A Short Review of the “Review of Reviews”

Previous deep dives into periodicals that might be used for historical business research targeted specific industries. This time, however, I want to highlight a publication that is less obviously business focused – The Review of Reviews. In its day, this publication covered a wide range of topics, such as business, politics, world events, culture and science and provided readers a window into the people and events of the day.

Publication of The Review of Reviews began in January 1890 in the United Kingdom, but eventually grew to include two sister editions, in Australia and the United States. The U.S. publication is usually referred to as The Review of Reviews, though it had several names including: American Monthly Review of Reviews (1897-1907), The American Review of Reviews (1907-1928), Review of Reviews (1928-1932), Review of Reviews and World’s Work (1932-1934), and lastly, Review of Reviews (1935-1937). The very first issue of the publication in January 1890 laid out the magazine’s goal:

“Of the making of magazine there is no end. Here are already more periodicals than any one can find time to read. That is why I have to-day added another to the list. For the new comer is not a rival, but rather an index and a guide to all those already in existence. In the mighty maze of modern periodical literature, the busy man wanders confused, not knowing exactly where to find the precise articles that he requires, and often, after losing all his scanty time in the search, he departs unsatisfied. It is the object of the REVIEW OF REVIEWS to supply a clue to that maze in the shape of a readable compendium of all the best articles in the magazine and reviews.” (p. 14)

The editor for the U.S. edition was Albert Shaw, a journalist and academic. His first issue was published in September 1890 and he remained the editor until the end of the publication, in July 1937. While there was no specific topical focus of the articles highlighted in the publication, articles on the railroads were common and articles on that and other business topics appeared regularly. Looking at issues from July 1906 – June 1907, for example, I picked out a few that were more “business” adjacent:

• July 1906. A railway rate bill was a subject of one article.
• September 1906. Articles discussed raising tea in South Carolina, the publishing industry, a possible update of the Sherman antitrust law, the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute, and a factory school in New York.
• October 1906. While one article looked at American railroads, another looked at Philippine Savings Banks.
• November 1906. An article looked at the history and state of the American copper industry as of 1906.
• December 1906. This issue included an article on railroad electrification and another titled, “The most prosperous Period in our History. A review of the recent marvelous growth of our business and resources – forecast of the future.”
• January 1907. This issue featured an article on President Theodore Roosevelt’s visit to the Panama Canal and others on the craze for mining Stocks; Edward H. Harriman, the “Colossus of Roads,” and real estate.
• March 1907. The Department of Interior and its Secretary, Ethan A. Hitchcock, were the subjects of one article, but there was also a piece on savings-bank insurance written by future Supreme Court Justice, Louis D. Brandeis.
• April 1907. An article on government oversight of commerce looked at the new Department of Commerce and Labor, while another discussed American railroad management being “on trial.”
• June 1907. There were articles about wireless telephony and on President Roosevelt’s thoughts on railroad investments, as related in his Memorial Day address in Indianapolis.

The Review also featured many photographs of people and places, but the included editorial cartoons, gathered from publications around the United States, are a real highlight. Like the article coverage, the cartoons touched on a wide range of topics and are a good barometer for today’s readers of what was trending. Given the period, railroads featured heavily here as well, but politics, pending legislation, and President Roosevelt’s activities also featured heavily. The cartoons were sprinkled throughout the publication, but editors did create a collection of them near the fronts of issues. Here are a few examples:

• July 1906 had several cartoons related to the meat packing scandal and meat trust then unfolding, likely prompted by the publication of Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle, the Neill-Reynolds Report, and the signing of the Meat Inspection Act of 1906 that June.
• October 1906 featured a cartoon depicting Edward Harriman carrying two railroad trains under each arm, which originally ran in the Evening Herald, of Duluth, MN. This reflected the importance of the railroads, particularly in light of the Hepburn Act, which became law in July 1906 and expanded the power of the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC).
• December 1906 included a cartoon showing President Roosevelt inspecting the Panama Canal, which originally ran in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
• February 1907 included one cartoon, which said “Railroad Colossus”, a nick-name often associated with Edward Harriman. It originally ran in the Evening World and is used below.
• April 1907 included several cartoons related to Wall Street, the stock market, and panics.

This is a nifty publication for anyone wanting to understand the events of the day and you never know what type of article you might find.

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