Josephine Robb Ober
Josephine Robb Ober | |
|---|---|
Josephine Robb, later Ober, from a 1904 publication | |
| Born | November 26, 1875 New York, New York, U.S. |
| Died | April 7, 1952 (age 76) New York, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Journalist |
Josephine Robb Ober (November 26, 1875[1] – April 7, 1952) was an American journalist and publicist. She was society editor of The New York World from 1904 to 1931, and president of the Newspaper Women's Club of New York from 1929 to 1930.
Early life and education
Robb was born in New York City, the daughter of Joseph Watkins Robb and Julia A. McBride Robb.[2] Her father was a member of the New York Produce Exchange.[3]
Career
Ober worked as a freelance reporter as a young woman.[4] She was "one of the prominent newspaper women of New York",[5] as the society and drama editor at the New York World from 1904 to 1931.[6][7] She was president of the Newspaper Women's Club of New York from 1929 to 1930.[8] She also worked in advertising, and as a publicist.[9] She did publicity for suffrage events. During World War II, she sold war bonds, and was cited by the United States Department of the Treasury for her contributions in that effort.[10]
Publications
- "'Rip Van Winkle' as He Is At Home" (1898)[4]
- "Latest Summer Costumes" (1901)[11]
- "Fall and Winter Costumes" (1902)[12]
Personal life
Robb married patent attorney Frank Somes Ober on his deathbed in 1912; he died the next day.[13] She died in 1952, at her home in New York City, at the age of 76.[8][14]
References
- ^ Ober's birthdate is given variously in sources; this date is from her 1921 application for a United States passport, via Ancestry.
- ^ Leonard, John William, ed. Woman's Who's Who of America (1914): 606.
- ^ "Joseph Watkins Robb". The Standard Union. 1900-10-16. p. 2. Retrieved 2024-05-18 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Ober, Josephine Robb (May 1898). "'Rip Van Winkle' As He is At Home". The Ladies' Home Journal. 15 (6): 2.
- ^ "Visits in California". San Francisco Chronicle. 1924-08-29. p. 8. Retrieved 2025-09-16 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Star Dancers to Entertain at Newspaperwomen's Dance". The Brooklyn Citizen. 1925-06-07. p. 21. Retrieved 2025-09-16 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Mrs. Nelson Honors New York Visitor". The Atlanta Constitution. 1937-05-19. p. 13. Retrieved 2025-09-16 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Josephine R. Ober, Newspaperwoman". Newsday (Suffolk Edition). 1952-04-09. p. 100. Retrieved 2024-05-17 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Purely Personal". The Fourth Estate (560): 7. November 19, 1904.
- ^ "Mrs. Frank S. Ober, Ex-Society Editor" The New York Times (April 9, 1952): 31.
- ^ Robb, Josephine (1901-08-11). "Latest Summer Costumes". Grand Forks Herald. p. 3. Retrieved 2025-09-16 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Robb, Josephine (1902-03-12). "Fall and Winter Costumes". Durand Weekly Clipper. p. 7. Retrieved 2025-09-16 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Weds on his Deathbed; Frank S. Ober Marries Miss Robb, Though About to Expire". The New York Times. 1912-01-16. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
- ^ "Mrs. Josephine Ober". Daily News. 1952-04-10. p. 672. Retrieved 2025-09-16 – via Newspapers.com.