Robert E. Petersen
Encyclopedia
Robert Einar "Pete" Petersen (September 10, 1926 – March 23, 2007) was an American
publisher and founder of the Petersen Automotive Museum
in 1994.
Petersen was born in East Los Angeles, California
and served in the Army Air Corps
in World War II
. Starting with Hot Rod Magazine
in 1948, he built his publishing empire on automotive-themed publications, including Car Craft, Sports Car Graphic and Motor Trend
. He also published CARtoons
, Guns & Ammo
, Sport
, Motorcyclist, Motor Life, Hunting
, Mountain Biker, Photographic, Teen, Tiger Beat
, and Sassy Magazine
.
He married Margie McNally in 1963 and had two sons who died in a 1975 plane crash.
In 1996 Petersen sold his company Petersen Publishing Company to a private equity fund
which, in 1999, sold it for $450 million to publisher EMAP
. In 2001 it was sold to Primedia
. In 2007 Primedia's enthusiast publications, including all the once-Petersen titles, were again sold to Source Interlink, controlled by Ron Burkle. In 1999 Petersen bought Sports Afield
from Hearst Corporation
and he sold it in 2002 to the owners of Safari Press
.
Petersen died at St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California
of complications from neuroendocrine cancer. Margie Petersen died on November 25, 2011.
An avid hunter and collector, Petersen had amassed a sizable collection featuring hundreds of unique and historically significant antique and modern firearms. Following Petersen's death, in following with his wishes, Bob's widow donated a 400-piece portion of his extensive collection to the National Rifle Association's National Firearms Museum in Fairfax, VA.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
publisher and founder of the Petersen Automotive Museum
Petersen Automotive Museum
The Petersen Automotive Museum is located on Wilshire Boulevard along Museum Row in the Miracle Mile neighborhood of Los Angeles. One of the world's largest automotive museums, the Petersen Automotive Museum is a non profit organization specializing in the education and history of the...
in 1994.
Petersen was born in East Los Angeles, California
East Los Angeles, California
East Los Angeles is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California, United States...
and served in the Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Starting with Hot Rod Magazine
Hot Rod Magazine
Hot Rod is an American monthly magazine devoted to hot rodding, —modifying automobiles for performance and appearance.-History:Hot Rod is the oldest magazine devoted to hot rodding having been published since 1948. Robert E. Petersen founded the magazine and his Petersen Publishing Company...
in 1948, he built his publishing empire on automotive-themed publications, including Car Craft, Sports Car Graphic and Motor Trend
Motor Trend
Motor Trend is an American automobile magazine. It first appeared in September 1949, issued by Petersen Publishing Company in Los Angeles, and bearing the tag line "The Magazine for a Motoring World". Petersen Publishing was sold to British publisher EMAP in 1998, who sold the former Petersen...
. He also published CARtoons
CARtoons Magazine
CARtoons magazine was an American publication that focused on automotive humor and hot rod artwork. Originated by Carl Kohler and drag-racing artist Pete Millar, it was published by Petersen Publication Company as a quarterly starting in 1959. Editors over the years included Dick Day, Jack...
, Guns & Ammo
Guns & Ammo
Guns & Ammo is a magazine dedicated to firearms, hunting, competition shooting, reloading, and other shooting-related activities in the United States....
, Sport
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
, Motorcyclist, Motor Life, Hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
, Mountain Biker, Photographic, Teen, Tiger Beat
Tiger Beat
Tiger Beat is an American fan magazine marketed primarily to adolescent girls. It is currently published by Laufer Media, Inc. of Los Angeles, California, which also produces its sister publication, Bop....
, and Sassy Magazine
Sassy Magazine
Sassy magazine is a defunct teen magazine, aimed at teenage female fans of alternative and indie rock music. It was founded in March 1988 by an Australian feminist, Sandra Yates, CEO of Matilda Publications, who based it on the teen magazine Dolly, which is still in publication in...
.
He married Margie McNally in 1963 and had two sons who died in a 1975 plane crash.
In 1996 Petersen sold his company Petersen Publishing Company to a private equity fund
Private equity fund
A private equity fund is a collective investment scheme used for making investments in various equity securities according to one of the investment strategies associated with private equity....
which, in 1999, sold it for $450 million to publisher EMAP
EMAP
Emap Limited is a British media company, specialising in the production of business-to-business magazines, and the organisation of business events and conferences...
. In 2001 it was sold to Primedia
Primedia
PRIMEDIA Inc. is privately held American media company fully owned by TPG Capital.Consumer Source Inc. is the sole operating division of PRIMEDIA and helps millions of consumers find apartments, houses for rent, and new homes for sale through its Internet, mobile, and print products...
. In 2007 Primedia's enthusiast publications, including all the once-Petersen titles, were again sold to Source Interlink, controlled by Ron Burkle. In 1999 Petersen bought Sports Afield
Sports Afield
Sports Afield was founded in 1887 as a hunting and fishing magazine by Claude King and is the oldest continuous outdoor publication in North America. The first issue, in January 1888, was eight pages long and printed on newspaper stock, published in Denver, Colorado...
from Hearst Corporation
Hearst Corporation
The Hearst Corporation is an American media conglomerate based in the Hearst Tower, Manhattan in New York City, New York, United States. Founded by William Randolph Hearst as an owner of newspapers, the company's holdings now include a wide variety of media...
and he sold it in 2002 to the owners of Safari Press
Safari Press
Safari Press is a book publishing company specializing in books on big-game hunting and sporting firearms and is being run by Dr. Jacque Neufeld, editor in chief, and Ludo J. Wurfbain, publisher. It is privately owned by a small group of shareholders. The company started in May 1984 when it issued...
.
Petersen died at St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
of complications from neuroendocrine cancer. Margie Petersen died on November 25, 2011.
An avid hunter and collector, Petersen had amassed a sizable collection featuring hundreds of unique and historically significant antique and modern firearms. Following Petersen's death, in following with his wishes, Bob's widow donated a 400-piece portion of his extensive collection to the National Rifle Association's National Firearms Museum in Fairfax, VA.