Fred C. Kelly
Encyclopedia
Fred Charters Kelly was an American humorist, newspaperman, columnist
and author
.
Kelly was born in 1882 in Xenia, Ohio
and studied at the University of Michigan
(1900–1902). He began his newspaper career in 1896 as a local correspondent for a small town newspaper and wrote a humor column for The Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio
) for five years. His "Statesmen, Real and Near" column (1910–1918) was the first Washington, D.C.
news column to be syndicated. During World War I, Kelly served briefly as special agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation
.
After the war Kelly bought and operated a farm in Peninsula, Ohio
where he continued to support himself as a free-lance writer. In addition to his journalistic work, he was the official biographer of the Wright brothers
, and worked to bring the original 1903 Wright Flyer
home to the U.S. from the Science Museum
in London, to which Orville Wright lent it during his long feud with the Smithsonian Institution
over credit for the first flight.
Columnist
A columnist is a journalist who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs....
and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
.
Kelly was born in 1882 in Xenia, Ohio
Xenia, Ohio
Xenia is a city in and the county seat of Greene County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in southwestern Ohio 21 miles from Dayton and is part of the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area...
and studied at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
(1900–1902). He began his newspaper career in 1896 as a local correspondent for a small town newspaper and wrote a humor column for The Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
) for five years. His "Statesmen, Real and Near" column (1910–1918) was the first Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
news column to be syndicated. During World War I, Kelly served briefly as special agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
.
After the war Kelly bought and operated a farm in Peninsula, Ohio
Peninsula, Ohio
Peninsula is a village in Summit County, Ohio, United States. The population was 602 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Akron Metropolitan Statistical Area....
where he continued to support himself as a free-lance writer. In addition to his journalistic work, he was the official biographer of the Wright brothers
Wright brothers
The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur , were two Americans credited with inventing and building the world's first successful airplane and making the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight, on December 17, 1903...
, and worked to bring the original 1903 Wright Flyer
Wright Flyer
The Wright Flyer was the first powered aircraft, designed and built by the Wright brothers. They flew it four times on December 17, 1903 near the Kill Devil Hills, about four miles south of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, U.S.The U.S...
home to the U.S. from the Science Museum
Science Museum (London)
The Science Museum is one of the three major museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is part of the National Museum of Science and Industry. The museum is a major London tourist attraction....
in London, to which Orville Wright lent it during his long feud with the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
over credit for the first flight.
Partial bibliography
- Human Nature in Business (1920)
- How to Lose Your Money Prudently (1933)
- They Wouldn't Believe the Wrights had Flown: A Study in Human Incredulity (1940)
- The Wright Brothers (1943)
- George Ade - Warm Hearted Satirist (1947)
- Miracle at Kitty Hawk: The Letters of Wilbur and Orville Wright (1951) (editor)
External links
- Fred Kelly Papers at Syracuse University