Ernest Hamlin Abbott

Ernest Hamlin Abbott was an American writer and editor born in 1870 and active in the world of journalism and public commentary. Records connected with Harvard’s Class of 1893 identify him as the son of the well-known clergyman and editor Lyman Abbott, and later publications show his own name closely tied to The Outlook, the influential New York magazine.

His work ranged across religion, social observation, and family life. Books credited to him include Religious Life in America: A Record of Personal Observation and On the Training of Parents, a parenting guide that argues for forming good habits rather than relying on harsh discipline.

Abbott’s editorial career appears to have grown over time: archival issues of The Outlook list him among the magazine’s editors, and by 1926 he was identified there as editor-in-chief. He died in 1931, leaving behind writing that reflects a thoughtful, reform-minded strand of American Protestant and civic life.