Ball, Robert P., 1926-

European correspondent for Time and Fortune magazines, 1945-1985.

From the description of Robert P. Ball papers, 1936-1998, bulk 1943-1998. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 85778310

From the description of Robert P. Ball papers, 1936-1985, bulk 1943-1984. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 34422857

Robert Ball, born June 18, 1926 in Owosso, Michigan, enjoyed a long and productive career as European correspondent for Time and Fortune magazines from 1954 to 1985. Ball's education included two stints at the University of Michigan interrupted by a tour of duty with the United States Navy during World War II. Ball left the English Ph.D. program in 1949 to pursue his interest in journalism. He traveled around Europe in 1950 and supported himself by selling a series of articles on the European common man to Michigan newspapers. Ball next worked as press officer for the United States High Command for Germany; he held this position until he caught on as a stringer for Time in September 1954.

Ball's career at Time was a study in steady advancement in status and responsibility: Munich stringer, 1954; Bonn bureau staffer, 1957; London deputy bureau chief, 1962; European Economic Correspondent, 1975. He covered the uprisings in Hungary and Poland in 1956; the Berlin Crises, 1958-1961; the Profumo Affair of 1963; the European Common Market from 1962 to 1970; and the Czechoslovakia revolt in 1968. Given the economic bent of Ball's beat, it was not surprising that Fortune hired him as European editor and correspondent. He covered business, industry, and enterprise for Fortune magazine until his retirement in June 1985. Upon his retirement, Ball organized his papers in preparation for writing a book on his journalistic experiences.

From the guide to the Robert P. Ball Papers, 1936-1998, 1943-1998, (Bentley Historical Library University of Michigan)