Robert Keith Leavitt
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Robert Keith Leavitt (1895–1967) was a Harvard-educated
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advertising
copywriter Copywriting is the act or occupation of writing text for the purpose of advertising or other forms of marketing. Copywriting is aimed at selling products or services. The product, called copy or sales copy, is written content that aims to incre ...
who turned to non-fiction writing. He was the author of many books, including a history of ''
Webster's Dictionary ''Webster's Dictionary'' is any of the US English language dictionaries edited in the early 19th century by Noah Webster (1758–1843), a US lexicographer, as well as numerous related or unrelated dictionaries that have adopted the Webster's n ...
'' and "The Chip on Grandma's Shoulder" (1954.) 'Bob' Leavitt was also the longtime historian of the original
The Baker Street Irregulars The Baker Street Irregulars is an organization of Sherlock Holmes enthusiasts founded in 1934 by Christopher Morley. As of 2015, the nonprofit organization had about 300 members worldwide. The group has published ''The Baker Street Journal,'' ...
, devoted to all things
Holmesian Sherlock Holmes fandom is an international, informal community of fans of the stories by Arthur Conan Doyle featuring the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes. The fans are known as Sherlockians or Holmesians. Many fans of Sherlock Holmes participa ...
, about which he wrote in his " The Origins of 221B Worship."


Background

Leavitt was born on August 20, 1895, in
Cambridge, Massachusetts Cambridge ( ) is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. It is a suburb in the Greater Boston metropolitan area, located directly across the Charles River from Boston. The city's population as of the 2020 United States census, ...
, to Dr.
Robert Greenleaf Leavitt Dr. Robert Greenleaf Leavitt (1865–1942) was an early American Harvard-educated botanist and widely published author in the field of botany, as well as an early college and high school educator in the natural sciences. Leavitt also worked for ...
, a Harvard-trained
botanist Botany, also called plant science, is the branch of natural science and biology studying plants, especially Plant anatomy, their anatomy, Plant taxonomy, taxonomy, and Plant ecology, ecology. A botanist or plant scientist is a scientist who s ...
, researcher, author and later college and high school teacher, and his wife Janet. Dubbed "the fiscal Holmes" by another member of the Baker Street Irregulars, Robert Keith Leavitt showed an early aptitude for ferreting out information. He attended the State Model School in
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, where his father was teaching, and graduated from
Harvard College Harvard College is the undergraduate education, undergraduate college of Harvard University, a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Part of the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Scienc ...
in 1917. Shortly afterwards, Leavitt joined the armed forces as 2nd Lieutenant in the 302nd Infantry, where he commanded the
Prisoners of War A prisoner of war (POW) is a person held captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610. Belligerents hold prisoners of war for a ...
Escort Company 223, with custody of 425
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prisoners. After the war Leavitt returned home, and found work writing copy for a
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advertising agency An advertising agency, often referred to as a creative agency or an ad agency, is a business dedicated to creating, planning, and handling advertising and sometimes other forms of promotion and marketing for its clients. An ad agency is generall ...
. He spent 13 years in advertising, including a stint as Secretary-Treasurer of the
Association of National Advertisers Association may refer to: *Club (organization), an association of two or more people united by a common interest or goal *Trade association, an organization founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific industry *Voluntary associatio ...
, before turning to a career as a
freelance ''Freelance'' (sometimes spelled ''free-lance'' or ''free lance''), ''freelancer'', or ''freelance worker'', are terms commonly used for a person who is self-employed and not necessarily committed to a particular employer long-term. Freelance w ...
writer. From the beginning Leavitt focused on historical, offbeat subjects. He wrote for a range of publications, including a 1933 article for ''Business Week'' – during the height of the Depression – on'' What we shall sell when the upturn comes – and to whom?'' Leavitt sold articles to many publications, including ''Forum and Century'', ''Advertising and Selling'', ''The American Magazine'', ''Forbes'' and others. In 1946 he wrote a 66-page booklet entitled ''Your Pay Envelope – and how it gets that way''. To make ends meet, Leavitt wrote corporate histories, including that of the
Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company Arkema S.A. is a publicly listed, multi-national manufacturer of specialty materials, headquartered in La Défense, near Paris, France. It has three specialty materials segments (or divisions); adhesives, advanced materials and coatings. A furt ...
, and he wrote for publications of the Great Northern Railway. The former copywriter also continued to dabble in advertising and
public relations Public relations (PR) is the practice of managing and disseminating information from an individual or an organization (such as a business, government agency, or a nonprofit organization) to the public in order to influence their perception. Pu ...
. The corporate biographies Leavitt wrote to garner a paycheck included titles like ''Prologue to Tomorrow: A History of the First Hundred Years in the Life of the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company'' (1950); ''Goods Roads'' about the
General Motors General Motors Company (GM) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, United States. The company is most known for owning and manufacturing f ...
Overseas operations (1949); ''Foundation for the Future: History of the Stanley Works'' for
Stanley Tools Stanley Hand Tools is a brand of hand tools. It is a division of Stanley Black & Decker, following the merger of The Stanley Works with Black & Decker in March 2010. History The Stanley Works was founded by Frederick Trent Stanley in 1843, ...
(1951); and 1954's ''Life at Tung-Sol 1904–1954: An Informal Story of the First Half-century of Tung-Sol Electric Inc.'' Leavitt also found time to produce books on lighter subjects, notably ''The Chip on Grandma's Shoulder'', a memoir about his
Maine Maine ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the United States, and the northeasternmost state in the Contiguous United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Provinces and ...
grandmother Susan C. (Blazo) Keith, published by J. B. Lippincott in 1954, and ''Common Sense About Fund Raising'' (Stratford Press, 1949). But the book for which Leavitt is remembered is ''Noah's Ark, New England Yankees, and the Endless Quest: A Short History of the Original Webster Dictionaries, with Particular Reference to Their First Hundred Years as Publications of G. & C. Merriam Company''. Although a corporate history—published by G. & C. Merriam Company of
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, in 1947 -- ''Noah's Ark'' explores the history of
Noah Webster Noah Webster (October 16, 1758 – May 28, 1843) was an American lexicographer, textbook pioneer, English-language spelling reformer, political writer, editor, and author. He has been called the "Father of American Scholarship and Education" ...
and his competitor
Joseph Emerson Worcester Joseph Emerson Worcester (August 24, 1784 – October 27, 1865) was an American lexicographer who was the chief competitor to Noah Webster of ''Webster's Dictionary'' in the mid-nineteenth-century. Their rivalry became known as the "dictionary ...
. The book's first half examines Webster's life and
lexicography Lexicography is the study of lexicons and the art of compiling dictionaries. It is divided into two separate academic disciplines: * Practical lexicography is the art or craft of compiling, writing and editing dictionaries. * Theoretical le ...
; the second half etches the "War of the Dictionaries", the struggle for supremacy between Webster's and his competitor Worcester's dictionaries. Leavitt laid out the history of Webster's publishing house after its eponymous title was sold to the Merriam family (today's
Merriam-Webster Merriam-Webster, Incorporated is an list of companies of the United States by state, American company that publishes reference work, reference books and is mostly known for Webster's Dictionary, its dictionaries. It is the oldest dictionary pub ...
). In ''Noah's Ark'' Leavitt plumbed the shoals of international
lexicography Lexicography is the study of lexicons and the art of compiling dictionaries. It is divided into two separate academic disciplines: * Practical lexicography is the art or craft of compiling, writing and editing dictionaries. * Theoretical le ...
and usage. "In considering the influence of Webster's American Dictionary outside the United States", writes David Micklethwait in ''Noah Webster and the American Dictionary'', "Leavitt says that Webster was 'increasingly the arbiter of definitions in British life', until the appearance of John Ogilvie's '' Imperial Dictionary'' in 1850, 'itself largely indebted to the American source.'" Leavitt's work remains the definitive history of Noah Webster and his legacy. When not writing articles and books, Leavitt indulged his passion for
Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a Detective fiction, fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a "Private investigator, consulting detective" in his stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with obser ...
, helping found, with his friend
Christopher Morley Christopher Darlington Morley (May 5, 1890 – March 28, 1957) was an American journalist, novelist, essayist and poet. He also produced stage productions for a few years and gave college lectures.
,
The Baker Street Irregulars The Baker Street Irregulars is an organization of Sherlock Holmes enthusiasts founded in 1934 by Christopher Morley. As of 2015, the nonprofit organization had about 300 members worldwide. The group has published ''The Baker Street Journal,'' ...
, an informal group of
Arthur Conan Doyle Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle (22 May 1859 – 7 July 1930) was a British writer and physician. He created the character Sherlock Holmes in 1887 for ''A Study in Scarlet'', the first of four novels and fifty-six short stories about Hol ...
devotees. Records do not reflect when the author's affinity for
Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a Detective fiction, fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a "Private investigator, consulting detective" in his stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with obser ...
began, but his works show he was a close reader of Sir
Arthur Conan Doyle Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle (22 May 1859 – 7 July 1930) was a British writer and physician. He created the character Sherlock Holmes in 1887 for ''A Study in Scarlet'', the first of four novels and fifty-six short stories about Hol ...
's oeuvre. It was in Leavitt's writings as historian of the Irregulars that he seemed most at home, his imagination prowling
Arthur Conan Doyle Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle (22 May 1859 – 7 July 1930) was a British writer and physician. He created the character Sherlock Holmes in 1887 for ''A Study in Scarlet'', the first of four novels and fifty-six short stories about Hol ...
's intricate plots, sniffing for clues about the
Scottish Scottish usually refers to something of, from, or related to Scotland, including: *Scottish Gaelic, a Celtic Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family native to Scotland *Scottish English *Scottish national identity, the Scottish ide ...
-born author and his fictional sleuth. In an article entitled ''Annie Oakley in Baker Street'', for instance, Leavitt examined
Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a Detective fiction, fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a "Private investigator, consulting detective" in his stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with obser ...
's choice of handgun: Leavitt theorized from Doyle's description that Holmes's sidearm was a Webley Metropolitan Police Model, with -inch barrel – the smallest
handgun A handgun is a firearm designed to be usable with only one hand. It is distinguished from a long gun, long barreled gun (i.e., carbine, rifle, shotgun, submachine gun, or machine gun) which typically is intended to be held by both hands and br ...
available, and subject to concealment without a holster. The voracious Leavitt mined Holmes's adventures for
monograph A monograph is generally a long-form work on one (usually scholarly) subject, or one aspect of a subject, typically created by a single author or artist (or, sometimes, by two or more authors). Traditionally it is in written form and published a ...
s of his own. He authored ''The Curious Matter of the Anonymous Latin Epitaph'', ''The Cardboard Box'' and others. In an essay in ''
The Baker Street Journal ''The Baker Street Journal'' is a quarterly journal devoted to Sherlockiana published by The Baker Street Irregulars. Leslie S. Klinger has called it "the leading publication" in the study of Sherlock Holmes. History After the formation of T ...
'', the Baker Street Irregulars's periodical, Leavitt thought fit to question the marksmanship of the revered detective. In ''Annie Oakley in Baker Street'', Leavitt claimed that Dr. Watson's revolver shot had toppled the villain Tonga from the deck of the ''Aurora'' into the
River Thames The River Thames ( ), known alternatively in parts as the The Isis, River Isis, is a river that flows through southern England including London. At , it is the longest river entirely in England and the Longest rivers of the United Kingdom, s ...
, and not Holmes's. In another piece Leavitt explored the hazy question of whether Dr. John Watson had remarried. Leavitt was a frequent contributor to ''The Baker Street Journal'', published by Ben Abramson, proprietor of
Manhattan Manhattan ( ) is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the Boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City. Coextensive with New York County, Manhattan is the County statistics of the United States#Smallest, larg ...
's Argus Book Shop and a Holmes aficionado, who published musings of the best-known Sherlockians. Within the close-knit Irregulars, Leavitt was known for his expertise in
ballistics Ballistics is the field of mechanics concerned with the launching, flight behaviour and impact effects of projectiles, especially weapon munitions such as bullets, unguided bombs, rockets and the like; the science or art of designing and acceler ...
, optics and finances, sometimes combining them to examine the deeds of Conan Doyle's legendary hero. When not writing about Holmes, Leavitt chose the company of friends like fellow Baker Street Irregulars Christopher Morley and
Elmer Davis Elmer Holmes Davis (January 13, 1890 – May 18, 1958) was an American news reporter, author, the Director of the United States Office of War Information during World War II and a Peabody Award recipient. Early life and career Davis was born i ...
, as well as other writers, reporters, advertising men and artists of the day. Leavitt had one brother, Russell Greenleaf Leavitt, who graduated from
Harvard College Harvard College is the undergraduate education, undergraduate college of Harvard University, a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Part of the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Scienc ...
in 1917, and who subsequently received a deferment from the military for poor eyesight. But Russell Leavitt joined the
U.S. Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest displacement, at 4.5 million tons in 2021. It has the world's largest aircraft ...
and eventually wangled an assignment driving an ambulance for the U.S. Army Ambulance Corps during the
First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
. Russell Leavitt drove his ambulance on the front lines for 11 months, piloting his vehicle at
Verdun Verdun ( , ; ; ; official name before 1970: Verdun-sur-Meuse) is a city in the Meuse (department), Meuse departments of France, department in Grand Est, northeastern France. It is an arrondissement of the department. In 843, the Treaty of V ...
and
Flanders Flanders ( or ; ) is the Dutch language, Dutch-speaking northern portion of Belgium and one of the communities, regions and language areas of Belgium. However, there are several overlapping definitions, including ones related to culture, la ...
, and eventually serving in the Chemical Warfare Service Laboratory at
Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...
. In a piece called ''The Christmas Miracle'', Bob Leavitt recalled tramping through the small
Massachusetts Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...
town of Stoughton on Christmas Eve at age six with his father Robert and brother Russell, searching for a Christmas tree. Leavitt's father stopped periodically and cut several tiny balsam seedlings. "Our father was a botanist Ph.D., given to plucking all manner of specimens wherever we walked, with the offhand explanation, A fine Tsuga canadensis'', or whatever it was," Leavitt wrote. 'By nightfall we had forgotten all about the walk." At home that evening, wondering about their tree, the two boys were shown a jar of earth devoid of plant life. If they sang '
O Little Town of Bethlehem "O Little Town of Bethlehem" is a Christmas carol. Based on an 1868 text written by Phillips Brooks, the carol is popular on both sides of the Atlantic, but to different tunes: in the United States and Canada, to "St. Louis" by Brooks' collabora ...
' particularly well, their mother told them, the trees might grow. The youngsters left the room, and began to sing. When they looked again, the seedlings had grown a foot. They repaired to the other room and sang some more. When they came back, the trees had grown again. "We went out and tried harder on that song," wrote Leavitt, "and when we re-entered the sitting room, the Tree had grown to perhaps a foot or so in height.... We went out and tried harder on that song. And sure enough this Time the tree was taller than either boy.... To this day I cannot hear 'O Little Town of Bethlehem,' from however cracked a curbside organ, without hearing through and beyond it the clear, true voice of my mother." Bob Leavitt died at
Scarsdale, New York Scarsdale is a Administrative divisions of New York#Town, town in Westchester County, New York, United States. The Town of Scarsdale is coterminous municipality, coextensive with the Village of Scarsdale, but the community has opted to operate ...
, in 1967. He was 72. His botanist father had died in 1942 while walking in
Parsonsfield, Maine Parsonsfield is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,791 at the 2020 census. Parsonsfield includes the villages of Kezar Falls, Parsonsfield, and North, East and South Parsonsfield. It is part of the Portland-South ...
. His mother, Janet (Shumway) Leavitt, died of
pneumonia Pneumonia is an Inflammation, inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as Pulmonary alveolus, alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of Cough#Classification, productive or dry cough, ches ...
in 1902 when Leavitt was seven.


Quotes

"People don't ask for facts in making up their minds. They would rather have one good soul-satisfying emotion than a dozen facts." —Robert Keith Leavitt, ''Voyages and Discoveries'', 1939Dictionary of Quotations in Communications, Lilless McPherson Shilling, Linda K. Fuller, Greenwood Publishing Group, 1997


See also

* Blazo-Leavitt House *
Robert Greenleaf Leavitt Dr. Robert Greenleaf Leavitt (1865–1942) was an early American Harvard-educated botanist and widely published author in the field of botany, as well as an early college and high school educator in the natural sciences. Leavitt also worked for ...


References


Further reading

* ''Noah's Ark, New England Yankees, and the Endless Quest: A Short History of the Original Webster Dictionaries, with Particular Reference to Their First Hundred Years as Publications of G. & C. Merriam Company'', Robert Keith Leavitt, Noah Webster, Published by G. & C. Merriam Co., Springfield, Mass., 1947 * ''The Chip on Grandma's Shoulder'', Robert Keith Leavitt, Published by Lippincott, Philadelphia, Penn., 1954 * ''Common Sense about Fund Raising'', Robert Keith Leavitt, Published by Stratford Press, New York, 1949


External links


Winners of the Morley-Montgomery Award, 1961, Robert Keith Leavitt, ''The Origin of 221B Worship'', The Baker Street Journal, An Irregular Quarterly of Sherlockiana
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leavitt, Robert Keith 1895 births 1967 deaths Leavitt family American advertising executives 20th-century American historians Writers from Cambridge, Massachusetts Novelists from New York City Harvard College alumni Writers from Bucks County, Pennsylvania Sherlock Holmes scholars American male novelists Novelists from Pennsylvania Novelists from Massachusetts American male non-fiction writers Historians from Pennsylvania Historians from Massachusetts Historians from New York (state)