George Gough Booth (September 24, 1864 – April 11, 1949) was the publisher of the privately held Evening News Association, a co-founder of Booth Newspapers (now MLive Media Group), and a philanthropist.
George Gough Booth | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | September 24, 1864 |
| Died | April 11, 1949 (aged 84) |
| Spouse | Ellen W. Scripps |
| Parent | Henry Wood Booth |
Biography
editHe was born on September 24, 1864, in Toronto to Henry Wood Booth.
Booth got his start in the newspaper industry as the son-in-law of James E. Scripps (who, in turn, was the older half-brother and one-time partner of E.W. Scripps). The former had founded The Evening News (later The Detroit News) in 1878, later turning business control over to Booth. With his two brothers, George subsequently founded the independent Booth Newspapers (now MLive Media Group), a chain spanning the southern half of Michigan.[1][2]
He died on April 11, 1949, in Detroit, Michigan. He was buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Birmingham, Michigan.
Philanthropy
editBooth and his wife, Ellen Scripps Booth, founded the Cranbrook Educational Community (CEC) in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan which has become one of the nation's highest ranked private schools.[3] In 1904, the Booths purchased the site of the present-day CEC as a place for their summer home. They hired noted architect Albert Kahn to design their country manor, Cranbrook House. As their country estate grew both in purpose and in scale, Booth had both noted architect Eliel Saarinen and renowned sculptor Carl Milles in residence for many years at CEC.
Booth was an avid student of the Arts and Crafts movement and, together, brothers Ralph and George Booth were major benefactors of the Detroit Institute of Arts.
Legacy
editBooth Newspapers (now MLive Media Group) was sold to Advance Publications, a Samuel I. Newhouse property, in 1976. Evening News Association was eventually sold to the Gannett Company in 1985. MediaNews Group currently owns The Detroit News.
External links
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Newhouse Acquires Booth Chain of Newspapers for $305 Million". The New York Times. 9 November 1976.
- ^ The Evening News Association at one time held newspaper and broadcasting properties located from coast to coast. During Booth's time, the ENA consisted of only The Detroit News and WWJ AM-FM-TV.
- ^ Borten, Lisa (February 3, 2021). "These Are 50 of the Best Private High Schools in America". Newsweek.