Advocate for American Enterprise: William Buck Dana and the Commercial and Financial Chronicle, 1865-1910

(Hardback)

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In 1865, William Buck Dana, working a bold new departure in American journalism, established the nation's first business weekly, the Commercial and Financial Chronicle, in the country's commercial nerve center, New York City. As its publisher and editor, he became the nation's most influential reporter and commentator on business and finance, playing a major role in creating a national and international economy. Unequaled as a comprehensive and reliable source of business news, Dana's Chronicle has become a critical source for studying 19th century business history. This book is a study of Dana the man, his ideas, and their importance. Divided into three sections, the book considers Dana's formative years, his career, and his later life. The book then turns to the main themes conveyed in the Chronicle's editorial content, allowing the reader to imaginatively reconstruct Dana's mental world: Comments on Dana's and his paper's importance and influence are also included. While enlarging our understanding of Dana, the Chronicle, and economic thought of the time, Advocate for American Enterprise will enhance our understanding of this critically important era.

Reviews

"Endorsement From H. Roger Grant, Professor/Chair, Department of History, Clemson University: In what should stand for years as the definitive study of the force behind the highly influential business newspaper, the Commercial and Financial Chronicle, this delightful written book clearly places William Buck Dana in the context of the great economic, political, and social forces of his times. Douglas Steeples is especially adept at conveying who Dana was, his thoughts and his contributions. The book is exceptionally well researched. Not only has Steeples utilized appropriate secondary resources, but he has painstakingly ferreted out materials that are related to Dana and his financial paper. Steeples's achievement is immense and impressive. Endorsement From Gloria Ricci Lothrop, W.P. Whitsett Professor of History, California State University, Northridge: Douglas Steeples has written a richly evocative biography of William Buck Dana, who from 1865 to 1910 edited the Commercial and Finacial Chronicle, the nation's most prominent business monthly...has drawn from the archives of the Chronicle... as well as an array of primary and secondary sources to provide an overview of the economic development of this critical period on American business history....Skillfully using a wide range of sources he has crafted a biography illuminated by the life of an influential business figure.

Author Bio

DOUGLAS STEEPLES is Professor of History Emeritus and formerly Dean at Mercer University. His primary research interests are the American West and U.S. Business History. His recent books include Treasure from the Painted Hills (Greenwood, 1999) and Democracy in Desperation (Greenwood, 1998).