Edwin Ginn
Encyclopedia
Edwin Ginn American publisher and philanthropist.
In 1838, Ginn was born to a poor family who lived on a small farm near Orland, Maine
. At age twenty-four he graduated from Tufts University
. After graduation, Ginn had a career selling schoolbooks that became extremely lucrative. In 1868 he founded Ginn & Co., and this endeavor allowed him to gain societal influence as one of the leading textbook
publishers in the country.
Edwin Ginn was one of the wealthiest men of his day. After his second marriage
to a much younger woman in his late fifties, he directed his energies and finances to important social causes: the American peace movement
was his primary concern. He was resolved to attempt to change world attitudes regarding the arming for war
. He promoted diplomacy
by appealing to world attitudes to use logic, reason, and common sense.
"A great factor in Ginn's life was Edward Everett Hale
, a pastor of Boston's South Congregational Church
, a champion of peace, and a noted orator." By this association with Hale, Ginn developed an interest in international arbitration
. Ginn dedicated himself to the cause and the possibility of peace. In 1910, Ginn founded an International School of Peace in Boston
whose purpose was to educate "the people of all nations to a full knowledge of the waste and destruction of war and of preparation for war, its evil effects on present social conditions and on the well-being of future generations and to promote international justice and the brotherhood of man..." The School was later converted into the World Peace Foundation.
. (2007). A Leadership for Peace: How Edwin Ginn Tried to Change the World. Stanford, Calif. : Stanford University Press
, 2007.
In 1838, Ginn was born to a poor family who lived on a small farm near Orland, Maine
Orland, Maine
Orland is a town in Hancock County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,134 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water....
. At age twenty-four he graduated from Tufts University
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
. After graduation, Ginn had a career selling schoolbooks that became extremely lucrative. In 1868 he founded Ginn & Co., and this endeavor allowed him to gain societal influence as one of the leading textbook
Textbook
A textbook or coursebook is a manual of instruction in any branch of study. Textbooks are produced according to the demands of educational institutions...
publishers in the country.
Edwin Ginn was one of the wealthiest men of his day. After his second marriage
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
to a much younger woman in his late fifties, he directed his energies and finances to important social causes: the American peace movement
Peace movement
A peace movement is a social movement that seeks to achieve ideals such as the ending of a particular war , minimize inter-human violence in a particular place or type of situation, often linked to the goal of achieving world peace...
was his primary concern. He was resolved to attempt to change world attitudes regarding the arming for war
War
War is a state of organized, armed, and often prolonged conflict carried on between states, nations, or other parties typified by extreme aggression, social disruption, and usually high mortality. War should be understood as an actual, intentional and widespread armed conflict between political...
. He promoted diplomacy
Diplomacy
Diplomacy is the art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of groups or states...
by appealing to world attitudes to use logic, reason, and common sense.
"A great factor in Ginn's life was Edward Everett Hale
Edward Everett Hale
Edward Everett Hale was an American author, historian and Unitarian clergyman. He was a child prodigy who exhibited extraordinary literary skills and at age thirteen was enrolled at Harvard University where he graduated second in his class...
, a pastor of Boston's South Congregational Church
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
, a champion of peace, and a noted orator." By this association with Hale, Ginn developed an interest in international arbitration
Arbitration
Arbitration, a form of alternative dispute resolution , is a legal technique for the resolution of disputes outside the courts, where the parties to a dispute refer it to one or more persons , by whose decision they agree to be bound...
. Ginn dedicated himself to the cause and the possibility of peace. In 1910, Ginn founded an International School of Peace in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
whose purpose was to educate "the people of all nations to a full knowledge of the waste and destruction of war and of preparation for war, its evil effects on present social conditions and on the well-being of future generations and to promote international justice and the brotherhood of man..." The School was later converted into the World Peace Foundation.
Memorials
- Named in memoriam, The Edwin Ginn Library is the main library at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts UniversityTufts UniversityTufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
.
Book
Robert I. RotbergRobert I. Rotberg
Robert I. Rotberg is an American who served as President emeritus of the World Peace Foundation . An American professor in governance and foreign affairs, he was director of the Program on Intrastate Conflict, Conflict Prevention, and Conflict Resolution at Harvard University's John F...
. (2007). A Leadership for Peace: How Edwin Ginn Tried to Change the World. Stanford, Calif. : Stanford University Press
Stanford University Press
The Stanford University Press is the publishing house of Stanford University. In 1892, an independent publishing company was established at the university. The first use of the name "Stanford University Press" in a book's imprinting occurred in 1895...
, 2007.