Albert Shaw

Biography

Albert Shaw was born on July 23, 1857, in Shandon, Ohio, to Dr. Griffin M. Shaw. In the spring of 1875, Shaw moved to Iowa, where he attended Iowa College (now Grinnell College), specializing in constitutional history and economic science. While a student, he also worked as a journalist at the Grinnell Herald, beginning his lifelong career in journalism. After graduating in 1879, Shaw continued his education at Johns Hopkins University as a graduate student beginning in 1881, where he would later become classmates with future President Woodrow Wilson.

Shaw's academic career was interrupted by practical journalism when he secured a position on the Minneapolis Tribune in 1883, though he returned to Johns Hopkins to complete his Ph.D. His thesis, 'Icaria: A Chapter in the History of Communism,' was later translated and published in Germany. After graduation, he resumed work at the Tribune and became a recognized authority on municipal government reform. In 1888, Shaw took a sociological tour of Britain and the European continent, where he met British journalist William Thomas Stead, editor of the British Review of Reviews, a meeting that would change the course of his career.

In 1890, Shaw was elected professor of international law and political institutions at Cornell University, but he resigned the following year to accept Stead's invitation to establish The American Review of Reviews as an American edition of the British publication. Shaw served as editor-in-chief of this influential magazine until it ceased publication in 1937, ten years before his death. The magazine became the preeminent monthly publication of news and political analysis in the United States, with Shaw establishing himself as a leading voice in progressive reform, municipal government studies, and international affairs. He died on June 25, 1947, at the age of ninety, after a remarkable career spanning over five decades of American journalism and reform.

Major Works & Series

Literary Significance & Legacy

Albert Shaw pioneered modern political journalism through his innovative editorial approach at The American Review of Reviews, which became the most influential magazine of its kind in America. His work established new standards for political analysis and public affairs coverage, combining scholarly depth with accessibility for general readers. Shaw's magazine served as a crucial platform for progressive reform ideas, municipal government studies, and international affairs analysis during the transformative period from the 1890s through the New Deal era.

Shaw's influence extended far beyond journalism to practical politics and policy-making. He served as an informal advisor to President Theodore Roosevelt and maintained close friendships with major political figures including Woodrow Wilson, his former Johns Hopkins classmate. His expertise in municipal government made him a sought-after consultant for urban reform movements across America. Shaw's combination of academic training, practical journalism experience, and political connections created a new model for the public intellectual in American society.

Best Starting Points

• Municipal Government in Great Britain
  Shaw's foundational work on urban governance that established his reputation as municipal reform expert
• The American Review of Reviews (Early Volumes)
  Representative issues from Shaw's influential magazine during its peak influence period
• A Cartoon History of Roosevelt's Career
  Accessible introduction to Shaw's political analysis through visual political commentary
• Abraham Lincoln: His Path to the Presidency
  Shaw's mature biographical work combining historical scholarship with political insight

Famous Characters

• The Progressive Editor
  Shaw's role as influential magazine editor shaping American public opinion on reform issues
• The Municipal Expert
  Shaw as recognized authority on urban governance and city administration reform
• The Political Analyst
  Shaw's persona as keen observer and interpreter of American political developments
• The Academic Journalist
  Shaw's unique combination of scholarly training with practical journalism experience
• The Reform Advocate
  Shaw as champion of progressive causes and good government movements
• The Presidential Confidant
  Shaw's role as informal advisor to presidents and political leaders