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==Early life and education==
==Early life and education==
[[File:Francis Pharcellus Church Monument 2010.JPG|thumb|left|150px|The monument of Francis Pharcellus Church in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery]]
[[File:Francis Pharcellus Church Monument 2010.JPG|thumb|left|150px|The monument of Francis Pharcellus Church in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery]]
Francis "Frank" Pharcellus Church was born in [[Rochester, New York]] on February 22, 1839, to Pharcellus Church, a Baptist minister,<ref name= ":0">{{Cite news|date=1930-12-09|title=" His Art Alone Endures "|pages=6|work=The Tribune|url=https:// newspapers /clip/90844566/his-art-alone-endures/|access-date=2021-12-19|via=[[Newspapers ]]}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Mynatt|first=Jenai|url=http://archive.org/details/contemporaryauth00jena|title=Contemporary authors. [electronic resource]: a bio-bibliographical guide to current writers in fiction, general nonfiction, poetry, journalism, drama, motion pictures, television, and other fields|date=2004|publisher=Detroit, Mich.: Gale|others=|isbn=978-0-7876-9295-7|pages=72-73}}</ref> and Emily Church ({{nee}} Conant).<ref name=":1"/>Hisolder brotherwas[[William Conant Church]],<ref name= ":1"/> andhe hada younger brother, [[John Adams Church]].<ref name= ":3"/> As a child, FrancisattendedNew YorkCity's [[Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School]], whose headmaster was [[Charles Anthon]].<ref name= ":2"/> His education was centered around math and foreign languages.<ref name=":3"/>
Francis "Frank" Pharcellus Church was born in [[Rochester, New York]] on February 22, 1839, to Pharcellus Church, a Baptist minister,<ref name= ":02">{{Cite news|date=1930-12-09|title=" His Art Alone Endures "|pages=6|work=The Tribune|url=https:// newspapers /clip/90844566/his-art-alone-endures/|access-date=2021-12-19|via=[[Newspapers ]]}}</ref><ref name=":12">{{Cite book|last=Mynatt|first=Jenai|url=http://archive.org/details/contemporaryauth00jena|title=Contemporary authors. [electronic resource]: a bio-bibliographical guide to current writers in fiction, general nonfiction, poetry, journalism, drama, motion pictures, television, and other fields|date=2004|publisher=Detroit, Mich.: Gale|others=|isbn=978-0-7876-9295-7|pages=72-73}}</ref> andCharaEmily Church ({{nee}} Conant).<ref name= ":12"/>He had three sisters; anolder brother,[[William Conant Church]]<ref name= ":12"/>;and a younger brother, [[John Adams Church]].<ref name= ":32">{{Citeencyclopedia|year=1989|title=William Conant Church (11 August 1836-23 May 1917) and Francis Pharcellus Church (22 February 1839-11 April 1906)|encyclopedia=Dictionary of Literary Biography|last=Frasca|first=Ralph}}</ref> As a child, Francis"lookedup to Billy as his 'big brother' and was his 'admiring satellite'. "In 1848, the family moved to Boston, where Pharcellus preached at [[Bowdoin Square (Boston)|Bowdoin Square]] Baptist Chuch and edited the ''Watchman and Reflector,'' a weekly Baptist newspaper. In 1852, Pharcellus' health failed; he resigned his pastorship and moved the family to Chara's home in Vermont. The following year, the family moved a final time, to [[Brooklyn]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Bigelow|first=Donald Nevius|url=https://academic.oup /jah/article-abstract/40/1/145/703563|title=William Conant Church & the Army and Navy Journal|date=|publisher=Columbia University Press|year=1952|isbn=978-0-404-51576-8|location=New York|pages=11-12|language=en}}</ref>Francis began to attend [[Manhattan|Manhattan's]][[Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School]], whose headmaster was [[Charles Anthon]].<ref name= ":22">{{Cite journal|date=April 14, 1906|title=Obituary Notes|url=https://archive.org/details/publishers_weekly_1906/1906-04-14/page/1172|journal=Publisher's Weekly|pages=1173-1174}}</ref> His education was centered around math and foreign languages.<ref name= ":32"/>


Francis Church matriculated at the [[Columbia College of Columbia University]], where he graduated with honors in New York City in 1859.<ref name= ":0" /> He earned a [[Master of Arts]] two years later.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1906-04-12|title=Francis Pharcellus Church|pages=2|work=New-York Tribune|url=https:// newspapers /clip/38872464/obituary-for-francis-pharcellus/|access-date=2021-12-20}}</ref> Although Church had entered university studying law and divinity,<ref name= ":0" /><ref name= ":6" >{{Cite news|last=Ranniello|first=Bruno|date=1969-12-25|title='Yes, Virginia' Editorialist: Francis Pharcellus Church|pages=22|work=The Bangor Daily News|url=https:// newspapers /clip/90871391/yes-virginia-editorialist-francis/|access-date=2021-12-20|via=[[Newspapers ]]}}</ref> and spent a time studying under the judge [[Hooper C. Van Vorst]],<ref name= ":2" >{{Cite journal|date=April 14, 1906|title=Obituary Notes|url=https://archive.org/details/publishers_weekly_1906/1906-04-14/page/1172|journal=Publisher's Weekly|pages=1173-1174}}</ref> he soon switched his focus completely to writing<ref name= ":0" /> and had graduated Columbia studying journalism.<ref name= ":6" />
Francis Church matriculated at the [[Columbia College of Columbia University]], where he graduated with honors in New York City in 1859.<ref name= ":0">{{Cite news|date=1930-12-09|title= "His Art Alone Endures" |pages=6|work=The Tribune|url=https:// newspapers /clip/90844566/his-art-alone-endures/|access-date=2021-12-19|via=[[Newspapers ]]}}</ref> He earned a [[Master of Arts]] two years later.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1906-04-12|title=Francis Pharcellus Church|pages=2|work=New-York Tribune|url=https:// newspapers /clip/38872464/obituary-for-francis-pharcellus/|access-date=2021-12-20}}</ref> Although Church had entered university studying law and divinity,<ref name= ":0" /><ref name= ":6" >{{Cite news|last=Ranniello|first=Bruno|date=1969-12-25|title='Yes, Virginia' Editorialist: Francis Pharcellus Church|pages=22|work=The Bangor Daily News|url=https:// newspapers /clip/90871391/yes-virginia-editorialist-francis/|access-date=2021-12-20|via=[[Newspapers ]]}}</ref> and spent a time studying under the judge [[Hooper C. Van Vorst]],<ref name= ":2" >{{Cite journal|date=April 14, 1906|title=Obituary Notes|url=https://archive.org/details/publishers_weekly_1906/1906-04-14/page/1172|journal=Publisher's Weekly|pages=1173-1174}}</ref> he soon switched his focus completely to writing<ref name= ":0" /> and had graduated Columbia studying journalism.<ref name= ":6" />


==Writing and publishing career==
==Writing and publishing career==


After graduation, Church found work at the ''[[New-York Chronicle]]'', which was published by his father and brother. For a time after William left to work at ''[[The New York Sun]]'', Francis Church was the chief assistant at the ''Chronicle'', but he eventually left to work at the ''Sun'' as well.<ref name= ":3" >{{Cite encyclopedia|year=1989|title=William Conant Church (11 August 1836-23 May 1917) and Francis Pharcellus Church (22 February 1839-11 April 1906)|encyclopedia=Dictionary of Literary Biography|last=Frasca|first=Ralph}}</ref> In 1862, he covered the [[American Civil War]] for ''[[The New York Times]]''.''<ref name= ":1" />''
After graduation, Church found work at the ''[[New-York Chronicle]]'', which was published by his father and brother. For a time after William left to work at ''[[The New York Sun]]'', Francis Church was the chief assistant at the ''Chronicle'', but he eventually left to work at the ''Sun'' as well.<ref name= ":3" >{{Cite encyclopedia|year=1989|title=William Conant Church (11 August 1836-23 May 1917) and Francis Pharcellus Church (22 February 1839-11 April 1906)|encyclopedia=Dictionary of Literary Biography|last=Frasca|first=Ralph}}</ref> In 1862, he covered the [[American Civil War]] for ''[[The New York Times]]''.''<ref name= ":1">{{Cite book|last=Mynatt|first=Jenai|url=http://archive.org/details/contemporaryauth00jena|title=Contemporary authors. [electronic resource]: a bio-bibliographical guide to current writers in fiction, general nonfiction, poetry, journalism, drama, motion pictures, television, and other fields|date=2004|publisher=Detroit, Mich.: Gale|others=|isbn=978-0-7876-9295-7|pages=72-73}}</ref>''


In 1863, Church, his brother William, and others established ''[[Armed Forces Journal|The Army and Navy Journal]]''<ref name= ":3" /> to promote loyalty to the Union during the Civil War and report on military affairs. During the war, Church worked for the ''Journal'' as a war correspondent, and from 1863 to 1865, he was an editor and publisher of the ''Journal''.''<ref name= ":1" />'' He remained co-publisher until 1874.<ref name= ":3" />
In 1863, Church, his brother William, and others established ''[[Armed Forces Journal|The Army and Navy Journal]]''<ref name= ":3" /> to promote loyalty to the Union during the Civil War and report on military affairs. During the war, Church worked for the ''Journal'' as a war correspondent, and from 1863 to 1865, he was an editor and publisher of the ''Journal''.''<ref name= ":1" />'' He remained co-publisher until 1874.<ref name= ":3" />

Revision as of 17:58, 20 December 2021

Francis Pharcellus Church
Francis Pharcellus Church
BornFebruary 22, 1839
Rochester, New York
DiedApril 11, 1906(1906-04-11)(aged 67)
New York City, New York
Alma materColumbia College(BA)
Occupation(s)Publisher, editor
Church'sThe New York Suneditorial of September 21, 1897, "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus

Francis Pharcellus Church(February 22, 1839 – April 11, 1906) was an American publisher and editor. Born in Rochester, he graduated fromColumbia Universityand started a career in law, but quickly switched to writing. With his brother,William Conant Church,Francis founded and edited several literary magazines;The Army and Navy Journal,The Galaxy,and theInternal Revenue Record and Customs Journal.He was a war correspondent forThe New York Timesduring theAmerican Civil War.He worked atThe New York Sunin the early 1860s and again from 1874 to his death, writing thousands of editorials.

In 1897, Church wrote the editorial "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus".Written in response to a girl's letter asking whetherSanta Clauswas real, the widely republished editorial has become one of the most famous ever written. He died in New York City and is buried atSleepy Hollow Cemetery.

Early life and education

The monument of Francis Pharcellus Church in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery

Francis "Frank" Pharcellus Church was born inRochester, New Yorkon February 22, 1839, to Pharcellus Church, a Baptist minister,[1][2]and Chara Emily Church (néeConant).[2]He had three sisters; an older brother,William Conant Church[2];and a younger brother,John Adams Church.[3]As a child, Francis "looked up to Billy as his 'big brother' and was his 'admiring satellite'." In 1848, the family moved to Boston, where Pharcellus preached atBowdoin SquareBaptist Chuch and edited theWatchman and Reflector,a weekly Baptist newspaper. In 1852, Pharcellus' health failed; he resigned his pastorship and moved the family to Chara's home in Vermont. The following year, the family moved a final time, toBrooklyn.[4]Francis began to attendManhattan'sColumbia Grammar & Preparatory School,whose headmaster wasCharles Anthon.[5]His education was centered around math and foreign languages.[3]

Francis Church matriculated at theColumbia College of Columbia University,where he graduated with honors in New York City in 1859.[6]He earned aMaster of Artstwo years later.[7]Although Church had entered university studying law and divinity,[6][8]and spent a time studying under the judgeHooper C. Van Vorst,[9]he soon switched his focus completely to writing[6]and had graduated Columbia studying journalism.[8]

Writing and publishing career

After graduation, Church found work at theNew-York Chronicle,which was published by his father and brother. For a time after William left to work atThe New York Sun,Francis Church was the chief assistant at theChronicle,but he eventually left to work at theSunas well.[10]In 1862, he covered theAmerican Civil WarforThe New York Times.[11]

In 1863, Church, his brother William, and others establishedThe Army and Navy Journal[10]to promote loyalty to the Union during the Civil War and report on military affairs. During the war, Church worked for theJournalas a war correspondent, and from 1863 to 1865, he was an editor and publisher of theJournal.[11]He remained co-publisher until 1874.[10]

In 1866, the brothers founded theGalaxyliterary magazine as a competitor toThe Atlantic Monthly;[12]: 137 [10]Church was a publisher for two years[10]and an editor there until 1872[11]or 1878.[10]TheDictionary of Literary Biographycredits Francis with doing "most of the editorial work." Supported by literary figures, notablyEdmund Clarence Stedman,the brothers worked to attract the best authors possible to their publication, though they focused on New York authors and largely ignored the well-established literary society in New England.[10]Stedman, while speaking about the editors in 1903, stated that the magazine focused on featuring authors from across the United States and did not focus on publishing works from popular authors.[13]They published the magazinefortnightlyfor a year, then switched to a monthly format. In 1870, Church proposed thatMark Twaincontribute a "Memoranda" column in the magazine, a request Twain accepted; he edited the column from May 1870 to March 1871. Altogether, the magazine published the work of more than 600 authors[10],includingRebecca Harding Davis,Henry James,John William De Forest,Rose Terry Cooke,John Esten Cooke,andConstance Fenimore Woolson.[10][14]The magazine's circulation peaked around 21,000 in 1871 and fell dramatically afterwards.[10]TheGalaxymerged with theAtlantic Monthlyin 1878.[12]: 137 

Church also managed theInternal Revenue Record and Customs Journalwith his brother from 1870 to 1895.[6][10]He was re-hired as a part-time editor and writer at theNew York Sunin 1874.[11][10]He started working full-time there after leavingThe Galaxy.[11]In this capacity, Church published thousands of editorials, most of which attracted little note.[10]One of his more popular editorials was in response to a maid asking about etiquette, after which Church wrote a series of additional replies to letters asking for advice.[15]He continued to work forTheSununtil his death in 1906.[11][10]

Edward Page Mitchell,TheSun's editor-in-chief later described Church as "displaying [...] a knowledge of journalistic history and an insight into journalistic character that could hardly be expected of any but a major figure in the profession."[10]Mitchell also considered Church "energetic and a brilliant conversationalist."[8]An obituary published inThe New York Timesdescribed Church as not being well known among literary circles because his reputation had been "merged" with that ofThe Sun,but among those who knew him he was "highly and justly esteemed." It characterized his editorial style as specializing in "the discussion of [...] theological, topics from a secular point of view."[16]He disliked politics.[8]

"Yes, Virginia"

Main article:Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus

In 1897, Mitchell gave Church a letter written by Virginia O'Hanlon toThe Sun.[17]In response, he wrote his most famous editorial, "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus".[18]In the 416-word[8]editorial he responded to a young girl's question if there truly is a Santa Claus, writing that he definitely exists "as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist".[19]Though Church was initially reluctant to write it, Mitchell reported that he wrote the editorial "in a short time"[10]and spent an afternoon writing the piece.[20]: 90 

The editorial was uncharacteristic of Church's style – his other writings typically espoused hardened cynicism, skepticism toward religion and superstition, and a generally curmudgeonly approach.[21]Upon publication on September 21, 1897, the journalistCharles Anderson Danadescribed Church's writing as "Real literature," and said it "[m]ight be a good idea to reprint it every Christmas—yes, and even tell who wrote it!"[17]

The first reprinting of the editorial happened five years later when readers of the magazine asked for its republication. TheNew York Sunstarted reprinting the editorial annually in 1920 at Christmas, and continued until the paper's bankruptcy in 1950.[22]BecauseThe New York Suntraditionally did not byline their editorials, Church was not known to be the author until his death in 1906.[23]The editorial is just one of two ever published inThe Sunto have its authorship publicly announced.[8]

The editorial has been described as "the most famous editorial in history", has been translated into 20 languages, has been adapted into at least two movies, and set to music.[24]: 244–245 [25]A book titledIs there a Santa Claus?and based on the editorial was published in 1921.[10]

Personal life and death

In 1863, Church married Mary Elizabeth Metcalf.[11]In 1871, he married Elizabeth Wickham, who was from Philadelphia.[26][27]In 1882 or 1883, Church moved from 107 East 35th Street to theFlorence Apartment House,located on East 18th street and East Union Place (now known as Park Avenue South). He lived at this location with his wife until 1890.[28]He did not have any children.[20]: 91 He was a member of theSons of the Revolution,theNational Sculptor Society,and theCentury Association.[11]

Church died inNew York Cityon April 11, 1906, at the age of 67,[6]at his home on 46 East Thirtieth Street.[9]He had an unknown illness for several months before his death.[27]He was buried inSleepy Hollow CemeteryinSleepy Hollow, New York.[29]

References

  1. ^""His Art Alone Endures"".The Tribune.1930-12-09. p. 6.Retrieved2021-12-19– viaNewspapers.
  2. ^abcMynatt, Jenai (2004).Contemporary authors. [electronic resource]: a bio-bibliographical guide to current writers in fiction, general nonfiction, poetry, journalism, drama, motion pictures, television, and other fields.Detroit, Mich.: Gale. pp. 72–73.ISBN978-0-7876-9295-7.
  3. ^abFrasca, Ralph (1989). "William Conant Church (11 August 1836-23 May 1917) and Francis Pharcellus Church (22 February 1839-11 April 1906)".Dictionary of Literary Biography.
  4. ^Bigelow, Donald Nevius (1952).William Conant Church & the Army and Navy Journal.New York: Columbia University Press. pp. 11–12.ISBN978-0-404-51576-8.
  5. ^"Obituary Notes".Publisher's Weekly:1173–1174. April 14, 1906.
  6. ^abcde""His Art Alone Endures"".The Tribune.1930-12-09. p. 6.Retrieved2021-12-19– viaNewspapers.
  7. ^"Francis Pharcellus Church".New-York Tribune.1906-04-12. p. 2.Retrieved2021-12-20.
  8. ^abcdefRanniello, Bruno (1969-12-25)."'Yes, Virginia' Editorialist: Francis Pharcellus Church ".The Bangor Daily News.p. 22.Retrieved2021-12-20– viaNewspapers.
  9. ^ab"Obituary Notes".Publisher's Weekly:1173–1174. April 14, 1906.
  10. ^abcdefghijklmnopqFrasca, Ralph (1989). "William Conant Church (11 August 1836-23 May 1917) and Francis Pharcellus Church (22 February 1839-11 April 1906)".Dictionary of Literary Biography.
  11. ^abcdefghMynatt, Jenai (2004).Contemporary authors. [electronic resource]: a bio-bibliographical guide to current writers in fiction, general nonfiction, poetry, journalism, drama, motion pictures, television, and other fields.Detroit, Mich.: Gale. pp. 72–73.ISBN978-0-7876-9295-7.
  12. ^abO'Brien, Frank Michael (1928).The story of the Sun, New York: 1833-1928.New York, London, D. Appleton and Co.
  13. ^Scholnick, Robert (1972)."Whitman and the Magazines: Some Documentary Evidence".American Literature.44(2): 222–246.doi:10.2307/2924507.ISSN0002-9831– via JSTOR.
  14. ^Twain, Mark (1999).Mark Twain at the Buffalo express: articles and sketches by America's favorite humorist.DeKalb: Northern Illinois University Press. pp. xxxi, xxxix.ISBN978-0-87580-249-7.
  15. ^Gilbert, Kevin (2015)."Famous New Yorker: Francis Pharcellus Church"(PDF).New York News Publisher's Association.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^"FRANCIS P. CHURCH".The New York Times.1906-04-13.ISSN0362-4331.Retrieved2021-12-20.
  17. ^abTurner, Hy B. (1999).When giants ruled: the story of Park Row, New York's great newspaper street.New York: Fordham University Press. pp. 129–130.ISBN978-0-8232-1943-8.
  18. ^""Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus" | Newseum ".newseum.org.Retrieved2017-09-21.
  19. ^Editorial Board (24 December 2014)."'Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus': Read the iconic 1897 editorial that continues to bring Christmas joy ".New York Daily News.
  20. ^abForbes, Bruce David (2007-10-10).Christmas A Candid History.Berkeley, California: University of California Press.doi:10.1525/9780520933729.ISBN978-0-520-93372-9.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  21. ^Harvey, Paul.The Rest of the Story: Yes, Virginia.From theInternet ArchiveOld-Time Radio collection; date unknown.
  22. ^Applebome, Peter (2006-12-13)."Tell Virginia the Skeptics Are Still Wrong".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.Retrieved2021-12-20.
  23. ^Sebakijje, Lena."Research Guides: Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus: Topics in Chronicling America: Introduction".guides.loc.gov.Retrieved2021-12-20.
  24. ^Bowler, Gerald (2005).Santa Claus: a biography.Toronto: McClelland & Stewart.ISBN978-0-7710-1532-8.
  25. ^Vinciguerra, Thomas (1997-09-21)."Yes, Virginia, a Thousand Times Yes".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.Retrieved2021-12-20.
  26. ^Hamersly, Lewis Randolph; Leonard, John W.; Mohr, William Frederick; Knox, Herman Warren; Holmes, Frank R.; Downs, Winfield Scott (1907).Who's who in New York City and State.L.R. Hamersly Company. p. 280.
  27. ^ab"Francis P. Church Dead".The New York Times.April 12, 1906. p. 9.Retrieved2021-12-20.
  28. ^Gretchko, John M. (2014)."The Florence".Leviathan.11:22–32 – via ProQuest.
  29. ^"Honored".Livingston County Daily Press and Argus.2016-05-23. pp. A2.Retrieved2021-12-20.
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