Mark Sullivan (journalist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mark Sullivan
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| Born | September 10, 1874 |
| Died | August 13, 1952 (aged 77) Chester County Hospital; West Chester, Pennsylvania
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| Education |
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| Occupation | Journalist |
| Years active | 1892–1952 |
| Era | Progressive Era |
| Employer | New York Herald-Tribune, among others |
| Known for | Political commentary |
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Notable work
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Our Times: The United States, 1900–1925 (six volumes, 1926–1935) |
| Spouse(s) | Marie Sullivan, née Buchanan |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent(s) | Julia Gleason Sullivan and Cornelius Sullivan |
Mark Sullivan (born September 10, 1874 – died August 13, 1952) was an American journalist. He was also a political writer whose articles were published in many newspapers.
He wrote a huge six-book series called Our Times: The United States, 1900–1925. This series was 3,740 pages long and was published between 1926 and 1935. Many people called him a "giant of American journalism" because of his important work.
Contents
Mark's Early Life and Education
Mark Sullivan was the last of 10 children. His parents, Julia and Cornelius Sullivan, moved to the United States from Ireland. They bought a farm in London Grove Township, Pennsylvania. Mark's father also delivered mail in the countryside.
When Mark was 14, he went to West Chester Normal School. This type of school trained people to become teachers. In 1892, he started working as a reporter for the Morning Republican newspaper. He saved $300 and became a co-owner of another newspaper, the Phoenixville Republican. Mark also edited this newspaper.
In 1896, Mark went to Harvard University. He earned a bachelor's degree in 1900 and a law degree three years later. After graduating, he sold his share of the Phoenixville Republican. While at Harvard, he wrote for the Boston Evening Transcript newspaper.
Mark's Journalism Career
Starting His Career
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In 1901, a magazine called The Atlantic Monthly published an article by Mark. It was titled "The Ills of Pennsylvania." The article talked about corruption among local and state officials. Mark wrote that these officials were taking bribes. He focused on Matthew Quay, a Republican senator.
Mark claimed that Pennsylvania was "politically the most corrupt state." He also said that Philadelphia was "the most evil large city in America." This article started a big discussion about honesty in politics. It also made people think about the role of newspapers.
Mark briefly worked as a lawyer in New York City. He said his law career was very short and he didn't have many cases. He soon returned to journalism. He wrote for Ladies Home Journal about misleading advertisements for medicines.
In 1905, he was hired by McClure's magazine as a staff writer. In 1906, he joined a team at McClure's that investigated Mary Baker Eddy. She was the founder of the Christian Science church. Mark spent time checking facts for the series of articles. These articles were later published as a book in 1909.
After McClure's, Mark moved to Collier's Weekly magazine. He became an associate editor, then the editor in 1912. He also wrote a regular column called "Comment on Congress" from 1908 to 1919.
When he joined the New York Evening Post in 1919, he became their Washington correspondent. The newspaper's president praised his skills and knowledge. Mark and his wife became friends with Herbert Hoover, who later became president. Their friendship continued when Hoover was president. Mark was even seen as one of Hoover's spokespersons.
Writing for the New York Herald-Tribune
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In the early 1920s, Mark Sullivan joined the New York Herald. This newspaper later became the New York Herald-Tribune. He became a syndicated political columnist. This means his articles were published in many different newspapers.
Between 1924 and 1952, he wrote almost 6,000 columns. They were usually titled "Mark Sullivan Says." During this time, he also wrote his famous six-volume series, Our Times: The United States, 1900–1925.
Many people praised his Our Times series. Dan Rather, a famous journalist, said that no other non-fiction books had captured the country so well. He noted how widely read and acclaimed they were.
Mark Sullivan said in 1935 that he was a liberal. He believed in taking power away from the government. However, his views changed over time. By 1935, he was very worried about President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal programs.
In 1937, after the Social Security Act became law, Mark wrote about his secretary, Mabel Shea. He questioned why she had to pay 35 cents for social security from her $35 weekly paycheck. This made Mabel Shea famous. President Roosevelt joked that Mark should just raise her salary.
Mark's Family Life
Mark Sullivan married Marie McMechan Buchanan in 1907. Marie passed away in 1940. They had two daughters, Narcissa and Sydney, and a son, Mark Jr.
Mark's Later Years and Death
Mark Sullivan became the owner of his parents' farm in London Grove. He always considered it his home. In 1952, he died at age 78 from a heart attack. He was taken to the hospital from the same bedroom where he was born.
His estate was worth about $65,000. Most of this went to his children, including 200 acres of farmland. He also left $10,000 to his longtime secretary, Mabel Shea.
Images for kids
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Mark Sullivan
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Mark Sullivan with his secretary, Mabel Shea
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Mark Sullivan's daughter, Narcissa Sullivan
