Margaret Cobb Ailshie
Encyclopedia
Margaret Cobb Ailshie was a social belle
, publisher, and social activist in Boise
and Chicago.
bought the Idaho Statesman and moved the family to Boise. Ailshie was raised as a socialite and went to Miss Porter's Boarding School in Farmington, Connecticut
. She traveled among a wealthy elite She travelled 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 torch of making Boise a better place.
. 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 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. 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
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.
Socialite
A socialite is a person who participates in social activities and spends a significant amount of time entertaining and being entertained at fashionable upper-class events....
, publisher, and social activist in Boise
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
and Chicago.
Early years
Born in Chicago in 1883, she only lived in Chicago for six years when her father Calvin CobbCalvin Cobb
Calvin Cobb was born July 15, 1853, in Cleveland, Ohio. He grew up in Chicago and worked with his father in the Cobb Library publishing house. During the 1880s he became involved in the livestock trade...
bought the Idaho Statesman and moved the family to Boise. Ailshie was raised as a socialite and went to Miss Porter's Boarding School in Farmington, Connecticut
Farmington, Connecticut
Farmington is a town located in Hartford County in the Farmington Valley area of central Connecticut in the United States. The population was 25,340 at the 2010 census. It is home to the world headquarters of several large corporations including Carrier Corporation, Otis Elevator Company, and Carvel...
. She traveled among a wealthy elite She travelled abroad to serve in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
as a member of the Red Cross.
Ailshie went to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to help with the Spanish flu
Spanish flu
The 1918 flu pandemic was an influenza pandemic, and the first of the two pandemics involving H1N1 influenza virus . It was an unusually severe and deadly pandemic that spread across the world. Historical and epidemiological data are inadequate to identify the geographic origin...
pandemic
Influenza pandemic
An influenza pandemic is an epidemic of an influenza virus that spreads on a worldwide scale and infects a large proportion of the human population. In contrast to the regular seasonal epidemics of influenza, these pandemics occur irregularly, with the 1918 Spanish flu the most serious pandemic in...
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 torch of making Boise a better place.
Publisher of the Statesman
She was the first woman publisher for the Idaho StatesmanIdaho Statesman
The Idaho Statesman is a U.S. daily newspaper serving the Boise, Idaho metropolitan area. The paper has a circulation of 61,000 daily, 83,038 Sunday, and employs about 300 people. It is owned by The McClatchy Company....
. 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
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
to greater growth.
Ailshie was called a "fearless" publisher 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. 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
Other projects
Her favorite projects were the Julia Davis ParkJulia Davis park
Julia Davis Park is the first park in the "string of pearls", the public park system found running through the middle of Boise, Idaho. It is centrally located within the city of Boise and is bordered by Broadway Avenue to the east, Capital Boulevard to the west, the Boise River to the south, and...
restoration of a pioneer village
Open air museum
An open-air museum is a distinct type of museum exhibiting its collections out-of-doors. The first open-air museums were established in Scandinavia towards the end of the nineteenth century, and the concept soon spread throughout Europe and North America. Open-air museums are variously known as...
and the construction of Bronco Stadium
Bronco Stadium
Bronco Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium in Boise, Idaho, the home field of the Boise State Broncos of the Mountain West Conference. Since 1997, it has hosted the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Bronco Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium in Boise, Idaho, the home field of the Boise State Broncos...
. 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
Charitable trust
A charitable trust is an irrevocable trust established for charitable purposes, and is a more specific term than "charitable organization".-United States:...
which benefited many public institutions over the years.
She closely watched the Harry Orchard case in the assassination of Gov. Frank Steunenberg
Frank Steunenberg
Frank Steunenberg was the fourth Governor of the State of Idaho, serving from 1897 until 1901. He is perhaps best known for his 1905 assassination by one-time union member Harry Orchard, who was also a paid informant for the Cripple Creek Mine Owners' Association...
. Her papers elucidate documentation regarding this historical case including the confession of Harry Orchard.