Creating an Ideal America, 1919-1970
Written in Black and White: Creating an Ideal America, 1919-1970 © 2012 By Dustin M. Gann Submitted to the Department of History and Graduate Faculty at The University of Kansas In partial fulfillment Of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy ___________________ Chairperson, Dr. Jeff Moran ___________________ Dr. Jonathan Earle ___________________ Dr. Kim Warren ___________________ Dr. Jacob Dorman ___________________ Dr. Brian Donovan Defense Date: April 9, 2012 ii The Dissertation Committee for Dustin M. Gann certifies that this is the approved version of the following dissertation: Written in Black and White: Creating an Ideal America, 1919-1970 ________________________________ Chairperson, Dr. Jeffrey Moran Date approved: April 9, 2012 iii Abstract This project juxtaposes the careers of three unique publishers in order to analyze how the twentieth century public sphere gave publishers new pathways to prominence, an ability to cultivate personal audiences based on ideology, and wide latitude to express personal visions for America. Emanuel Haldeman-Julius, a socialist sympathizer and the son of Russian immigrants, founded Haldeman-Julius Publishing in 1919 and advocated a rational reordering of American society. Haldeman-Julius used nationwide mass-marketing, multiple periodical publications, and the popular Little Blue Book series to vigorously challenge conservative views on sexuality, religion, labor, race, and education. Further challenging the exclusionary characteristics of American society, the African American newspaperman Chester Franklin founded the Kansas City Call in 1919 and championed racial uplift through hard work, self-reliance, and education. He expanded the paper throughout the Midwest and gave a voice to campaigns for integration and improved working conditions in the region. Finally, native Kansan William Lindsay White used the combination of national and local platforms to articulate a conservative vision for America based on a return to traditional values.
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