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Thomas Bucklin Wells

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Thomas Bucklin Wells

Birth
Painesville, Lake County, Ohio, USA
Death
2 Aug 1944 (aged 69)
City of Paris, Île-de-France, France
Burial
Neuilly-sur-Seine, Departement des Hauts-de-Seine, Île-de-France, France Add to Map
Memorial ID
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Thomas Bucklin Wells, former Editor of Harpers Magazine, retired to France in 1931 and remained throughout the German Occupation of World War II.

Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Ill.), Friday, Sept. 29, 1944, p. 22:
Thomas Bucklin Wells
New York, Sept. 28 (AP). —Harper & Bros., publishers, said today they had reeived news of the death in Paris of Thomas Bucklin Wells, 69, former editor in chief of Harper's magazine. He died in American hospital just before the Germans left Paris, the publishers said. He had lived in Paris since his retirement.”

The New York Times (New York, New York), Friday, September 29, 1944, p. 19, col. 1:
THOMAS B. WELLS OF HARPER’S DEAD
Magazine’s Editor, 1919-1931, Succumbs in Paris - Headed Board of Publishing House

Thomas Bucklin Wells, former editor-in-chief of Harper’s Magazine and former chairman of the board of directors and of the executive committee of Harper & Bros., publishers, died in the American Hospital in Paris a few days before the French capital’s liberation, it was learned here yesterday. He had retired in 1931 to make his home in France. Arrangements had been made for Mr. and Mrs. Wells to return to the United States shortly after the Germans occupied Paris, but Mr. Wells’ health would not permit the trip. His age was 69.

As literary advisor to the book departments, associate editor, editor-in-chief and executive of the publishing form,, Mr. Wells had been an active influence in magazine and book publishing of the highest type for more than three decades.

Went to Harper’s in ’99
Born in Painesville, Ohio, April 5, 1875, Mr. Wells was a son of Thomas B. and Ann Elizabeth Jones Wells. He received his early education in Minneapolis, where a brother, Frederick Brown Wells, still lives. He received an A. B. degree from Yale in 1986. After three years as a reporter on New York newspapers he joined the staff of Harper & Bros. as a member of the promotion department, working on both the magazine and books.

Henry Mills Alden was the editor of the magazine at the time, and it was his suggestion that Mr. Wells become an associate editor. Upon Mr. Alden’s death in 1919 Mr. Wells became editor-in-chief, while retaining his editorial connection with the book department.

He was the fourth editor of the magazine, which had stamped itself indelibly into the history of the times. Henry J. Raymons was the first, taking charge when the magazine was founded in 1850, and under the name of Raymond, Harper & Co. on Sept. 18, 1851, he published the first edition of THE NEW YORK TIMES. When the success of THE TIMES demanded all of Mr. Raymond’s attention, he was succeeded on Harper’s by Alfred H. Guernsey in 1856, and Henry Mills Alden in 1869 began his long career.

Red Cross Aide Overseas
In 1915 Mr. Wells became secretary of Harper & Bros., and in 1918, while serving overseas with the American Red Cross, was elected vice president of the publishing compeny. He was elected chairman of the board of directors and was a stockholder in the corporation.

Mr. Wells was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, the Elizabethan and Elihu Clubs of Yale and the Century and Yale Clubs of New York.

Before moving to France Mr. and Mrs. Wells made their home on Washington Square. Mrs. Wells eas with her husband at his death. She is the former Harriet Sheldon of Greenwich, Conn. Her marriage took place on June 21, 2019.”
Thomas Bucklin Wells, former Editor of Harpers Magazine, retired to France in 1931 and remained throughout the German Occupation of World War II.

Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Ill.), Friday, Sept. 29, 1944, p. 22:
Thomas Bucklin Wells
New York, Sept. 28 (AP). —Harper & Bros., publishers, said today they had reeived news of the death in Paris of Thomas Bucklin Wells, 69, former editor in chief of Harper's magazine. He died in American hospital just before the Germans left Paris, the publishers said. He had lived in Paris since his retirement.”

The New York Times (New York, New York), Friday, September 29, 1944, p. 19, col. 1:
THOMAS B. WELLS OF HARPER’S DEAD
Magazine’s Editor, 1919-1931, Succumbs in Paris - Headed Board of Publishing House

Thomas Bucklin Wells, former editor-in-chief of Harper’s Magazine and former chairman of the board of directors and of the executive committee of Harper & Bros., publishers, died in the American Hospital in Paris a few days before the French capital’s liberation, it was learned here yesterday. He had retired in 1931 to make his home in France. Arrangements had been made for Mr. and Mrs. Wells to return to the United States shortly after the Germans occupied Paris, but Mr. Wells’ health would not permit the trip. His age was 69.

As literary advisor to the book departments, associate editor, editor-in-chief and executive of the publishing form,, Mr. Wells had been an active influence in magazine and book publishing of the highest type for more than three decades.

Went to Harper’s in ’99
Born in Painesville, Ohio, April 5, 1875, Mr. Wells was a son of Thomas B. and Ann Elizabeth Jones Wells. He received his early education in Minneapolis, where a brother, Frederick Brown Wells, still lives. He received an A. B. degree from Yale in 1986. After three years as a reporter on New York newspapers he joined the staff of Harper & Bros. as a member of the promotion department, working on both the magazine and books.

Henry Mills Alden was the editor of the magazine at the time, and it was his suggestion that Mr. Wells become an associate editor. Upon Mr. Alden’s death in 1919 Mr. Wells became editor-in-chief, while retaining his editorial connection with the book department.

He was the fourth editor of the magazine, which had stamped itself indelibly into the history of the times. Henry J. Raymons was the first, taking charge when the magazine was founded in 1850, and under the name of Raymond, Harper & Co. on Sept. 18, 1851, he published the first edition of THE NEW YORK TIMES. When the success of THE TIMES demanded all of Mr. Raymond’s attention, he was succeeded on Harper’s by Alfred H. Guernsey in 1856, and Henry Mills Alden in 1869 began his long career.

Red Cross Aide Overseas
In 1915 Mr. Wells became secretary of Harper & Bros., and in 1918, while serving overseas with the American Red Cross, was elected vice president of the publishing compeny. He was elected chairman of the board of directors and was a stockholder in the corporation.

Mr. Wells was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, the Elizabethan and Elihu Clubs of Yale and the Century and Yale Clubs of New York.

Before moving to France Mr. and Mrs. Wells made their home on Washington Square. Mrs. Wells eas with her husband at his death. She is the former Harriet Sheldon of Greenwich, Conn. Her marriage took place on June 21, 2019.”


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  • Created by: Denise Witwer Lahr
  • Added: Jun 25, 2017
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/180729172/thomas_bucklin-wells: accessed ), memorial page for Thomas Bucklin Wells (5 Apr 1875–2 Aug 1944), Find a Grave Memorial ID 180729172, citing Neuilly-sur-Seine New Communal Cemetery, Neuilly-sur-Seine, Departement des Hauts-de-Seine, Île-de-France, France; Maintained by Denise Witwer Lahr (contributor 47356680).