Nelson Poynter
Encyclopedia
Nelson Poynter was an American publisher. He was born in Sullivan, Indiana
in 1903. His family moved to Florida nine years later when his father bought the St. Petersburg Times
. Nelson returned to Indiana to get his B.A. from Indiana University
and went on to complete a master's degree from Yale
in 1927.
He worked various newspaper jobs across the country after completing his education. He began buying stock from his father in 1935, and he became an editor in 1939. He stayed in this position until his father's death in 1953 when he was appointed president. He co-founded the Congressional Quarterly
with his wife, Henrietta.
He established the Poynter Fund in 1954 to honor his father. He gave generously to his two almae matres
to enrich their journalism programs. His most lasting legacy was to establish the Modern Media Institute which was renamed the Poynter Institute
after his death in 1978. The Poynter Institute received all of his shares in the Times Publishing Company
that owns the St. Petersburg Times and Congressional Quarterly. The Nelson Poynter Memorial Library, built in 1996, was built in memory of Poynter on the campus of the University of South Florida St. Petersburg
.
Sullivan, Indiana
Sullivan is a city in Hamilton Township, Sullivan County, Indiana, United States. The population was 4,617 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Terre Haute Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is the county seat of Sullivan County...
in 1903. His family moved to Florida nine years later when his father bought the St. Petersburg Times
St. Petersburg Times
The St. Petersburg Times is a United States newspaper. It is one of two major publications serving the Tampa Bay Area, the other being The Tampa Tribune, which the Times tops in both circulation and readership. Based in St...
. Nelson returned to Indiana to get his B.A. from Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
and went on to complete a master's degree from Yale
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1927.
He worked various newspaper jobs across the country after completing his education. He began buying stock from his father in 1935, and he became an editor in 1939. He stayed in this position until his father's death in 1953 when he was appointed president. He co-founded the Congressional Quarterly
Congressional Quarterly
Congressional Quarterly, Inc., or CQ, is a privately owned publishing company that produces a number of publications reporting primarily on the United States Congress...
with his wife, Henrietta.
He established the Poynter Fund in 1954 to honor his father. He gave generously to his two almae matres
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
to enrich their journalism programs. His most lasting legacy was to establish the Modern Media Institute which was renamed the Poynter Institute
Poynter Institute
The Poynter Institute is a non-profit school for journalism located in St. Petersburg, Florida. The school's mission statement says that "The Poynter Institute is a school dedicated to teaching and inspiring journalists and media leaders. It promotes excellence and integrity in the practice of...
after his death in 1978. The Poynter Institute received all of his shares in the Times Publishing Company
Times Publishing Company
Times Publishing Company is a newspaper and magazine publisher. Its flagship publication is the St. Petersburg Times, a daily newspaper serving the Tampa Bay area. It also publishes the business magazine Florida Trend and the daily newspaper tbt* .Times Publishing Company is based in St...
that owns the St. Petersburg Times and Congressional Quarterly. The Nelson Poynter Memorial Library, built in 1996, was built in memory of Poynter on the campus of the University of South Florida St. Petersburg
University of South Florida St. Petersburg
The University of South Florida St. Petersburg , commonly known as USF St. Pete, is an autonomous campus in the University of South Florida system, located in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida by the Tampa Bay waterfront...
.