Figure 1.-- Here we have a charming drawing of a family golfing scene--the boy caddying for his big sister. This illustration (by an unknown artist) appeared in "The American Magazine" (January, 1914, p. 81). The boy wears an open necked striped shirt with his sleeves rolled up, a floppy white hat with the brim turned down, grey knickers, and long bladk stockings. The magazine was a crusading muckraking journal, but there were also articles on a wide range of domestic and cuktural issues. .

McClure Magazine was founded as a literary magazine (1893). It featured some of tghe most prestigious authors of the day. At the turn of the 20th century, the magazine shifted from a literary format to a crusading journal addressing social and politucal issues of the day. It became perhaps the most acclaimed crusading or muckracking magazine of the progressive era. Some of McClure's leading muckraking journalists (Ray Stannard Baker, Lincoln Steffens, Ida Tarbell and William A. White) left and purchased their own publication--The American Magazine (1906). We are unsure about the precise nature of the writer's dispute with the editor of McClure's. The American Magazine was an illustrated magazine. Although perhaps not up to the srandard of The Saturday Evening Post, it still provided some wonderful views of early 20th century America. We are not yet sure of the names of illustrators that drew for the magazine. It was, however, the investigative reports for which the magazine is known. The magazines muckracking journalism set a sandard for American journalism. The magazine dealt with race relations and journalism, trade unions, monopolies, railroads, and many other orogressive issues. While it is these intevestigative articles that The American Magazine is best known, the magazine published articles on a wide range of issues. We note one article, for example, on music appreciation.

Muckraking

The early 20th century was the heigth of the progressive crusading era. The magazine soon established itself as an important voice for reform and conducted important investigations into social and political issues. Conservatives objected to many of these investigations and charged that the magazine and others were "muckrakers". The term was used variously with pride or to question the professinalism of the journalists involved. Muck means variously mud or barnyard dung. The term meant that the investigative journalists working to uncover corruption or abuses were digging up mud. The Term was popularized by President Roosevelt (1906). There were several important muckraking journals. Two of the most important were McClire's and The American Magazine. The history of these two journals is closely related.

McClure's Magazine (1893-1929)

The American Magazine is closely related to McClure's Magazine, in fact a spin-off from McClure's. McClure's was perhaps the best known of the muckraking magazines. It was founded, however, as a literary magazine (1893). It featured some of tghe most prestigious authors of the day. At the turn of the 20th century, the magazine shifted from a literary format to a crusading journal addressing social and politucal issues of the day. It became perhaps the most acclaimed crusading or muckracking magazine of the progressive era. McClure's was adversely affected when many of their most prestigious writers left the magazine. The magazine never recovered, although it continued publishing until 1929 when it finally closed.

Foundation (1906)

The American Magazine was founded by a group of disident writers at McClure's. Some of McClure's leading muckraking journalists (Ray Stannard Baker, Lincoln Steffens, Ida Tarbell and William A. White) left and purchased their own publication--The American Magazine (1906). We are unsure about the precise nature of the writer's dispute with the editor of McClure's. Baker helped edit the magazine and forged relations with the Democratic candidate, Wooderow, Wilson, in the 1912 election.

Illustrations

The American Magazine was an illustrated magazine. Although perhaps not up to the srandard of The Saturday Evening Post, it still provided some wonderful views of early 20th century America. We are not yet sure of the names of illustrators that drew for the magazine.

Content

It was, however, the investigative reports for which the magazine is known. The magazines muckracking journalism set a sandard for American journalism. Ray Stannard Baker focused on race relations with articles like: "The Colour Line in the North" (February 1908), "The Negro's Struggle for Survival, in the North" (March, 1908), "Lift Man From the Gutter? Or Remove the Gutter? Which?" (July, 1909). Baker was an especially intereting figure. Despite his concern with race relatiins, he developed close relatiins with Woodrow Wilson and eventually joined his administration. Baker also published philosophical and nostalgic books in contrast to his muckraking articles in McClure's and The American Magazine. Upton Sinclair submitted a provocative piece on the invidual and modern industrial society: "The Metropolis" (January, 1908). Lincoln Steffens looked into American journalism with: "Hearst, the Man of Mystery" (November, 1906). Ida Tarbell continued her crudade against John D. Rockefeller with "Roosevelt vs. Rockefeller" (December, 1908). She also looked into tariffs and Wall Street finance with: "The Mysteries and Cruelties of the Tariff" (November, 1910) and "The Hunt for the Money Trust" (May, 1913). While it is these intevestigative articles that The American Magazine is best known, the magazine published articles on a wide range of issues. We note one article, for example, on music appreciation.

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Created: 7:57 PM 3/10/2005
Last updated: 7:57 PM 3/10/2005