William Andrew Johnston Explained

William Andrew Johnston (1871–1929) was an American journalist, writer, and co-founder, with George T. Delacorte Jr., of Dell Publishing.[1]

Personal

Johnston was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on January 26, 1871, the son of William Andrew and Agnes (Parry) Johnston. He graduated with a Litt.D from Western University of Pennsylvania (now the University of Pittsburgh) in 1891, where he was valedictorian. Soon after graduation, he moved to New York City and took a job at the New York World newspaper, where he worked for 27 years.

In 1921 he co-founded Dell Publishing. In 1927 he moved to Chicago, becoming vice-president of public relations for Celotex Corporation.

Johnston was married twice, first in 1896, to Hazel Minnette Williams of Hampshire, England,[2] and second, in 1910, to Hattie Belle McCollum (1883-1963). of Lockport, New York[3] He had a son, George E. Johnston.[4]

He died in Chicago on February 16, 1929, at age 58.

Publications

According to The New York Times, "most of Mr. Johnston's books were written from his experience as a reporter."[1] He is best known for his books Limpy, the Boy Who Felt Neglected (1917), based on his own disability, and The Fun of Being a Fat Man (1922), again based on his life experience, in reaction to a book by Henri Beraud called The Tragedy of Being Fat (Le Martyre de l'obèse).[5] He wrote a series of articles for Collier's from 1925-26, on the theme "if I were a...", such as "If I Were a Business Man",[6] "If I Were a Clergyman", "If I Were a Doctor", "If I Were a Lawyer", "If I Were a Rich Man", "If I Were Out of a Job". He also wrote a number of detective stories, and non-fiction.

Fiction

Non-fiction

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: William Johnston Dead . June 6, 2021 . The New York Times . Feb 17, 1929.
  2. Book: Who's who in America . 1908 . 1007–1008 . Leonard . John William . Marquis . Albert Nelson .
  3. News: Noted Journalist who Married in Lockport . June 7, 2021 . The Buffalo Sunday Morning News . 17 Apr 1910.
  4. Book: Johnston . William . My Own Main Street . 1921 . The Standard Publishing Company . Cincinnati . Jun 6, 2021.
  5. News: Pratt . Fletcher . Being Fat Helped William Johnston Win Writer's Fame . June 6, 2021 . The Pittsburgh Press . 8 May 1927.
  6. Johnston . William . If I Were a Business Man . Collier's . Sep 27, 1924 . 8 . June 7, 2021.