George P. Rowell

Office of Geo. P. Rowell, New York, 1860s^[1]

George Presbury Rowell (July 4, 1838 - August 28, 1908) was an American advertising executive and publisher. He founded Printer's Ink, the first advertising trade magazine, in 1888.^[2][3]

Life and career

In the early 1860s, Rowell opened an advertising agency in Boston. He offered advertising space in New England newspapers and eventually nationwide. In 1869, he issued the first Rowell’s American Newspaper Directory listing 5,778 American papers.^[4] Eventually, he opened an office on the ground floor of the New York Times building.

Rowell died in Poland Spring, Maine.^[5]

References

1. Geo. P. Rowell and Co.'s American Newspaper Directory, New York: Geo. P. Rowell & Co., 1869
2. Pendergrast, Mark (2000). For God, Country, and Coca Cola: The Definitive History of the Great American Soft Drink and the Company That Makes It. Basic Books, ISBN 9780465054688
3. Mierau, Christina B. (2000). Accept No Substitutes!: The History of American Advertising. Twenty-First Century Books, ISBN 9780822517429
4. Staff report (Nov 1, 1905). George P. Rowell retires: The dean of the advertising men honored at a dinner. New York Times
5. Staff report (August 29, 1908). GEORGE P. ROWELL DEAD.; New York Publisher Dies at Poland Springs, Me. New York Times

External links

• George P. Rowell via Advertising Hall of Fame
• Library of Congress. List of Rowell's newspaper directories