Abbott's Monthly Vol. II No. 1

Robert Sengstacke Abbott (November 24, 1870–February 29, 1940) was a lawyer, newspaper editor, and publisher. He founded the "Chicago Defender" in 1905 which became the highest circulated publication by an African American owned company. His company published other well-known newspapers, journals, and magazines including "Abbott’s Monthly" and "Abbot’s Monthly Illustrated News." In addition to his success as a businessman, Abbot was significant to both the local Chicago community and the nation. Abbot worked with President Franklin D. Roosevelt to have African American reporters in the White House and to create jobs in the US Postal Service. President Harry Truman later named him to the commission he formed to integrate the military. In 1940, Abbott established the National Negro Publishers Association (now the National Newspaper Publisher's Association) and served as the president. Abbott died in 1940 from Bright’s disease and his nephew John Henry Sengstacke took over the operations of the newspaper to continue his uncle’s work.