Carl W. (Carl William) Ackerman

Born in 1890, Carl W. Ackerman built a wide-ranging career in American journalism. He became known as a foreign correspondent in Europe during World War I, reporting on major political and military events at a time when international news was reaching American readers with new speed and urgency.

Ackerman later moved into journalism leadership and education. He served as dean of Columbia University's journalism school for many years, and his papers show that his most active period there ran from 1931 to 1956. That long role placed him in an important position as journalism was becoming more formalized as a university discipline.

Remembered today as both a reporter and an educator, Ackerman stands out for bridging two worlds: the fast-moving, high-pressure work of news reporting and the slower, lasting work of training future journalists.