Arthur Weinberg
Arthur Weinberg was an influential American journalist, author, and educator born on December 8, 1915, in Chicago, Illinois. He pursued higher education in journalism, graduating from Northwestern University in 1938. Weinberg began his career as a service clerk and later transitioned to writing, working as a researcher for the Illinois Writers' Project and as a technical writer for Consolidated Aircraft Corporation during World War II. He served in the U.S. Army from 1945 to 1947, where he also edited a military newspaper.
After his military service, Weinberg joined Fairchild Publications, where he worked for over three decades and rose to the position of Midwest bureau chief. He was also a dedicated educator, starting as a lecturer at the University of Chicago in 1957 and later joining DePaul University’s School for New Learning. Notably, he had a profound interest in the trial lawyer Clarence Darrow, co-authoring a celebrated biography, *Clarence Darrow: A Sentimental Rebel*, which received several awards. His contributions to literature also include editing the anthology *Attorney for the Damned*. After his passing in 1989, his legacy continued through the establishment of the Weinberg Awards at DePaul University, honoring student writers.
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Arthur Weinberg
Author
- Born: December 8, 1915
- Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois
- Died: January 28, 1989
- Place of death: Chicago, Illinois
Biography
Arthur Weinberg was born in Chicago, Illinois, on December 8, 1915. He received an associate degree from the Central YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association) College in 1935, and he earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University in 1938. From 1935 until 1939, he was employed as a service clerk at Hart Schaffner & Marx clothiers, and from 1939 until 1941 he was a researcher and writer for the Illinois Writers’ Project.
In 1941, he received his Ph.B. from Northwestern University. That year, he took a job in San Diego, California, as a technical writer for Consolidated Aircraft Corporation. He entered the United States Army in 1945 and served until 1947, attaining the rank of sergeant. While serving in the army, he edited the military post newspaper, the Fort Lewis Flame. After completing his military service, Weinberg worked for Fairchild Publications, which published national business newspapers. He was employed by Fairchild Publications from 1947 to 1981, eventually becoming the Midwest bureau chief.
Weinberg began lecturing at the University of Chicago in 1957. In 1976, he became a faculty member of the School for New Learning at DePaul University. He moderated a discussion program, Sound Off, that aired on radio station WXFM beginning in 1961. At the time of his death in 1989, Weinberg was the Lloyd Lewis Fellow in American History at the prestigious Newbery Library in Chicago.
Weinberg had a lifelong interest in Clarence Darrow, the famous trial lawyer. In 1957, he founded and was the executive chair of the Clarence Darrow Centennial Committee, and he was the chair of the Clarence Darrow Commemorative Committee in 1958. From 1959 until 1969, he was on the board of directors of the Clarence Darrow Community Center, serving as vice president for two years.
His best-known literary work was a biography of Darrow, Clarence Darrow: A Sentimental Rebel, cowritten with his wife, Lila Weinberg. The book won a Best Biography Award and a Friends of Literature Award from the Society of Midland Authors in 1980. He edited the critically acclaimed Clarence Darrow anthology, Attorney for the Damned which was on The New York Times’ best-seller list for nineteen weeks. Weinberg also coauthored and coedited several nonfiction books with his wife, including The Muckrakers: The Era in Journalism That Moved America to Reform and Instead of Violence: Writings by the Great Advocates of Peace and Nonviolence Throughout History.
After his death, Weinberg’s papers were donated to the Newberry Library. The School for New Learning established the Weinberg Awards in honor of Weinberg and his wife. These awards are presented annually to student writers at DePaul University.