Civic Pioneers: Local Stories from a Changing America, 1895-1915

Civic Pioneers tells the story of innovative government leaders when income inequality soared, immigration changed the nation’s population, and urbanization changed the landscape. Committed to creative problem- solving and believing local government could—and should—respond positively, these civic pioneers shaped active government at the local level.   

They came from different backgrounds with disparate interests. Chosen by the author for their creativity, passion and dramatic personal stories, they worked in eight different places in 12 different fields. Both men and women, some identified as Progressive, others were apolitical.  One was a rich industrialist, another a famous doctor, one was a cross-dressing lesbian who challenged eugenics, one ran the department of corrections in New York and later lost a job for researching female sexuality.

Without one overarching ideology, they all put the common good over personal gain; they valued experience over politics, and shaped innovative solutions to new problems.

Their styles differed from the quiet to the quirky, the shy to the flamboyant.  They all questioned authority, some louder than others. Educated or not, they were all curious, and they were all entrepreneurial, none afraid of change.  

All with imperfections, one was thrown out of the American Library Association for sexual harassment, one was disbarred, one died alone and unhinged.

A good read, Civic Pioneers will appeal to anyone who likes American history, public administrators curious about their fields, and students of leadership.  

What People Are Saying About Civic Pioneers

"From big cities to rural towns, Civic Pioneers is a smart new look at Americas history of local innovation by someone who has helped lead it..”

Michael Bloomberg

"Interesting, inspirational and important profiles, engagingly told.”

Cokie Roberts

"An informative and engrossing introduction to key individuals.”

Kirkus Reviews

Civic Pioneers Annotated Table of Contents

Introduction Written in the first person, the introduction gives the genesis of the idea, the process for identifying the leaders profiled, and the criteria for their selection including regional, gender and racial diversity, publicly acknowledged successes, dramatic personal stories, and distinct leadership traits.  

Kate Barnard: Oklahoma’s Good Angel and Her Lonely Fight for Indian Children As Oklahoma’s first Commissioner of Charities and Corrections, Barnard sought change for the jailed, the insane, the sick and the poor, and the cruel scams to rob Indian children of their land. Her story, with its tragic ending, captures both the complexity of our history, and the nature of her leadership: Persistent, combative, tireless and lonely.

Denis Swenie: Chicago’s Courageous Fire Chief With the political independence he demanded, Swenie built the finest, professional fire department in America—or so wrote Lincoln Steffens. Like the other civic pioneers, he recognized merit and expertness, embraced new technologies, and eschewed political pressure.      

Colonel George Waring and The Victorious Street Sweepers of New York CityWith the exactitude of a military campaign and the flamboyance of PT Barnum, Colonel George Waring, a Civil War veteran who had drained the mashes that became Central Park, did the impossible, and cleaned the filthy streets of New York.     

Frances Kellor: The Stalwart Champion of Immigrants Frances Kellor, who dressed like a man and lived with a woman, investigated the wide-spread exploitation of immigrants, collecting data, coupling it with advocacy, and changing policies and practices for thousands in New York. Kellor, always practical and realistic, persisted until she knew she was defeated.   

August Vollmer: The Curious Creator of Modern Policing August Vollmer, the modest postal clerk-turned-police chief, shaped modern American policing from his perch in Berkeley, California. With common sense and endless flexibility, he trained cops, encouraged their creativity, introduced new technologies, and systematized crime investigations.

Lindsey, Lathrop and Flower: The Twin Births of Juvenile Courts Judge Ben Lindsey from Denver, weighing only 98 pounds, became the best known—although not the first-- juvenile court judge in America. He believed in second chances and, consequently. put most juveniles on probation, a new concept, serving as the court’s first probation officer. When he wrote a book, supporting divorce, the public turned on him and he was disbarred.   

Katharine Bement Davis: The Protective Scholar of Wayward Women A formidable intellectual with a humanist’s sensibility and a strong managerial touch, Katharine Bement Davis was a star in the prison reform movement, becoming Commissioner of NYC Corrections, responsible for a “system in disarray” and 5,500 inmates.

Dewey, Carnegie and Blue: The Rise of Public Libraries A lifelong obsessive, Melvil Dewey developed the famous decimal system for the shelving of books in a universally sensible way, and starting a purchasing cooperative to standardize all library furniture. Carnegie, the philanthropist, supported the construction of public libraries throughout America including two “Colored Public Libraries” in Louisville, Kentucky that Reverend Thomas Blue creatively led. But unlike Dewey, Blue was not allowed to join the American Library Association nor was he thrown out of it for sexual harassment.

Ella Flagg-Young: First in Her Chicago Class Ella Flagg Young taught herself to read and always believed that children learn best when they follow their own interests. As superintendent of the Chicago Public Schools during a tumultuous time, she insisted on equal access for all children to both academic and technical education. A woman of impeccable integrity, she was eventually pushed out by political appointees of the School

William Mulholland: Watering the Land of Eternal Sunshine William Mulholland, an unschooled, self-taught genius, responded to the extraordinary growth of Los Angeles by envisioning and then building a 233- mile aqueduct through the desert and over and through mountains. Apolitical and taciturn, Mulholland’s leadership was grounded in imagination, careful planning, and his acceptance of responsibility,  

Dr. Charlie Mayo: Cows, Pigs and Public Health Dr. Charlie Mayo was the unpaid director of public health in Rochester, Minnesota, even as he and his brother ran the famous clinic that bore their name. Mayo’s expertise in science and medicine, coupled with his rural roots and his entrepreneurial farming skills, made him an effective advocate for the pasteurization of milk.

Senator James McMillan: The Quiet Power Behind Modern Urban Planning Senator James McMillan from Detroit, a wealthy, quiet and strategic man, led the centennial celebration of Washington D.C. negotiating with the designers, convincing railroad titans to cooperate, keeping elected officials informed, and understanding the need to win public approval. He died, never knowing that many American cities copied the principles of the McMillan Plan of 1901.  

Muni One: The Violent Road to Public Transit After the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 collusion between one powerful franchisee and a corrupt mayor resulted in convictions and fueled anger. A violent strike ensued with scabs from around the nation, hired by a gun-toting strikebreaker from New York, arrived in San Francisco.  The strikers lost the battle, but won the war. The City of San Francisco established the first public transit system in America.

Reflections The final chapter summarizes the leadership qualities these public servants shared including curiosity, perseverance, competence and passion. Not without flaws, they all hired based on merit, practiced good communications, and shared an abiding interest in the common good.

Acknowledgements

Bibliography

Photo credits

Index