13 - Iowa, Pauline Esther Phillips (Abigail Van Buren)
Pauline Esther Phillips entered households around the country under the pen name Abigail Van Buren … As people wrote letters to their friend … "Dear Abby"
Iowa was the tenth state to ratify the Nineteenth Amendment on July 2, 1919.
Pauline Esther Phillips jumped into writing in 1956 when reading the San Francisco Chronicles’ advice column. Convinced she could do better, she seized the opportunity to show her writing and captured the position. The editor, Stanleigh Arnold, gave her some letters to reply to, which she returned immediately, receiving “fabulous” reviews and hired her on the spot.
Her pen name, Abigail Van Buren, was coined off an Old Testament prophetess from 1 Samuel and the last name of President Van Buren.
Her twin sister, Esther Pauline (really) also was a columnist, and was a rival of Pauline Esther. They shared much over their lives being both columnists, namesakes, and even married in a joint ceremony. This did not stop tearing them apart for a short period until they reconciled and moved on based on their writing rivalry.
Ms. Phillips’ style is what pulled her apart. She covered a much wider range of issues with common sense suggestions for personal marriage and family concerns. As she started, she did judge women that struggled to be successful in marriage, but later grabbed onto the effect a weak marriage may have, especially on children, and was sympathetic to the situations women encountered.
Throughout the legacy of “Dear Abby,” it became the most widely syndicated newspaper column in the world. It was read in 1,400 newspapers with a reading of 110 million people, and she appeared on CBS Radio for many years with a daily Dear Abby program.
Why this woman?
At her time, movies and shows depicting women trying to rise in their career, especially in media, portrayed limited roles for women to put their neck out. She stood up and said regardless of credentials, I want this. She worked hard to push her life long career and aspirations. She made her career.
I wasn’t an avid follower, but I do enjoy the concept that a national column could provide feedback to people’s family concerns. With our community across America torn apart, it would be interesting to see someone else pick up a column in the same way of her column today. With more awareness of marriage and children in today’s culture, unifying our country. Is there a way for us to highlight our similar issues and support? I see friends’ questions on Facebook. I see the ebbs and flows with growth of marriages. But to have that one column that everyone uses provided openly every day ... I think could unify the divides of today.
Iowa was the tenth state to ratify the Nineteenth Amendment on July 2, 1919.
Pauline Esther Phillips jumped into writing in 1956 when reading the San Francisco Chronicles’ advice column. Convinced she could do better, she seized the opportunity to show her writing and captured the position. The editor, Stanleigh Arnold, gave her some letters to reply to, which she returned immediately, receiving “fabulous” reviews and hired her on the spot.
Her pen name, Abigail Van Buren, was coined off an Old Testament prophetess from 1 Samuel and the last name of President Van Buren.
Her twin sister, Esther Pauline (really) also was a columnist, and was a rival of Pauline Esther. They shared much over their lives being both columnists, namesakes, and even married in a joint ceremony. This did not stop tearing them apart for a short period until they reconciled and moved on based on their writing rivalry.
Ms. Phillips’ style is what pulled her apart. She covered a much wider range of issues with common sense suggestions for personal marriage and family concerns. As she started, she did judge women that struggled to be successful in marriage, but later grabbed onto the effect a weak marriage may have, especially on children, and was sympathetic to the situations women encountered.
Throughout the legacy of “Dear Abby,” it became the most widely syndicated newspaper column in the world. It was read in 1,400 newspapers with a reading of 110 million people, and she appeared on CBS Radio for many years with a daily Dear Abby program.
Why this woman?
At her time, movies and shows depicting women trying to rise in their career, especially in media, portrayed limited roles for women to put their neck out. She stood up and said regardless of credentials, I want this. She worked hard to push her life long career and aspirations. She made her career.
I wasn’t an avid follower, but I do enjoy the concept that a national column could provide feedback to people’s family concerns. With our community across America torn apart, it would be interesting to see someone else pick up a column in the same way of her column today. With more awareness of marriage and children in today’s culture, unifying our country. Is there a way for us to highlight our similar issues and support? I see friends’ questions on Facebook. I see the ebbs and flows with growth of marriages. But to have that one column that everyone uses provided openly every day ... I think could unify the divides of today.
Had a good conversation with my friend and were looking at who may be this voice today and how is it different. Realize that Oprah really reached to the national, all areas, all demographics. But even she had a different format of conversation 20-30 years ago versus what a new person would have now. What would be the new voice's venue? Twitter? Podcast?
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