Sumner Blossom
Encyclopedia
Sumner N. Blossom was an American
magazine
editor
. During the 1920s, Blossom worked as editor for Popular Science
magazine. In 1929 he joined The American Magazine as its editor, a position he held until the magazine's closure in August 1956.
Blossom was a graduate of Westport High School
in Kansas City, Missouri
, where he played football.
While editor of The American Magazine, Sumner Blossom published short stories
by many outstanding writers of the day but also adopted policies that provided opportunities for unknown writers to have their work published. Blossom arranged to hide the author's name on all works of fiction during the selection process. The magazine's staff only learned the author's identity once they accepted or rejected a manuscript. Hence, an unknown writerm whose unsolicited work had been drawn from the slush pile
, could be selected for publication based on literary merit, not just because of an established reputation.
Blossom was living in Babylon, New York
, when he died in 1977.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
. During the 1920s, Blossom worked as editor for Popular Science
Popular Science
Popular Science is an American monthly magazine founded in 1872 carrying articles for the general reader on science and technology subjects. Popular Science has won over 58 awards, including the ASME awards for its journalistic excellence in both 2003 and 2004...
magazine. In 1929 he joined The American Magazine as its editor, a position he held until the magazine's closure in August 1956.
Blossom was a graduate of Westport High School
Westport High School (Missouri)
Westport High School was a comprehensive high school located at 315 East 39th Street in Kansas City, Missouri. It was part of the Kansas City, Missouri School District. A trowel was used to lay the cornerstone of the school on June 8, 1907...
in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, where he played football.
While editor of The American Magazine, Sumner Blossom published short stories
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
by many outstanding writers of the day but also adopted policies that provided opportunities for unknown writers to have their work published. Blossom arranged to hide the author's name on all works of fiction during the selection process. The magazine's staff only learned the author's identity once they accepted or rejected a manuscript. Hence, an unknown writerm whose unsolicited work had been drawn from the slush pile
Slush pile
In publishing, the slush pile is the set of unsolicited query letters or manuscripts sent either directly to the publisher or literary agent by authors, or to the publisher by an agent not known to the publisher....
, could be selected for publication based on literary merit, not just because of an established reputation.
Blossom was living in Babylon, New York
Babylon (village), New York
Babylon is a village in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 12,615 at the 2000 census.Its official name is The Incorporated Village of Babylon...
, when he died in 1977.