Biographical Sketches

Curtis Guild, Sr. (1827-1911) was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on 13 January 1827, the son of Curtis and Charlotte Louisa Hodges Guild. He was a descendant of John Guild who settled Dedham, Massachusetts, in 1636. In 1847, Guild, Sr. started as a clerk in the office of the Boston Journal, where he soon worked his way up to reporter. He began to contribute regularly to many literary magazines, including the Boston Evening Traveller. On 1 January 1859, he launched his own magazine, The Commercial Bulletin, where he was the editor and sole manager. This paper flourished as it featured subjects new to the journalism world, such as manufacturing and finance. Guild was a member of the Commercial Club of Boston and served as its president from 1882-1883. He also authored several books, including Over the Ocean (1869), Abroad Again (1873), Britons and Muscovites (1888), A Chat About Celebrities (1897), and From Sunrise to Sunset (1894), which is a volume of poetry. He died on 12 March 1911 at 84 years old.

Curtis Guild, Jr. (1860-1915) was born on 2 February 1860, the son of Curtis Guild, Sr. and Sarah Crocker Guild. After attending private school, Guild, Jr. went to Harvard University, where he followed in his father's journalist footsteps by writing for the Harvard Crimson and Harvard Lampoon. While at Harvard, he also befriended future U.S. president Theodore Roosevelt. Guild, Jr. graduated Harvard in 1881 and immediately began his political career by serving in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He was part of Roosevelt's progressive Republican wing and the first president of the Massachusetts Republican Club in 1901. He also served in the Spanish American War. In 1902, he took over his father's newspaper, The Commercial Bulletin. Guild, Jr. served as governor of Massachusetts from 1906-1909, focusing on sanctioning welfare measures, women and children's labor laws, and factory working conditions. At the end of his career, Guild, Jr. served as the U.S. ambassador to Russia from 1911-1913. He died on 6 April 1915 at 55 years old.

Courtenay Guild (1863-1946) was born on 6 December 1863, the son of Curtis Guild, Sr. and Sarah Crocker Guild. He was the younger brother of Curtis Guild, Jr. Courtenay Guild graduated from Harvard University in 1886, then worked for his father's paper, The Commercial Bulletin, and served as president for the Handel and Hayden Society, the Apollo Club, and the Harvard Musical Association. He also authored the second volume of the History of the Handel and Haydn Society of Boston, Massachusetts. He earned an honorary degree from Boston University. He died on 24 April 1946 at 82 years old.