Ralph Easley
Encyclopedia
Ralph Montgomery Easley (1856 - 1939) was an American journalist and political organizer. He was Director of the American political reform group, the National Civic Federation
.
Easley was born in Frederick, Illinois
, but moved to Hutchinson, Kansas
, in 1875, where he was a public school teacher, postmaster, and newspaper reporter. In 1883, he purchased and began editing the Hutchinson Daily News until 1891. In 1891, became a key figure in the Illinois Republican Party. Both of these positions served as important stepping stones in Easley’s career as a reformer and civic booster. His tenure as editor lasted until 1891, when Easley left Kansas and made his way back to Illinois. Here, he took charge of the “politicoeconomic department” of the Chicago Inter Ocean
, one of the Middle West’s leading urban newspapers. This position, which involved creating and administering employee welfare programs, put Easley in contact with many of Chicago’s leading civic reformers, and business, political, and labor leaders. In 1893 he became a founder and secretary of the political reform group, the Chicago Civic Federation
. In 1900, he left Chicago to found the National Civic Federation in New York
, where he was the chairman of the executive council throughout the federation’s forty-five-year history
In 1917, he married Gertrude Beeks Easley who continued to work with him at the National Civic Federation.
National Civic Federation
The National Civic Federation, was a federation of American businesses and labor leaders founded in 1900. It favoured moderate progressive reform and sought to resolve disputes arising between industry and organized labor. It emerged first in 1893 as the Chicago Civic Federation , which was also...
.
Easley was born in Frederick, Illinois
Frederick, Illinois
Frederick is an unincorporated community in Schuyler County, Illinois, United States. Frederick is near the Illinois River north of Beardstown. Frederick has a post office with ZIP code 62639....
, but moved to Hutchinson, Kansas
Hutchinson, Kansas
Hutchinson is the largest city in and the county seat of Reno County, Kansas, United States, northwest of Wichita, on the Arkansas River. It has been home to salt mines since 1887, thus its nickname of "Salt City", but locals call it "Hutch"...
, in 1875, where he was a public school teacher, postmaster, and newspaper reporter. In 1883, he purchased and began editing the Hutchinson Daily News until 1891. In 1891, became a key figure in the Illinois Republican Party. Both of these positions served as important stepping stones in Easley’s career as a reformer and civic booster. His tenure as editor lasted until 1891, when Easley left Kansas and made his way back to Illinois. Here, he took charge of the “politicoeconomic department” of the Chicago Inter Ocean
Chicago Inter Ocean
The Chicago Inter Ocean, also known as the Chicago Inter-Ocean, is the name used for most of its history for a newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois, from 1865 until 1914. Its editors included Charles A...
, one of the Middle West’s leading urban newspapers. This position, which involved creating and administering employee welfare programs, put Easley in contact with many of Chicago’s leading civic reformers, and business, political, and labor leaders. In 1893 he became a founder and secretary of the political reform group, the Chicago Civic Federation
Chicago Civic Federation
- Summary :The Civic Federation is a Chicago-based non-partisan research organization focused on governments in the Chicago area and the state of Illinois...
. In 1900, he left Chicago to found the National Civic Federation in New York
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...
, where he was the chairman of the executive council throughout the federation’s forty-five-year history
In 1917, he married Gertrude Beeks Easley who continued to work with him at the National Civic Federation.
External links
- National Civic Federation Records, 1894-1949 (PDF) at the New York Public LibraryNew York Public LibraryThe New York Public Library is the largest public library in North America and is one of the United States' most significant research libraries...