Publisher. As a boy this son of French immigrants delivered newspapers in New York City. After moving to Philadelphia, he became an editor for the Daily Chronicle, where he dealt largely with cutting and pasting articles from other sources. As he became financially successful, he founded The Lady's Book in 1830, the first periodical that targeted women who aspired to be "ladies." The magazine gave direction in fashion and etiquette, along with recipes, dress patterns, and crafts. Early issues reflected the same cutting and pasting Godey had learned at the Chronicle. In 1837 he moved from replicating French magazines, to presenting a truly American publication: he hired Sarah Josepha Hale as literary editor of the renamed Godey's Lady's Book. Hale was committed to advancing education for young women: she believed a woman could achieve any goals she wanted. Under Hale's leadership in the 1840s, the publication became the American magazine with the highest circulation. In addition to fashion, Godey's Lady's Book contained short stories, essays, and poetry by figures like Ralph Waldo Emerson, William Cullen Bryant, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Edgar Allen Poe, and Oliver Wendell Holmes. The magazine reached over 150,000 subscribers by 1858. Starting in 1845 Godey copyrighted each issue of Godey's Lady's Book to prevent other periodicals from cutting and pasting articles and literature from its pages. Godey published two other magazines: The Young People's Book (1841) and Lady's Musical Library (1842).
Publisher. As a boy this son of French immigrants delivered newspapers in New York City. After moving to Philadelphia, he became an editor for the Daily Chronicle, where he dealt largely with cutting and pasting articles from other sources. As he became financially successful, he founded The Lady's Book in 1830, the first periodical that targeted women who aspired to be "ladies." The magazine gave direction in fashion and etiquette, along with recipes, dress patterns, and crafts. Early issues reflected the same cutting and pasting Godey had learned at the Chronicle. In 1837 he moved from replicating French magazines, to presenting a truly American publication: he hired Sarah Josepha Hale as literary editor of the renamed Godey's Lady's Book. Hale was committed to advancing education for young women: she believed a woman could achieve any goals she wanted. Under Hale's leadership in the 1840s, the publication became the American magazine with the highest circulation. In addition to fashion, Godey's Lady's Book contained short stories, essays, and poetry by figures like Ralph Waldo Emerson, William Cullen Bryant, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Edgar Allen Poe, and Oliver Wendell Holmes. The magazine reached over 150,000 subscribers by 1858. Starting in 1845 Godey copyrighted each issue of Godey's Lady's Book to prevent other periodicals from cutting and pasting articles and literature from its pages. Godey published two other magazines: The Young People's Book (1841) and Lady's Musical Library (1842).
Bio by: rjschatz
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