Martin, John Bartlow, 1915-1987

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Martin, a diplomat, educator, speechwriter, journalist and author, was U.S. ambassador to the Dominican Republic during the Kennedy and Johnson administrations. Active in the presidential campaigns of Humbert Humphrey and Robert Kennedy, he wrote speeches for presidents and other public figures.

From the description of John Bartlow Martin papers on Adlai E. Stevenson, 1966-1974. (Princeton University Library). WorldCat record id: 81215722

Author, journalist, political adviser, and U.S. ambassador to the Dominican Republic.

From the description of John Bartlow Martin papers, 1900-1986 (bulk 1939-1983). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70982027

From the description of Papers, 1900-1986 (bulk 1939-1983). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 28495271

Biographical Note

  • 1915, Aug. 4: Born Hamilton, Ohio
  • 1937: B.A., DePauw University, Greencastle, Ind. Married Barbara Bruce (divorced 1939)
  • 1937 - 1938 : Reporter, Indianapolis Times
  • 1938: Moved to Chicago, Ill.
  • 1938 - 1987 : Free-lance writer of factual magazine articles
  • 1940: Married Frances Rose Smethurst
  • 1948: Published "The Blast in Centralia No. 5," Harper's magazine
  • 1950: Sigma Delta Chi magazine award
  • 1952: Staff member, Adlai E. Stevenson's presidential campaign
  • 1953: Benjamin Franklin magazine award
  • 1956: Staff member, Adlai E. Stevenson's presidential campaign Benjamin Franklin magazine award
  • 1960: Staff member, John F. Kennedy's presidential campaign
  • 1961: Head, fact-finding mission to the Dominican Republic
  • 1962 - 1964 : Ambassador to the Dominican Republic
  • 1964: Staff member, Lyndon B. Johnson's presidential campaign
  • 1964 - 1965 : Senior fellow, Center for Advanced Studies, Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn.
  • 1965: Special envoy to the Dominican Republic
  • 1966 - 1967 : Visiting fellow in public affairs, Princeton University, Princeton, N.J.
  • 1968: Staff member, Robert F. Kennedy's presidential primary campaign Staff member, Hubert H. Humphrey's presidential campaign Visiting professor, Graduate Center, City University of New York, N.Y.
  • 1970 - 1980 : Professor of journalism, Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill.
  • 1987, Jan. 3: Died, Highland Park, Ill.

From the guide to the John Bartlow Martin Papers, 1900-1986, (bulk 1939-1983), (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)

John Bartlow Martin was born in Hamilton, Ohio, on August 4, 1915. He took his B.A. in journalism (1937) from De Pauw University.

A free-lance writer Martin also served as a special envoy to the Dominican Republic in 1961 and 1965 and as a U.S. Ambassador to that country in 1962. He was a staff member for Adlai Stevenson (1952-1956), John F. Kennedy (1960), Lyndon B. Johnson (1964), and Hubert H. Humphrey (1968).

After teaching at Wesleyan, Princeton, and the City University of New York, Martin joined the faculty of Northwestern University in 1970 as a professor of editorial. He became emeritus professor of journalism in 1980.

A prolific writer Martin is best known for his two-volume biography of Adlai Stevenson, The Life of Adlai Stevenson, published in 1976-1977. Three of his books, It Seems Like Only Yesterday (1986), My Life in Crime (1952), and Overtaken by Events (1966) are autobiographical.

On August 17, 1940, Martin married Frances Rose Smethurst. The couple had three children. Martin died in Highland Park, Illinois, on January 4, 1987.

From the guide to the John Bartlow Martin (1915-1987) Papers, 1960-1987, 1971-1978, (Northwestern University Archives)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Martin, John Bartlow, 1915-1987. Papers, 1900-1986 (bulk 1939-1983). Library of Congress
creatorOf John Bartlow Martin (1915-1987) Papers, 1960-1987, 1971-1978 Northwestern University Archives
creatorOf Ben Shahn papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf John Bartlow Martin Papers, 1900-1986, (bulk 1939-1983) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Martin, John Bartlow, 1915-1987. John Bartlow Martin papers on Adlai E. Stevenson, 1966-1974. Princeton University Library
referencedIn Ben Shahn papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Ives, Elizabeth Stevenson, 1897-1994. Papers, 1898-1995. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
correspondedWith Bernays, Edward L., 1891-1995 person
correspondedWith Clifford, Clark M., 1906-1998 person
associatedWith Democratic Party (U.S.) corporateBody
correspondedWith Douglas, William O. (William Orville), 1898-1980 person
correspondedWith Harold Ober Associates corporateBody
correspondedWith Holeb, Marshall M. person
correspondedWith Houseman, John person
correspondedWith Houseman, John person
correspondedWith Humphrey, Hubert H. (Hubert Horatio), 1911-1978 person
associatedWith Ives, Elizabeth Stevenson, 1897-1994. person
correspondedWith Johnson, Lyndon B. (Lyndon Baines), 1908-1973 person
correspondedWith Keller, Harry person
correspondedWith Kennedy, Edward M. (Edward Moore), 1932-2009 person
associatedWith Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963 person
associatedWith Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963. person
correspondedWith Kennedy, Robert F., 1925-1968 person
correspondedWith Knopf, Alfred A., 1892-1984 person
correspondedWith Larrabee, Eric person
correspondedWith Larrabee, Eric person
correspondedWith Lubow, Martin, 1923- person
associatedWith Medill School of Journalism corporateBody
correspondedWith Melvoin, Hugo person
correspondedWith Minow, Newton N., 1926- person
correspondedWith Moyers, Bill D. person
correspondedWith Moyers, Bill D. person
correspondedWith Nipp, Francis S. person
correspondedWith Schlesinger, Arthur M. (Arthur Meier), 1917-2007 person
associatedWith Shahn, Ben, 1898-1969. person
associatedWith Stevenson, Adlai E. (Adlai Ewing), 1900-1965. person
correspondedWith Stevenson, Adlai E. (Adlai Ewing), 1930- person
correspondedWith Tufts, Robert W., 1915- person
correspondedWith Voelker, John D. (John Donaldson), 1903- person
correspondedWith Voelker, John D. (John Donaldson), 1903- person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Dominican Republic
Illinois
United States
Dominican Republic
United States
Dominican Republic
United States
United States
Subject
African Americans
Authors, American
Political campaigns
Political campaigns
Crime writing
Diplomatic and consular service, American
Diplomatic and consular service, American
Governors
Journalism
Journalism
Journalism
Juvenile delinquency
Juvenile delinquency
Labor movement
Labor movement
Legislators
Mental illness
Mental illness
Presidential candidates
Presidential candidates
Presidents
Presidents
Prisons
Prisons
Race relations
Segregation
Social problems
Social problems
Statesmen
Occupation
Ambassadors
Ambassadors
Authors
Biographers
Journalists
Journalists
Political consultants
Political consultants
Activity

Person

Birth 1915-08-03

Death 1987-01-03

Americans

English

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