R. A. CROTHERS

 

R. A. Crothers, publisher of the San Francisco Evening Bulletin, was trained for the law, practiced ten years in Canada before coming to San Francisco, and has given thirty years of his life to the upbuilding of The Bulletin.  A Canadian by birth, he received his preliminary education at the academy at Clarenceville in the Province of Quebec.  After a year's private tuition under the Rev. Archdeacon Naylor he entered McGill University, Montreal, at the age of seventeen.  He graduated first in his class in 1876, winning the Chapman gold medal given in the honor course in Greek and Latin, Greek and Roman history and literature.  Having taken his first year in law with his last year in art he received his degree as Bachelor of Civil Law in 1878, when he entered upon the practice of the legal profession, which he continued for two years. During the last five years of this time he served on the board of examiners for the admission of students to study and practice law.  Admission to the bar in the province of Quebec was in the hands of the bar association, which elects each year two of its members to hold examinations semi-annually in the different cities of the province.

 

     About this time his brother-in-law, the late Loring Pickering, one of the owners of the Morning Call and Evening Bulletin of San Francisco, was in failing health, and at his earnest solicitation Mr. Crothers was induced to go to San Francisco and take an interest in the two papers, with a view of being Mr. Pickering's successor when his ill health necessitated retirement.  Going to San Francisco in June, 1888, Mr. Crothers, while learning the intricacies of journalism, was admitted to the bar of California, opened an office and practiced law for two years for the purpose of becoming familiar with the practice and procedure of the common law as an aid to his future work as a journalist.

 

     Following the death of Mr. Pickering in December, 1894, the two papers were sold in the settlement of his estate.  Mr. Crothers purchased The Bulletin taking the title in his own name, though holding one-half of the property in trust for his sister, Mrs. Loring Pickering, and her son, Loring C. F. Pickering, then only four years of age.  The Bulletin was perhaps the most influential paper in California, although in form it was one of the large blanket sheets of four and six pages with meager telegraphic service. To improve this service was the first task undertaken by Mr. Crothers on assuming the responsibilities of publisher.  Interviewing all the publishers of evening papers on the coast and ascertaining how much each could contribute to the expense of a leased wire service, Mr. Crothers went before the directors of the old Associated Press at Chicago, laying his proposition before them for a complete telegraphic service.  Colonel Diehl, then assistant general manager, was delegated to negotiate and secure the leased wire if possible.  After three days of energetic work the wire was secured, and Mr. Crothers on his return to the coast was delighted to find the columns of The Bulletin replete with the extended telegraphic news of the world.  This, with the advantage of the difference in time in its favor, enabled The Bulletin by a vigorous editorial policy and business management to attain its position as one of the six or seven great papers of the country.

 

     During his thirty years as editor and publisher of The Bulletin Mr. Crothers has taken an active interest in municipal and civic affairs.  He was one of the committee of fifty, known as the Committee of Safety, which took over the management of the affairs of the city after the earthquake and fire in April, 1906.  He also served for five years as one of the active members of the board of directors of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition.

 

 

Transcriber: Marilyn R. Pankey 5-21-04