History of The New York Times, 1851-1921

Elmer Holmes Davis (1890 - 1958)

A beautifully written and witty history of The New York Times, and of newspaper publishing in general, from the 1850s to 1921 by three-time Peabody Award winner Elmer Davis. Davis provides a detailed history of the founding of The Times; its role in the exposure and demise of the notorious Boss Tweed; its resurrection from near-failure by legendary publisher Adolph Ochs; its role in local and national politics; and how The Times became the dominant newspaper of his generation. Along the way, Davis shares insight into how technology (or lack thereof) influences newsgathering, and reveals The Times' surprising role in some of the major technological advances of the era. Overall, the book is both an uncompromising evaluation of and a love letter to the newspaper at which Davis began his storied career. - Summary by Joanne Turner

Genre(s): Modern (19th C)

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 01 Part I. Chapter I. Beginnings of the Times, 1851-1859 Joanne Turner
00:43:16
Play 02 Part I. Chapter I. Beginnings of the Times, 1851-1859, concl. Joanne Turner
00:46:22
Play 03 Part I. Chapter 2. Civil War and Reconstruction, 1860-1869 Joanne Turner
00:26:26
Play 04 Part I. Chapter 2. Civil War and Reconstruction, 1860-1869, concl. Joanne Turner
00:40:40
Play 05 Part I. Chapter 3. The Times and the Tweed Ring Joanne Turner
00:42:34
Play 06 Part I. Chapter 3. The Times and the Tweed Ring, concl. Joanne Turner
00:30:10
Play 07 Part I. Chapter 4. National Politics, 1872-1884 Joanne Turner
00:54:59
Play 08 Part I. Chapter 4. National Politics, 1872-1884, concl. Joanne Turner
00:21:41
Play 09 Part I. Chapter 5. The Times in Transition, 1884-1896 Joanne Turner
00:34:07
Play 10 Part II. Chapter 1. Restoration of The Times, 1896-1900 Joanne Turner
00:39:34
Play 11 Part II. Chapter 1. Restoration of The Times, 1896-1900, cont'd. Joanne Turner
01:04:59
Play 12 Part II. Chapter 1. Restoration of The Times, 1896-1900, concl. Joanne Turner
00:35:48
Play 13 Part II. Chapter 2. Conservatism, Independence, Democracy: 1900-1914 Joanne Turner
01:02:36
Play 14 Part II. Chapter 3. Modern News-Gathering, 1900-1914 Joanne Turner
00:28:54
Play 15 Part II. Chapter 3. Modern News-Gathering, 1900-1914, concl. Joanne Turner
00:47:17
Play 16 Part II. Chapter 4. Some Aspects of Business Policy. Joanne Turner
00:41:08
Play 17 Part II. Chapter 5. The Times in War: 1914-1918 Joanne Turner
00:42:56
Play 18 Part II. Chapter 5. The Times in War: 1914-1918, concl. Joanne Turner
00:33:59
Play 19 Part II. Chapter 6. The Times Today. Joanne Turner
01:04:34
Play 20 Appendix. For the German People, Peace With Freedom. Joanne Turner
00:14:34