Edward K. Thompson

Edward K. Thompson (1907 – October 1996) was an American writer and editor. The "Smithsonian Magazine" called him "one of the great editors of the last half [of the 20th] century." He was the editor of LIFE from its early days as a weekly and was the founding editor of "Smithsonian Magazine".

Early years

Thompson was born in St. Thomas, North Dakota, United to Edward T. Thompson, a dry goods business proprietor and local banker. After finishing high school at 15, he went with his mother to Grand Forks, North Dakota, at the age of 16 to begin his studies at the University of North Dakota.

Marriage and early career

His first wife was Marguerite Maxam, from Montana, who he married in 1928. The first of his two sons, Edward T. Thompson would become the editor of "Reader's Digest". He would move to Milwaukee, Wisconsin with his family in 1929 to work for the "Milwaukee Journal" where he would remain until 1937.

"LIFE"

While at the "Milwaukee Journal" he also worked as a stringer for "TIME" which brought him to the attention of Henry Luce who was thinking about introducing a national picture magazine, which would become "LIFE". Luce hired Thompson in 1937 as assistant picture editor for this new venture. From 1949–1961 he was the managing editor. During this time he came to know Lee Eitington, who would become his second wife in 1963. Thompson was known for the free rein he gave his editors, particularly a "trio of formidable and colorful women: Sally Kirkland, fashion editor; Mary Letherbee, movie editor; and Mary Hamman, modern living editor." [Hamblin, Dora Jane: "That Was The LIFE", page 161. W.W. Norton & Company, 1977.] He retired from "LIFE" as editor in chief, in 1970.

"Smithsonian"

Next he "invented", to use his word, Smithsonian magazine. "To those all-out converts to computerized journalism who declaim that 'print is dead,' I say, 'Not so fast.'" are his opening words of his book: "A love Affair with Life & Smithsonian" published by the University of Missouri Press in October 1995. His other 'invention' was the magazine "Impact" which he created for the Army Air Forces during his time out during World War II; "LIFE", he would say, was Henry Luce's invention.

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