Frank Gannett
Encyclopedia
Frank Ernest Gannett is the founder of Gannett media corporation.
, United States
, graduated from Bolivar High School , Bolivar, NY in 1893, and graduated from Cornell University
. At the age of 30, he purchased his first newspaper, the Elmira
Gazette (now the Star-Gazette
). Six years later, in 1912, he purchased the Ithaca Journal. In March 1918, he and his partners moved their headquarters to Rochester, New York
where they acquired the Evening Times, the Herald, and the Union and Advertiser and combined them as the Times-Union (the former evening paper of Rochester). In 1923 Gannett bought out his partners and formed his eponymous holding company
the Gannett Company
, which has grown from its initial 6 newspapers into a nationwide multimedia corporation.
Active in state politics, Gannett took a neutral stand to the New Deal
in 1936 before joining the opposition against President Franklin D. Roosevelt
's court-packing scheme. He helped the Republicans retake control of Rochester's City Council a year later. In 1939–1940, he ran briefly for the 1940 Republican presidential nomination. He was a founding member of the National Committee to Uphold Constitutional Government
.
Frank Gannett is buried in historic Mt. Hope Cemetery
in Rochester, New York
.
, Utica College
, and Ithaca College
are named for him, in addition to the student health center at Cornell University
(Gannett Health Services) and the building that houses the printing and photography programs at Rochester Institute of Technology
. The Frank E. Gannett Field House at Wilson College
in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
is named after him .
Biography
Gannett was born in South Bristol, New YorkSouth Bristol, New York
South Bristol is a town in Ontario County, New York, USA. The population was 1,645 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from its separation from the Town of Bristol.The Town of South Bristol is in the southwest part of the county...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, graduated from Bolivar High School , Bolivar, NY in 1893, and graduated from Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
. At the age of 30, he purchased his first newspaper, the Elmira
Elmira, New York
Elmira is a city in Chemung County, New York, USA. It is the principal city of the 'Elmira, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area' which encompasses Chemung County, New York. The population was 29,200 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Chemung County.The City of Elmira is located in...
Gazette (now the Star-Gazette
Star-Gazette
The Star-Gazette is the major newspaper for Elmira, New York. Based in Elmira, the publication is owned by the Gannett Corporation.-History:...
). Six years later, in 1912, he purchased the Ithaca Journal. In March 1918, he and his partners moved their headquarters to Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
where they acquired the Evening Times, the Herald, and the Union and Advertiser and combined them as the Times-Union (the former evening paper of Rochester). In 1923 Gannett bought out his partners and formed his eponymous holding company
Holding company
A holding company is a company or firm that owns other companies' outstanding stock. It usually refers to a company which does not produce goods or services itself; rather, its purpose is to own shares of other companies. Holding companies allow the reduction of risk for the owners and can allow...
the Gannett Company
Gannett Company
Gannett Company, Inc. is a publicly-traded media holding company headquartered in Tysons Corner, Virginia, United States, near McLean. It is the largest U.S. newspaper publisher as measured by total daily circulation. Its assets include the national newspaper USA Today and the weekly USA Weekend...
, which has grown from its initial 6 newspapers into a nationwide multimedia corporation.
Active in state politics, Gannett took a neutral stand to the New Deal
New Deal
The New Deal was a series of economic programs implemented in the United States between 1933 and 1936. They were passed by the U.S. Congress during the first term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The programs were Roosevelt's responses to the Great Depression, and focused on what historians call...
in 1936 before joining the opposition against President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
's court-packing scheme. He helped the Republicans retake control of Rochester's City Council a year later. In 1939–1940, he ran briefly for the 1940 Republican presidential nomination. He was a founding member of the National Committee to Uphold Constitutional Government
National Committee to Uphold Constitutional Government
The National Committee to Uphold Constitutional Government , also known as the Committee for Constitutional Government , was founded in 1937 in opposition to Franklin D. Roosevelt's Court Packing Bill. The Committee opposed most, if not all, of the New Deal legislation.Founders of the Committee...
.
Frank Gannett is buried in historic Mt. Hope Cemetery
Mount Hope Cemetery, Rochester
Mount Hope Cemetery in Rochester, New York, founded in 1838, is the United States' first municipal rural cemetery. Situated on 196 acres of land adjacent to the University of Rochester on Mount Hope Avenue, the cemetery is the permanent resting place of over 350,000 people...
in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
.
Legacy
The libraries at Elmira CollegeElmira College
Elmira College is a coeducational private liberal arts college located in Elmira, in New York State's Southern Tier region.The college is noted as the oldest college still in existence which granted degrees to women that were the equivalent of those given to men...
, Utica College
Utica College
Utica College is a private university located in Utica, New York. The history of the college dates back to the 1930s when Syracuse University began offering extension courses in the Utica area. Syracuse University established Utica College as a four-year institution in 1946, and in 1995, UC ...
, and Ithaca College
Ithaca College
Ithaca College is a private college located on the South Hill of Ithaca, New York. The school was founded by William Egbert in 1892 as a conservatory of music. The college has a strong liberal arts core, but also offers several pre-professional programs and some graduate programs. The college is...
are named for him, in addition to the student health center at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
(Gannett Health Services) and the building that houses the printing and photography programs at Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester Institute of Technology
The Rochester Institute of Technology is a private university, located within the town of Henrietta in metropolitan Rochester, New York, United States...
. The Frank E. Gannett Field House at Wilson College
Wilson College (Pennsylvania)
Wilson College, founded 1869, is a private, Presbyterian-related, liberal arts women's college located on a campus in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, United States. It was founded by two Presbyterian ministers, but named for its first major donor, Sarah Wilson of nearby St. Thomas Township,...
in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
Chambersburg is a borough in the South Central region of Pennsylvania, United States. It is miles north of Maryland and the Mason-Dixon line and southwest of Harrisburg in the Cumberland Valley, which is part of the Great Appalachian Valley. Chambersburg is the county seat of Franklin County...
is named after him .