Chester Harvey Rowell
Encyclopedia
Chester Harvey Rowell was an early leader of the progressive movement
in California
.
Born in Bloomington, Illinois
, he earned a degree from the University of Michigan
in 1888. He studied three years in Europe
, including terms at the Universities of Halle
, Berlin, Paris and Rome. In 1898 he became the editor and manager of the Fresno Morning Republican, the newspaper founded by his uncle Dr. Chester Rowell. He remained as editor for 22 years.
In 1907, he was the co-founder and chairman (1907-1911) of the Lincoln-Roosevelt League
, a coalition of progressive Republican activists. The league was instrumental in the election of Hiram Johnson
as governor of California. In 1912, Rowell was a member of the sub-committee that wrote the national platforms for both the Republican and Progressive parties.
Later, Rowell was a lecturer in journalism at the University of California, Berkeley (1911) and in political science at Stanford University
(1927-1934). He was editor of the San Francisco Chronicle
(1932-1939). He was a member of the University of California
Board of Regents from 1914 until shortly before his death in 1948.
He also served on the board of trustees for Science Service, now known as Society for Science & the Public
, from 1921-1923.
Rowell is sometimes confused with his uncle, Dr. Chester Rowell (1844-1912), a Fresno
physician, California State Senator (1880-1882, 1899-1901, 1903-1905), University of California regent (1891-1912), and mayor of Fresno
(1909-1912).
Progressive Party (United States, 1912)
The Progressive Party of 1912 was an American political party. It was formed after a split in the Republican Party between President William Howard Taft and former President Theodore Roosevelt....
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Born in Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington is a city in McLean County, Illinois, United States and the county seat. It is adjacent to Normal, Illinois, and is the more populous of the two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area...
, he earned a degree from 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...
in 1888. He studied three years in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, including terms at the Universities of Halle
University of Halle-Wittenberg
The Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg , also referred to as MLU, is a public, research-oriented university in the cities of Halle and Wittenberg within Saxony-Anhalt, Germany...
, Berlin, Paris and Rome. In 1898 he became the editor and manager of the Fresno Morning Republican, the newspaper founded by his uncle Dr. Chester Rowell. He remained as editor for 22 years.
In 1907, he was the co-founder and chairman (1907-1911) of the Lincoln-Roosevelt League
Lincoln-Roosevelt League
The Lincoln–Roosevelt League was founded in 1907 by California journalists Chester H. Rowell of the Fresno Morning Republican and Edward Dickson of the Los Angeles Express. Initially, it was a coalition of progressive Republican activists...
, a coalition of progressive Republican activists. The league was instrumental in the election of Hiram Johnson
Hiram Johnson
Hiram Warren Johnson was a leading American progressive and later isolationist politician from California; he served as the 23rd Governor from 1911 to 1917, and as a United States Senator from 1917 to 1945.-Early life:...
as governor of California. In 1912, Rowell was a member of the sub-committee that wrote the national platforms for both the Republican and Progressive parties.
Later, Rowell was a lecturer in journalism at the University of California, Berkeley (1911) and in political science at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
(1927-1934). He was editor of the San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
(1932-1939). He was a member of the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
Board of Regents from 1914 until shortly before his death in 1948.
He also served on the board of trustees for Science Service, now known as Society for Science & the Public
Society for Science & the Public
Society for Science & the Public , formerly known as Science Service, is a 5013 non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of science, through its science education programs and publications, including the weekly Science News magazine.Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the organization...
, from 1921-1923.
Rowell is sometimes confused with his uncle, Dr. Chester Rowell (1844-1912), a Fresno
Fresno
Fresno is the fifth largest city in California.Fresno may also refer to:-Places:Colombia* Fresno, TolimaSpain* Fresno, a ghost village in Nidáliga, Valle de Sedano, Burgos* Aldea del Fresno, Madrid* Fresno de la Vega, Ribera del Esla, León...
physician, California State Senator (1880-1882, 1899-1901, 1903-1905), University of California regent (1891-1912), and mayor of Fresno
Fresno
Fresno is the fifth largest city in California.Fresno may also refer to:-Places:Colombia* Fresno, TolimaSpain* Fresno, a ghost village in Nidáliga, Valle de Sedano, Burgos* Aldea del Fresno, Madrid* Fresno de la Vega, Ribera del Esla, León...
(1909-1912).
External links
- Guide to the Chester H. Rowell Papers at The Bancroft Library