GRAPHIC COMM CENTRAL

Frank Leslie - "The Belle of the Boardroom"

-Donald Dale Jackson - biographer

In the 1860's, illustrated journalism was born. Newspapers, until then, were typeset words. The new art of photography had not yet found its way into publications. Books were illustrated with woodcuts and engravings that were months in production. Topical illustrations of news events took too long to be current.

It would take the work of Frank Leslie, the man, and Frank Leslie, the woman, to make the illustrated newspaper a household item.

Henry Carter was born in England in 1821, the son of a glove maker. He loved to draw, but his family discouraged his ambitions because they didn't contribute to the family business. Carter secretly sold illustrations to London magazines under the professional name of "Frank Leslie."

Later, Leslie worked at the Illustrated London News in the engraving department and then moved to America. After a brief experience working for P.T. Barnum, he started his own illustrated publications. The great expense of producing illustrated magazines forced Leslie into circulation-boosting stunts and sensationalism. His motto was "Never shoot over the reader's head." His papers and magazines pandered to the popular issues.

Miriam Follin was born "to class," in 1836, in New Orleans. Her early life was fodder for the gossips. Questions of her parentage, a forced marriage "to preserve her honor," and an early career as a traveling actress followed her throughout her life. Her second marriage was to a successful diplomat and anthropologist, E. G. Squier. Through Squier, she met and was employed by, the then successful, Frank Leslie as editor of "Frank Leslie's Ladies Magazine."

Miriam eventually left her husband and married Frank Leslie. The life of wealth and scandal suited them. They entertained and traveled. Miriam's talent at writing was to capture a loyal leadership among women. She wrote on topics that would advance the cause of votes for women. It was more that she, a woman, wrote them than on what they were about.

Miriam turned an extravagant coast-to-coast train vacation in to a series of articles that captured the interest of all readers of the Leslie publications. This was the first coverage given to the new transcontinental railroad. She wrote about San Francisco's Chinatown, Yosemite, Los Angles, and Virginia City, Nevada. On the return trip she interviewed Brigham Young in Salt Lake City and debated the subject of polygamy with him.

Frank Leslie or Henry Carter was, indeed, a brilliant printer and engraver. His technical skills made the illustrated newspaper a practical reality. His business skills were very much lacking. Near bankruptcy many times, Carter relied on sensationalism to increase circulation and keep the creditors back.

Miriam, was a gifted writer, linguist, and translator who could write to the level of her readers. She was a strong, educated, beautiful, and outspoken woman in an age of oppression. She traveled the world, lived a life of glamour, fame, and scandal. All of which caused her to be both hated and admired. She was an icon for change for women.

When her husband died in 1880, she was left with a newspaper empire in deep debt, a contested will, and stepsons wanting to move in and strip the carcass of their father‚s former business. But Frank Leslie, the man left his wife something more valuable - his name! On request of her husband, Mrs. Frank Leslie legally became Frank Leslie. This gave her legal right to all Frank Leslie publications, even over the protests of Frank Leslie, Jr. and his brother.

But the business was little more than debts. Then disaster struck the country and saved the newspaper. President Garfield was assassinated. The next issue of the "Weekly" contained illustrations and stories that were quickly sold out. Debts were paid and the paper was saved!

In the 1890's, the Frank Leslie empire was well established. She turned the management of the publications over to staff. She took an extended trip abroad, but had to return and again pull the business out of debt. The pressure was too much. She was weakened by illness and turned her attention to what legacy she wanted to leave.

In 1902, she sold the business and gave up the name Frank Leslie. She adopted an old family title and called herself "the Baroness de Bazus."

She spent several years sailing between Europe and America. She corresponded with Susan

B. Anthony and others who worked in the cause of woman suffrage. On her death in 1914, she left in excess of two million dollars to the women's cause. Unfortunately, most of the money was lost to legal and administrative actions.

Frank Leslie - was a man of outstanding technical accomplishments in the graphic arts and Frank Leslie - was a woman who advanced the cause of equality through her talent and business skills.

Thanks to Jen Phelps, Charlotte, NC for the suggestion for this column.

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	Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper Frank Leslie - "The Belle of the Boardroom" -Donald Dale Jackson - biographer In the 1860's, illustrated journalism was born. Newspapers, until then, were typeset words. The new art of photography had not yet found its way into publications. Books were illustrated with woodcuts and engravings that were months in production. Topical illustrations of news events took too long to be current. It would take the work of Frank Leslie, the man, and Frank Leslie, the woman, to make the illustrated newspaper a household item. Henry Carter was born in England in 1821, the son of a glove maker. He loved to draw, but his family discouraged his ambitions because they didn't contribute to the family business. Carter secretly sold illustrations to London magazines under the professional name of "Frank Leslie." Later, Leslie worked at the Illustrated London News in the engraving department and then moved to America. After a brief experience working for P.T. Barnum, he started his own illustrated publications. The great expense of producing illustrated magazines forced Leslie into circulation-boosting stunts and sensationalism. His motto was "Never shoot over the reader's head." His papers and magazines pandered to the popular issues. Miriam Follin was born "to class," in 1836, in New Orleans. Her early life was fodder for the gossips. Questions of her parentage, a forced marriage "to preserve her honor," and an early career as a traveling actress followed her throughout her life. Her second marriage was to a successful diplomat and anthropologist, E. G. Squier. Through Squier, she met and was employed by, the then successful, Frank Leslie as editor of "Frank Leslie's Ladies Magazine." Miriam eventually left her husband and married Frank Leslie. The life of wealth and scandal suited them. They entertained and traveled. Miriam's talent at writing was to capture a loyal leadership among women. She wrote on topics that would advance the cause of votes for women. It was more that she, a woman, wrote them than on what they were about. Miriam turned an extravagant coast-to-coast train vacation in to a series of articles that captured the interest of all readers of the Leslie publications. This was the first coverage given to the new transcontinental railroad. She wrote about San Francisco's Chinatown, Yosemite, Los Angles, and Virginia City, Nevada. On the return trip she interviewed Brigham Young in Salt Lake City and debated the subject of polygamy with him. Frank Leslie or Henry Carter was, indeed, a brilliant printer and engraver. His technical skills made the illustrated newspaper a practical reality. His business skills were very much lacking. Near bankruptcy many times, Carter relied on sensationalism to increase circulation and keep the creditors back. Miriam, was a gifted writer, linguist, and translator who could write to the level of her readers. She was a strong, educated, beautiful, and outspoken woman in an age of oppression. She traveled the world, lived a life of glamour, fame, and scandal. All of which caused her to be both hated and admired. She was an icon for change for women. When her husband died in 1880, she was left with a newspaper empire in deep debt, a contested will, and stepsons wanting to move in and strip the carcass of their father‚s former business. But Frank Leslie, the man left his wife something more valuable - his name! On request of her husband, Mrs. Frank Leslie legally became Frank Leslie. This gave her legal right to all Frank Leslie publications, even over the protests of Frank Leslie, Jr. and his brother. But the business was little more than debts. Then disaster struck the country and saved the newspaper. President Garfield was assassinated. The next issue of the "Weekly" contained illustrations and stories that were quickly sold out. Debts were paid and the paper was saved! In the 1890's, the Frank Leslie empire was well established. She turned the management of the publications over to staff. She took an extended trip abroad, but had to return and again pull the business out of debt. The pressure was too much. She was weakened by illness and turned her attention to what legacy she wanted to leave. In 1902, she sold the business and gave up the name Frank Leslie. She adopted an old family title and called herself "the Baroness de Bazus." She spent several years sailing between Europe and America. She corresponded with Susan B. Anthony and others who worked in the cause of woman suffrage. On her death in 1914, she left in excess of two million dollars to the women's cause. Unfortunately, most of the money was lost to legal and administrative actions. Frank Leslie - was a man of outstanding technical accomplishments in the graphic arts and Frank Leslie - was a woman who advanced the cause of equality through her talent and business skills. Thanks to Jen Phelps, Charlotte, NC for the suggestion for this column. Copyright © 1998 by Frank Granger Table of Contents
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