DeWitt Wallace
Encyclopedia
DeWitt Wallace also known as William Roy (full name: William Roy DeWitt Wallace) was a United States magazine
publisher. He co-founded Reader's Digest
with his wife Lila Wallace
and published the first issue in 1922.
Born in St. Paul, Minnesota
, where his father was on the faculty (and later president) of Macalester College
, he attended Mount Hermon School as a youth (now Northfield Mount Hermon School). Wallace attended college at Macalester from 1907 to 1909 but transferred to the University of California, Berkeley
for two years. He returned to St. Paul in 1912 and was hired by a publishing firm specializing in farming literature.
During World War I
, Wallace enlisted in the U.S. Army and was wounded. He spent four months in a French
hospital recovering from his injuries, passing the time by reading American magazines.
Returning to the U.S., Wallace spent every day of the next six months at the Minneapolis Public Library
researching and condensing magazine articles. He wanted to create a magazine with articles on a wide variety of subjects, abridged so that each could be easily read. Wallace showed his sample magazine to Lila Bell Acheson, sister of an old college friend, who responded enthusiastically. He proposed to her and on October 15, 1921, they were married. The Wallaces decided to publish the magazine themselves and market it by direct mail
. The first issue appeared on February 5, 1922. Reader's Digest soon became one of the most widely circulated periodicals in the world. Wallace was a supporter of the Republican Party
with strong anti-communist views,
and the magazine reflected these beliefs. Wallace and his wife were strong supporters of Richard Nixon
's presidential
bid in 1968, giving Nixon cash donations and allowing Nixon to write articles for the Digest.
Wallace was also a noted philanthropist
, donating much of his massive fortune to his alma mater
Macalester College. There is also a dormitory with his name on the Northfield Mount Hermon campus. He also funded the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum
, opened in 1985 at Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia
.
On January 28, 1972, DeWitt Wallace was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom
by President Richard Nixon.
Mr. Wallace was inducted into the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame in 1980.
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...
publisher. He co-founded Reader's Digest
Reader's Digest
Reader's Digest is a general interest family magazine, published ten times annually. Formerly based in Chappaqua, New York, its headquarters is now in New York City. It was founded in 1922, by DeWitt Wallace and Lila Bell Wallace...
with his wife Lila Wallace
Lila Bell Wallace
Lila Bell Wallace was a United States magazine publisher.Born as Lila Bell Acheson, her father was a Presbyterian minister who brought his family to the USA when she was a child, and she grew up in the Midwest...
and published the first issue in 1922.
Born in St. Paul, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, where his father was on the faculty (and later president) of Macalester College
Macalester College
Macalester College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It was founded in 1874 as a Presbyterian-affiliated but nonsectarian college. Its first class entered September 15, 1885. The college is located on a campus in a historic residential neighborhood...
, he attended Mount Hermon School as a youth (now Northfield Mount Hermon School). Wallace attended college at Macalester from 1907 to 1909 but transferred to the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
for two years. He returned to St. Paul in 1912 and was hired by a publishing firm specializing in farming literature.
During 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...
, Wallace enlisted in the U.S. Army and was wounded. He spent four months in a French
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...
hospital recovering from his injuries, passing the time by reading American magazines.
Returning to the U.S., Wallace spent every day of the next six months at the Minneapolis Public Library
Minneapolis Public Library
The Minneapolis Public Library and Information Center was a library system serving the residents of Minneapolis, Minnesota in the United States. It was founded as the publicly traded Minneapolis Athenæum in 1860 and became a free public library in 1885 founded by T. B. Walker...
researching and condensing magazine articles. He wanted to create a magazine with articles on a wide variety of subjects, abridged so that each could be easily read. Wallace showed his sample magazine to Lila Bell Acheson, sister of an old college friend, who responded enthusiastically. He proposed to her and on October 15, 1921, they were married. The Wallaces decided to publish the magazine themselves and market it by direct mail
Direct mail
Advertising mail, also known as direct mail, junk mail, or admail, is the delivery of advertising material to recipients of postal mail. The delivery of advertising mail forms a large and growing service for many postal services, and direct-mail marketing forms a significant portion of the direct...
. The first issue appeared on February 5, 1922. Reader's Digest soon became one of the most widely circulated periodicals in the world. Wallace was a supporter of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
with strong anti-communist views,
and the magazine reflected these beliefs. Wallace and his wife were strong supporters of Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
's presidential
bid in 1968, giving Nixon cash donations and allowing Nixon to write articles for the Digest.
Wallace was also a noted philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
, donating much of his massive fortune to his alma mater
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:...
Macalester College. There is also a dormitory with his name on the Northfield Mount Hermon campus. He also funded the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum
DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum
DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum also known as the DeWitt Wallace Gallery is located in Williamsburg, Virginia and is one of Colonial Williamsburg's attractions. It is named for DeWitt Wallace , who was co founder of Reader's Digest magazine with his wife Lila...
, opened in 1985 at Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
.
On January 28, 1972, DeWitt Wallace was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Presidential Medal of Freedom
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is an award bestowed by the President of the United States and is—along with thecomparable Congressional Gold Medal bestowed by an act of U.S. Congress—the highest civilian award in the United States...
by President Richard Nixon.
Mr. Wallace was inducted into the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame in 1980.