Goodman, Edward, 1830-1911.

Edward Goodman was born in 1830 in Clipstone, North Hamptonshire, England. In 1852 he immigrated to Chicago for health reasons and began a career as a printer, publisher, and columnist for the Baptist paper, the Christian Times (later, the Standard). Although he had been trained as an apothecary, Goodman took to this business and by 1857 had saved enough money to buy a quarter interest in the paper. A few years later Goodman became the partner of the Standard’s publisher, Rev. Leroy Church.

In 1867 Goodman invited Richard Robert Donnelley (1837-1899) into the printing firm, which was renamed Church, Goodman, and Donnelley. By 1870 the firm was sold and became the Lakeside Publishing and Printing Company, the first major mid-western publishing house. Eventually Donnelley took control of the company, now known as R.R. Donnelley and Sons.

Goodman’s interest in Baptist organizations continued after 1870 when he became an officer in the Baptist Theological Union, the American Baptist Missionary Union, and the Chicago Baptist Union. In 1862 Goodman became the deacon of the First Baptist Church of Chicago, which he had first joined in 1854. He held this office until his death.

Edward Goodman served as a member of the Board of Trustees during the incorporation of the University of Chicago in 1890. He remained on the board until 1909.

Edward Goodman died in 1911.

From the guide to the Goodman, Edward. Papers, 1854-1919, (Special Collections Research Center University of Chicago Library 1100 East 57th Street Chicago, Illinois 60637 U.S.A.)