Don Carlos Seitz

Background

He was born on October 4, 1862 at Portage, Ohio, United States, son of the Rev. Josiah Augustus Seitz, a Universalist minister, and Rebecca J. (Brown) Seitz.

Education

He was educated at the Liberal Institute at Norway.

Career

He joined the staff of the Brooklyn Eagle as a reporter soon after his graduation in 1880. From 1887 to 1889 he was Albany correspondent and then for two years, city editor. In 1891 he turned to the business side of journalism as assistant publisher of the New York Recorder.

He soon attracted the attention of Joseph Pulitzer, owner of the New York World, and from that time on he served Pulitzer with complete loyalty and devotion, frequently recognized by his employer and notably in his will. Pulitzer first used him as managing editor of the Brooklyn World; next, in 1894, in the advertising department of the New York World, of which he soon became advertising manager. In 1898 he was promoted to business manager, and as such conducted the World for twenty-five years.

After Pulitzer's death and the taking over of his newspapers by his sons, Seitz was for three years manager of the Evening World, retiring in 1926 from all connection with daily journalism and joining the staff of the Outlook, which he served for one year as associate editor. His final editorship was as a member of the staff of the Churchman from 1929 to 1932. He represented Pulitzer on the board of directors of the Associated Press in 1901, and in the membership of that organization from 1900 to 1923.

Aside from his business activities, Seitz was a prolific author. His contributions to magazines were also many.

He died of heart disease at his home in Brooklyn, New York.

Achievements

• Don Carlos Seitz worked for several magazines and newspapers, including the New York World where he was business manager for 25 years, the newspaper's most prosperous period. Seitz was a prolific author, among many others, his famous publications include: In Praise of War (1917); Farm Voices (1918); Brains in Chains (1919); Artemus Ward (1919); Braxton Bragg (1924); Joseph Pulitzer, His Life & Letters (1924).

Works

More photos

• book

  • In praise of war, military and sea verse

    (This reproduction was printed from a digital file created...)

  • Paul Jones, His Exploits in English Seas During 1778-1780, Contemporary Accounts Collected from English Newspapers with a Complete Bibliography

    (Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We h...)

  • Writings by & about James Abbott McNeill Whistler; A Bibliography

    (Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We h...)

  • Training for the newspaper trade. by Don C. Seitz

Views

He was a born liberal and anti-imperialist. He frequently stated his convictions that the religious press and a few weeklies were the only free journalism left. Seitz believed that a newspaper was not a business but an institution of public service.

Personality

As a director he was outspoken in his independence, frequently criticizing the conservatism of the organization and its methods.

He was an excellent speaker and lecturer, and made good use of noteworthy wit and sarcasm. He had an intense hatred of shams and humbugs and the cowardice of conservatism; his utter fearlessness as a critic often made him feared and disliked. It was charged against him that, like other liberal journalists, he was too prone to criticism and too slow to praise.

Connections

On April 15, 1890, he married Mildred E. Blake of East Deering, Maine, by whom he had two daughters - Mildred and Mabel.

Father:

Josiah Augustus Seitz

Mother:

Rebecca J. (Brown) Seitz

Spouse:

Mildred E. Blake

child:

Mildred Seitz

child:

Mabel Seitz

coworker:

Joseph Pulitzer