Zilfa Estcourt (born Zilpha Eugenie Phillips, May 3, 1883 – December 17, 1959) was an American newspaper columnist and editor. Described variously as "the dean of west coast woman writers"[3] and as being "to newspapers what Ethel Barrymore is to the stage,"[4] Estcourt was the women's editor at the Tacoma Tribune[5][6] and San Francisco Chronicle.[7]

Zilfa Estcourt
Excerpted from May 1904 news story simultaneously commemorating Phillips' college graduation and post-graduate scholarship.
Born
Zilpha Eugenie Phillips

(1883-05-03)May 3, 1883
DiedDecember 17, 1959(1959-12-17) (aged 76)
San Francisco, California, U.S.
Other namesZilfa Phillips
Alma materWhitworth College, University of Chicago
OccupationJournalist
Years active1914–1948
Spouse
Harry Slocum Estcourt
(m. 1921; died 1937)
[1][2]

Early life and career

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On May 3, 1883, Zilpha Eugenie Phillips was born in Black River Falls, Wisconsin, the oldest of four children born to Thomas Henry Phillips and Emma Eugenie Jesse.[8] Sometime between 1991 and 1900, the family relocated to Tacoma, Washington,[9][10] and, in 1904, Pillips received a Bachelor of Art's degree from Whitworth College in Spokane.[11] At that time, she was awarded a scholarship to the University of Chicago,[12] where she earned her master's degree the following year.[13][14]

Death

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On December 17, 1959, Estcourt, whose health had been failing since her retirement in 1949, died in a San Francisco nursing home.[14]

References

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  1. ^ "Harry S. Estcourt Weds Society Editor". The Ithaca Journal. July 25, 2021. p. 5
  2. ^ "Former S.F. Man Succumbs in N.Y.". Oakland Tribune. September 9, 1937. p. 2. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  3. ^ Greenman, Frances Cranmer (May 23, 1948). "California Letter: Time to Shed Moss, Rolling Stone Finds". Minneapolis Star-Tribune. p. p. 56. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  4. ^ Pierce, Pat (March 20, 1943). "Operations on the Hill". Hawaii Tribune-Herald. p. 8. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  5. ^ "Personals". Editor and Publisher. November 10, 1917. p. 22. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  6. ^ "Change in Perkins Staff at Tacoma". The Washington Newspaper (October 1917), p. 20. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  7. ^ "Whitworth Reunion". The Tacoma News Tribune. June 20, 1948. p. 35. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  8. ^ "Wisconsin Births and Christenings, 1826-1926", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XR1P-KVL : 30 January 2020), Zilpha Eugenie Phillips, 1883.
  9. ^ "Donors to Young People's Fund". Christian Science Journal. August 1891. p. 220. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  10. ^ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMPP-S3S : accessed 2 December 2021), Zilfa E Phillips in household of Thomas H Phillips, Precinct 1 Tacoma city Ward 1, Pierce, Washington, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 161, sheet 5B, family 91, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,748.
  11. ^ "Graduates". Whitworth College Catalog. May 1911. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  12. ^ "Chicago University Honors Tacoma Girl". The Tacoma Daily Ledger. May 11, 1904. p. . Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  13. ^ "Whitworth Is Again Honored". The Tacoma Ledger. June 11, 1905. p. 4 . Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  14. ^ a b "Obituaries: Zilfa Estcourt". Oakland Tribune. December 19, 1959. p. 25. Retrieved December 2, 2021.

Further reading

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