Harry Chandler

Harry Chandler was a prominent American publisher and businessman, best known for his role as the publisher of the Los Angeles Times from 1915 to 1944. He was a key figure in the development of Los Angeles, California and played a significant role in shaping the city's growth and identity, often in collaboration with other influential figures such as William Randolph Hearst and Harrison Gray Otis. Chandler's life and career were closely tied to the history of the Los Angeles Times, which was founded by Harrison Gray Otis in 1881 and later became a major publication under Chandler's leadership, with notable contributors including Upton Sinclair and Carey McWilliams. Throughout his life, Chandler was also involved with various organizations, including the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce and the California Club, where he interacted with other notable individuals such as Herbert Hoover and Earl Warren.

● Early Life and Education

Harry Chandler was born in 1864 in Landaff, New Hampshire, to a family of modest means, and later moved to Boston, Massachusetts, where he attended Boston University and developed an interest in journalism, inspired by the works of William Lloyd Garrison and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Chandler's early life was marked by a strong work ethic, which was influenced by his parents and his experiences working for the Boston Daily Advertiser and the Boston Herald, where he was exposed to the writings of Mark Twain and Theodore Dreiser. In 1885, Chandler moved to Los Angeles, California, where he began working for the Los Angeles Times as a reporter, covering events such as the Tongva people's struggles and the growth of the Southern Pacific Railroad, which was led by Leland Stanford and Collis Potter Huntington. During this period, Chandler also became acquainted with other notable figures, including Abbot Kinney and Isaias W. Hellman.

● Career

Chandler's career as a publisher and businessman was marked by significant achievements, including his role in shaping the Los Angeles Times into a major publication, with notable coverage of events such as the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906 and the Mexican Revolution, which involved figures like Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata. He was also a key figure in the development of Los Angeles, California, working closely with other influential individuals such as William Mulholland and D.W. Griffith to promote the city's growth and identity, often through organizations like the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce and the California Club. Chandler's leadership of the Los Angeles Times was notable for its coverage of local and national events, including the Teapot Dome scandal and the Great Depression, which affected the lives of people like John Steinbeck and Dorothea Lange. Throughout his career, Chandler was also involved with various other organizations, including the University of Southern California and the California Institute of Technology, where he interacted with notable figures such as Robert A. Millikan and Linus Pauling.

● Personal Life

Chandler's personal life was marked by a strong sense of family and community, with his marriage to Marian Otis Chandler in 1890 and the birth of their children, including Norman Chandler and Bishop Chandler, who later became involved in the Los Angeles Times and other business ventures, such as the Times Mirror Company. Chandler was also a member of various social and civic organizations, including the California Club and the Jonathan Club, where he interacted with other notable individuals such as Hiram Johnson and Earl Warren. Throughout his life, Chandler was known for his conservative views and his support for the Republican Party, which was influenced by his relationships with figures like Herbert Hoover and Warren G. Harding. Chandler's personal life was also marked by a strong interest in real estate development, with investments in properties such as the San Fernando Valley and the Hollywood Hills, which were developed by other notable individuals like Harold Lloyd and Cecil B. DeMille.

● Later Life and Legacy

In his later life, Chandler continued to play a significant role in the development of Los Angeles, California, working closely with other influential individuals such as Tom Bradley and Zev Yaroslavsky to promote the city's growth and identity, often through organizations like the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce and the California Club. Chandler's legacy as a publisher and businessman is still celebrated today, with the Los Angeles Times remaining a major publication and a testament to his vision and leadership, which was influenced by his relationships with notable figures like William Randolph Hearst and Owen Young. Throughout his life, Chandler was also recognized for his contributions to the community, including his support for the University of Southern California and the California Institute of Technology, which were led by notable individuals such as Rufus B. von KleinSmid and Robert A. Millikan. Chandler's legacy continues to be felt in Los Angeles, California, with his name still associated with the Los Angeles Times and other business ventures, such as the Times Mirror Company, which was later acquired by the Tribune Company.

● Business Ventures

Chandler's business ventures were diverse and far-reaching, with investments in real estate development, newspaper publishing, and other industries, often in collaboration with other notable individuals such as Isaias W. Hellman and Joseph Francis Sartori. Chandler's most notable business venture was the Los Angeles Times, which he published from 1915 to 1944 and grew into a major publication, with coverage of events such as the Olympic Games and the Academy Awards, which were founded by Louis B. Mayer and Cecil B. DeMille. Chandler was also involved in various other business ventures, including the Times Mirror Company, which was later acquired by the Tribune Company, and the Los Angeles Examiner, which was founded by William Randolph Hearst. Throughout his career, Chandler was known for his shrewd business sense and his ability to navigate complex financial and political landscapes, often with the help of notable figures like J.P. Morgan and John D. Rockefeller.