzie Borden murder case. This competition drove innovation in investigative techniques and timeliness, though it occasionally prioritized speed over accuracy. Following the Post's closure in 1956, the rivalry dynamics shifted, with the remaining major dailies—the Globe and the merged Herald-Traveler—facing antitrust scrutiny that prevented a proposed merger. [75] The Post's demise contributed to a trend toward media consolidation in Boston, resulting in a less diverse journalistic environment. With the Post gone, the Globe achieved greater dominance, while regulations and political factors limited competition, affecting the press landscape. [75] This loss inspired successors like the Globe to uphold investigative traditions, but the overall effect was a less vibrant press, where the Post's role in challenging authority diminished without a direct rival. The paper's social legacy endured through editorials promoting civic engagement, particularly on education and anti-corruption, which influenced 20th-century reforms. Its 1920 exposé on financier Charles Ponzi's fraudulent scheme, revealing a massive pyramid operation, prompted his arrest and conviction, earning the Post a Pulitzer Prize and galvanizing public demand for financial oversight and ethical governance. [4] Such reporting encouraged reforms in banking regulations and voter awareness, while editorials advocating for better public education access underscored the Post's commitment to social equity, affecting policy debates in Massachusetts well into the mid-century. Modeled partly after Joseph Pulitzer's New York World in its blend of populism and reformist zeal, the Post adapted these elements to New England's conservative sensibilities, prioritizing regional issues over national sensationalism.Archives and Modern References
The primary archives of The Boston Post are preserved at the Boston Public Library, which holds microfilm copies spanning from 1831 to 1956, allowing researchers access to the newspaper's full run during its operational years.[76] Digital scans of select issues from 1831 to 1921 are available through platforms like Newspapers.com, providing searchable full-page reproductions for public and academic use.[77] Similarly, OldNews.com offers digitized historical editions, facilitating broader online exploration of the paper's content.[5] In scholarly contexts, The Boston Post is frequently referenced in studies of the Ponzi scheme, where its 1920 investigative reporting played a pivotal role in exposing Charles Ponzi's fraud, as detailed in Mitchell Zuckoff's Ponzi's Scheme: The True Story of a Financial Legend.[78] The newspaper also appears in histories of New England journalism, highlighting its influence on regional reporting practices and circulation dominance in the early 20th century.[79] The Boston Athenaeum maintains a collection of original 19th-century newspaper prints, including examples from The Boston Post, as part of its broader holdings in American periodicals.[80] Modern references to The Boston Post include the 2015 launch of NewBostonPost.com, an online conservative news outlet serving New England that explicitly draws its name as a homage to the original publication, though it operates independently.[81] Preservation efforts extend to the Boston Post Cane tradition, with the Boston Post Cane Information Center actively tracking the status and recipients of the over 700 canes distributed by the newspaper in 1909 across New England towns.[82] The Massachusetts Historical Society occasionally features The Boston Post materials in exhibits on Boston's printing history, drawing from its extensive newspaper collections.[83] Accessibility to these archives is enhanced through free public access points, such as the Boston Public Library's microfilm readers and online databases available via an eCard, which provide no-cost entry for Massachusetts residents.[84] Academically, The Boston Post is cited in scholarly works on 19th- and 20th-century U.S. press history, underscoring its enduring value in media studies.References
- https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_New_International_Encyclop%25C3%25A6dia/Frothingham%2C_Richard