Frank D. Schroth
Encyclopedia
Frank D. Schroth was an American
newspaper publisher who owned and operated the Brooklyn Eagle
from 1938 until its demise in 1955 after a strike by The Newspaper Guild.
and attended the local public schools. He started in the newspaper industry at The True American. He was hired as general news and political reporter the next year by The Trenton Times
, working at the paper until 1914. From 1914 to 1925, he was secretary of the New Jersey State Board of Taxes and Assessments. He acquired The Trenton State Gazette in 1925 and served as its associate publisher and general manager until 1933.
Schroth purchased the paper on August 1, 1938, from M. Preston Goodfellow, who had purchased the paper himself in 1932. A statement published in the paper to announce the sale indicated Schroth's faith in the viability of the newspaper and in Brooklyn as a community. In addition to dropping the word "Daily" from the paper's title, Schroth increased the paper's profile and readership with more active local coverage. The Newspaper Guild went on strike in 1955, with the paper publishing what turned out to be its last issue on January 29. On March 17, Schroth announced that he had made the "irrevocable" decision to shut down the publication, as the paper had been "destroyed" by the Newspaper Guild and its 47-day-long strike. Efforts by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
to mediate the dispute had been unsuccessful. Strikers had been seeking increases of $3.40 per week in the first year of the deal and an additional $2.40 in the second year, while Schroth had offered increases pf $1.40 and $1.00 per week for each of the two years.
At the Eagle, Schroth was an active part of the Brooklyn community, organizing campaign drives and serving as chairman of the local chapter of the American Red Cross
and as a trustee of Pratt Institute
. He received the Silver Medal of Merit for his participation as chairman of the War Finance public relations committee and made a 1945 tour of the Pacific Theater of Operations
to meet with top military staff. He was one of the originators behind the creation of the Brooklyn war memorial erected in Cadman Plaza
.
nursing home. He was survived by three sons, 26 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. Schroth's daughter, Sister Marie Eustelle of the Order of Sisters of Charity, died on October 19, 1940, in Elizabeth, New Jersey
after a long illness.
His son, Thomas N. Schroth
, was managing editor of the Brooklyn Eagle in the last three years of its existence, and went on to serve as editor of Congress Quarterly and to establish the National Journal
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
newspaper publisher who owned and operated the Brooklyn Eagle
Brooklyn Eagle
The Brooklyn Daily Bulletin began publishing when the original Eagle folded in 1955. In 1996 it merged with a newly revived Brooklyn Daily Eagle, and now publishes a morning paper five days a week under the Brooklyn Daily Eagle name...
from 1938 until its demise in 1955 after a strike by The Newspaper Guild.
Life and career
Schroth was born on October 18, 1884, in Trenton, New JerseyTrenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
and attended the local public schools. He started in the newspaper industry at The True American. He was hired as general news and political reporter the next year by The Trenton Times
The Times (Trenton)
The Times is a daily newspaper owned by Advance Publications that serves the Mercer County, New Jersey area, with a strong focus on the government of New Jersey. The paper had a daily circulation of 77,405, with Sunday circulation of 88,336...
, working at the paper until 1914. From 1914 to 1925, he was secretary of the New Jersey State Board of Taxes and Assessments. He acquired The Trenton State Gazette in 1925 and served as its associate publisher and general manager until 1933.
Schroth purchased the paper on August 1, 1938, from M. Preston Goodfellow, who had purchased the paper himself in 1932. A statement published in the paper to announce the sale indicated Schroth's faith in the viability of the newspaper and in Brooklyn as a community. In addition to dropping the word "Daily" from the paper's title, Schroth increased the paper's profile and readership with more active local coverage. The Newspaper Guild went on strike in 1955, with the paper publishing what turned out to be its last issue on January 29. On March 17, Schroth announced that he had made the "irrevocable" decision to shut down the publication, as the paper had been "destroyed" by the Newspaper Guild and its 47-day-long strike. Efforts by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (USA)
The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service is an independent agency of the United States government, founded in 1947, which provides mediation services to industry, community and government agencies worldwide. One of its most common tasks is to help to mediate labor disputes around the country....
to mediate the dispute had been unsuccessful. Strikers had been seeking increases of $3.40 per week in the first year of the deal and an additional $2.40 in the second year, while Schroth had offered increases pf $1.40 and $1.00 per week for each of the two years.
At the Eagle, Schroth was an active part of the Brooklyn community, organizing campaign drives and serving as chairman of the local chapter of the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
and as a trustee of Pratt Institute
Pratt Institute
Pratt Institute is a private art college in New York City located in Brooklyn, New York, with satellite campuses in Manhattan and Utica. Pratt is one of the leading undergraduate art schools in the United States and offers programs in Architecture, Graphic Design, History of Art and Design,...
. He received the Silver Medal of Merit for his participation as chairman of the War Finance public relations committee and made a 1945 tour of the Pacific Theater of Operations
Pacific Theater of Operations
The Pacific Theater of Operations was the World War II area of military activity in the Pacific Ocean and the countries bordering it, a geographic scope that reflected the operational and administrative command structures of the American forces during that period...
to meet with top military staff. He was one of the originators behind the creation of the Brooklyn war memorial erected in Cadman Plaza
Cadman Plaza
Cadman Plaza Park is located on the border between the Brooklyn Heights historic neighborhood and Downtown Brooklyn. It is bounded by Cadman Plaza East and West , and by Brooklyn Bridge on the north and Tillary Street on the south.South of this park, between Tillary and Johnson Streets, lies the...
.
Personal
He moved back to Trenton after the Eagle closed and died on June 10, 1974, at a New Milford, ConnecticutNew Milford, Connecticut
New Milford is a town in southern Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States north of Danbury, on the Housatonic River. It is the largest town in the state in terms of land area at nearly . The population was 28,671 according to the Census Bureau's 2006 estimates...
nursing home. He was survived by three sons, 26 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. Schroth's daughter, Sister Marie Eustelle of the Order of Sisters of Charity, died on October 19, 1940, in Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 124,969, retaining its ranking as New Jersey's fourth largest city with an increase of 4,401 residents from its 2000 Census population of 120,568...
after a long illness.
His son, Thomas N. Schroth
Thomas N. Schroth
Thomas Nolan Schroth was an American journalist who specialized in coverage of inside the Beltway politics as editor of Congressional Quarterly starting in 1955 and then establishing The National Journal in 1969 after he was fired from CQ due to policy conflicts.-Early life and career:Schroth was...
, was managing editor of the Brooklyn Eagle in the last three years of its existence, and went on to serve as editor of Congress Quarterly and to establish the National Journal
National Journal
National Journal is a nonpartisan American weekly magazine that reports on the current political environment and emerging political and policy trends. National Journal was first published in 1969. Times Mirror owned the magazine from 1986 to 1997, when it was purchased by David G. Bradley...
.