Margaret Cobb Ailshie

Margaret Cobb Ailshie
Born (1883-03-27)March 27, 1883
Chicago
Died August 26, 1959(1959-08-26) (aged 76)
Nationality American
Occupation Socialite, publisher, and social activist

Margaret Cobb Ailshie (March 27, 1883 – August 26, 1959) was a social belle, publisher, and social activist in Boise and Chicago.[1]

Early years

Born in Chicago in 1883, she only lived in Chicago for six years before her father Calvin Cobb bought the Idaho Statesman and moved the family to Boise.[2] Ailshie was raised as a socialite and went to Miss Porter's Boarding School in Farmington, Connecticut. She traveled among a wealthy elite.[3] She traveled abroad to serve in France in World War I as a member of the Red Cross.

Ailshie went to New York City to help with the Spanish flu pandemic and then ran a canteen in France. She returned at the age of 36 in the year 1919. Nine years later her father died. Her family lived at 212 W. Idaho Street, where after her father's death she carried on his mission of making Boise a better place.

Publisher of the Statesman

Ailshie was the first woman publisher for the Idaho Statesman. As publisher of the Statesman she followed the policies provided by her father, Calvin Cobb. Ailshie held the post from 1928–1959 and guided the newspaper to greater growth.

Ailshie was called a "fearless" publisher[4] by the Statesman. Loved by her staff, Ailshie became publisher when her father died in 1928.

When Calvin Cobb purchased the paper, it was only a tri-weekly. In 1942 Ailshie led the Statesman to produce an evening paper. Ailshie led the paper to reach a circulation goal of 50,000 for the Sunday edition.[5] She founded a new site for the Statesman building. At the time it faced Steunenberg park, and surrounded the Ada County courthouse.

The newspaper achieved a daily circulation of 30,000 in the early 1940s under her leadership.[6] Writing in 1947, American journalist John Gunther described Ailshie as "an extreme reactionary–something to the right of Louis XIV or Boies Penrose say–and a genuine patrician."[7]

Other projects

Ailshie's favorite projects were the Julia Davis Park restoration of a pioneer village and the construction of Bronco Stadium. The Idaho Statesman provided nearly the entire cost of the stadium.

Ailshie belonged to no clubs in Boise, though she entertained numerous guests at her home from her travels around the globe. She endowed the Margaret Cobb Ailshie Trust, which benefited many public institutions over the years.

She closely watched the Harry Orchard case in the assassination of Gov. Frank Steunenberg. Her papers elucidate documentation regarding this historical case, including the confession of Harry Orchard.

References

  1. ↑ Collias, John. "Margaret Cobb Ailshie: Guardian of the Policy". Idaho Statesman. 1964 July 26 p 10.
  2. ↑ Idaho State Historical Society Public Archives and Research Library (2006) Guide to the Margaret Cobb Ailshie Papers 1872-1959. (Accessed: 2007 June 29).
  3. ↑ Bossick, Karen. "Margaret Cobb Ailshie: Socialite switched hats to run newspapers". Idaho Statesman. 2003 March 4 Life 3.
  4. ↑ Collias, John. "Margaret Cobb Ailshie: Guardian of the Policy". Idaho Statesman. 1964 July 26 p 10.
  5. ↑ Collias, John. "Margaret Cobb Ailshie: Guardian of the Policy". Idaho Statesman. 1964 July 26 p 11.
  6. ↑ "Margaret Cobb Ailshie, Statesman Publisher, Dies" Idaho Statesman. 1959 August 27.
  7. ↑ Gunther, John (1947). Inside U.S.A. New York, London: Harper & Brothers. p. 116.
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