Emanuel was an American newspaper editor, publisher, president of Lee Syndicate newspapers, businessman. He was a civic leader in Davenport, Iowa, United States, and philanthropist for community and religious causes of several faiths. He was known to family and close friends as Mannie, and to business associates and the general public as E. P.
Background
Adler was born on September 30, 1872, in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United States to German immigrant parents, Philip Emanuel Adler from Laubheim, Württemberg, and Bertha (Blade) Adler from Worrstadt, Hesse. In 1875 the Adler family moved to Ottumwa, Iowa, United States.
Education
When Adler was 13 years old it was necessary to quit school and help support the family.
Career
Emanuel went to work for the Ottumwa Journal’s weekly German edition. He apprenticed as a “printer’s devil” setting newspaper type. His wage of $1 per week was actually paid, under the table, by Philip Emanuel Adler by agreement with the newspaper’s editor.
After working for a few years at the Ottumwa Courier, Emanuel was seized by wanderlust and set out for shortterm newspaper jobs in Chicago, Galesburg, Illinois, Omaha, and Denver. Finding himself broke in Colorado, he contacted A. W. Lee, publisher of the Ottumwa Courier, asking to return to his old job. Lee hired Adler back at a salary of $10 per week. In 1893 he was promoted to reporter. In 1895 he became a city editor. Subsequently he was elevated to managing editor and business manager.
Meanwhile, A. W. Lee acquired the Davenport Times and set the stage for the establishment of the Lee Syndicate, a consortium of independent newspapers in Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Nebraska. Lee invited Adler to become the business manager of the Davenport Times. In 1901 he promoted Adler to publisher of the newspaper. After the untimely death of A. W. Lee in Europe in 1907, Adler was appointed president of the Lee Syndicate. Under Adler’s leadership, the Davenport Times beat out competing newspapers in that city, and the Lee Syndicate expanded. Emanuel’s sister Betty moved from Ottumwa, where she had been a newspaper proofreader, to join the Davenport Times as head of its women’s society pages.
Emanuel served as president of the Inland Daily Press Association and Vice-president of the Associated Press. His public service included being a charter member of the Greater Davenport Committee, director of the Davenport Commercial Club, founder and vice president of the Davenport Industrial Commission, trustee of the Davenport Municipal Art Gallery, and advisory board member of the Davenport Visiting Nurse Association. He served as the president of the Davenport Bank and Trust and was largely responsible for keeping that institution from failing during the Great Depression. Adler was an inveterate Davenport booster. During his career, he turned down an offer from Gardner Cowles to join the Des Moines Register and declined a position with the Hearst Partnership newspapers in New York, United States.
After Adler died on March 2, 1949, one headline in the Democrat and Leader newspaper referred to him as “Acknowledged No. 1 Citizen of Davenport”; another read “Foe of Intolerance and Bigotry, E. P. Adler Aided All Faiths.”
Achievements
Religion
Adler was dedicated to Judaism and Jewish causes.
Views
Adler’s philanthropy extended to supporting Davenport’s St. Ambrose College and chairing its fund-raising program among non-Catholics. He served on the board of St. Luke’s Hospital and helped raise funds for that Episcopal institution.
Membership
Adler was an active member of the Jewish community in Davenport, Iowa, United States. He served as president of the board of Temple Emanuel, headed the Tri-City Jewish Charities, and led campaigns for Davenport’s United Jewish Appeal and the national Joint Distribution Committee. He was an advisory board member of the Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, Ohio, and on the Jewish Council of the State University of Iowa’s School of Religion. Adle was elected to the board of Davenport’s Young Men’s Christian Association.
Personality
In his home city of Davenport Adler was beloved for his many charitable and for his fearless, dynamic leadership in many civic activities.
Connections
In 1902 Adler married Lena Rothschild. They had a son, Philip David Adler.
Father:
Philip Emanuel Adler
Mother:
Bertha (Blade) Adler
Spouse:
Lena Rothschild
Sister:
Betty Adler
Son:
Philip David Adler
References
The Biographical Dictionary of Iowa
Iowa has been blessed with citizens of strong character who have made invaluable contributions to the state and to the nation. In the 1930s alone, such towering figures as John L. Lewis, Henry A. Wallace, and Herbert Hoover hugely influenced the nation’s affairs.