Columbia History - Did you know?
Reginald Wright Kauffman
Did you know a Columbia author and journalist wrote 44 novels and other works? It's true!
Reginald Wright Kauffman was a versatile professional who wore several hats as an author, editor, and journalist.
Kauffman was born on South Second Street in Columbia on September 8, 1877. After attending Cherry Street School and other area schools, he was accepted at Harvard University, where he wrote his first novel, Jarvis of Harvard in 1897.
After Harvard, Kauffman reported for the Philadelphia North American and the Saturday Evening Post and later joined the staff at McClure's Magazine in New York City.
In 1912, he represented the United States at the first Congress of Men’s Societies for Women’s Suffrage.
During World War I, he served as a war correspondent for the North American Newspaper Alliance in France and Belgium and became the only accredited correspondent in French waters with the US Navy. (Kauffman disagreed with the military's censorship of journalism.)
Following the war, Kauffman worked with the Republican Party and served as a peace delegate and a Red Cross member. He was an editorial columnist for the Washington Post and the Boston Transcript.
During his career, he also oversaw the New York Herald Tribune’s news bureau at the League of Nations, and later became editor of the Bangor (Maine) Daily News.
In Columbia, he supported the local arts by advocating for the establishment of a theater and promoting the work of local artists, including Charles Demuth, who painted several portraits of him.
Kauffman authored 44 novels, some of which are available from Amazon, and some contain references to Columbia. He also wrote screenplays for nine films based on his works. His novel The House of Bondage, which examined prostitution, was made into a 1914 film.
Kauffman's writing also focused on social trends and marginalized groups such as African Americans and immigrants. Throughout his life, Kauffman remained devoted to the cause of social justice and a range of progressive issues, including women's suffrage and workers' rights in addition to political reform.
After a renowned and prolific career, Kauffman retired in the 1950s. He died in 1959 and is buried in Columbia's Mount Bethel Cemetery.
Kauffman was born on South Second Street in Columbia on September 8, 1877. After attending Cherry Street School and other area schools, he was accepted at Harvard University, where he wrote his first novel, Jarvis of Harvard in 1897.
After Harvard, Kauffman reported for the Philadelphia North American and the Saturday Evening Post and later joined the staff at McClure's Magazine in New York City.
In 1912, he represented the United States at the first Congress of Men’s Societies for Women’s Suffrage.
During World War I, he served as a war correspondent for the North American Newspaper Alliance in France and Belgium and became the only accredited correspondent in French waters with the US Navy. (Kauffman disagreed with the military's censorship of journalism.)
Following the war, Kauffman worked with the Republican Party and served as a peace delegate and a Red Cross member. He was an editorial columnist for the Washington Post and the Boston Transcript.
During his career, he also oversaw the New York Herald Tribune’s news bureau at the League of Nations, and later became editor of the Bangor (Maine) Daily News.
In Columbia, he supported the local arts by advocating for the establishment of a theater and promoting the work of local artists, including Charles Demuth, who painted several portraits of him.
Kauffman authored 44 novels, some of which are available from Amazon, and some contain references to Columbia. He also wrote screenplays for nine films based on his works. His novel The House of Bondage, which examined prostitution, was made into a 1914 film.
Novels by Reginald Wright Kauffman
After a renowned and prolific career, Kauffman retired in the 1950s. He died in 1959 and is buried in Columbia's Mount Bethel Cemetery.
Headstone of Reginald Wright Kauffman and his wife Ruth Wright Kauffman at Mount Bethel Cemetery
[Sources: "Novelist of social reform had roots in Columbia", "Kauffman, Reginald Wright, 1877-1959", Columbia Historic Preservation Society
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