Francis Pharcellus Church

Francis Pharcellus Church (February 22, 1839 – April 11, 1906) was an American publisher and editor. Born in Rochester, New York, he graduated from Columbia University and embarked on a career in journalism. With his brother, William Conant Church, Francis founded and edited several periodicals: The Army and Navy Journal, The Galaxy, and the Internal Revenue Record and Customs Journal. He was a war correspondent for The New York Times during the American Civil War. He worked at The New York Sun in the early 1860s and again from 1874 till his death, writing thousands of editorials.

In 1897, Church wrote the editorial "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus". Produced in response to eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon's letter asking whether Santa Claus was real, the widely republished editorial has become one of the most famous ever written. Church died in New York City and is buried at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.

Birth and Death Data: Born February 22, 1839 (Rochester), Died April 11, 1906 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1939

Roles Represented in DAHR: author

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor CS-042937 12-in. 10/11/1939 Is there a Santa Claus? Jessica Dragonette Soprano and male vocal quartet, with orchestra author  
Victor CS-042938 12-in. 10/11/1939 Is there a Santa Claus? Jessica Dragonette Soprano and male vocal quartet, with orchestra author  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Chruch, Francis Pharcellus," accessed May 2, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/368309.

Chruch, Francis Pharcellus. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 2, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/368309.

"Chruch, Francis Pharcellus." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 2 May 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/368309

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