David Warren Ryder, 1892-1975

David Warren Ryder (1892-1975) was a pioneer San Francisco author, journalist, and publicist. After graduation from Stanford University in 1912, Mr. Ryder taught himself law and practiced law until 1920. During the 1920s, his interest turned to writing and at various times he was a special correspondent for the Springfield (Illinois) Republican, the Baltimore Sun, and the Chicago Tribune. He also served as Contributing Editor and Columnist for Controversy (San Francisco), Columnist for New Democracy (New York) and West Coast representative for The New English Weekly (London). Mr. Ryder was also the publicity director of the Industrial Association of San Francisco and handled public relations and advertising assignments for the Southern Pacific Railroad and the American Lines Steamship Co. In a 1937 letter to Philip Mairet, Mr. Ryder stated that he was in the steamship business for nearly ten years and gave it up to devote himself entirely to writing. He stated that "Big Business" was not for him and that working for a corporation was like being "caught up in the whirl of a big machine." In 1942, Mr. Ryder served a term in federal prison for being an unregistered Japanese agent. He was convicted after the prosecution showed that he accepted funds from the Japanese Committee on Trade and Information for bulk purchases of his monthly pamphlet, Far Eastern Affairs. During his trial, Mr. Ryder insisted that this did not make him a Japanese agent. In fact, he stated that he accepted larger payments from Chinese interests to help defray his publication costs. Throughout the ordeal, he maintained his innocence. Mr. Ryder has written books and articles on many subjects, but he was especially concerned with the Social Credit movement. His correspondence is primarily with others involved in the movement.

From the guide to the David Warren Ryder Papers, 1930-1955, (Ward M. Canaday Center for Special Collections, The University of Toledo)