Harry Kendall Thaw, a rich and troubled individual, made national headlines when he shot architect Stanford White in what became known as “the murder of the century.” But starting long before the infamous murder trial, Harry Thaw had already drawn the eye of the press with a string of scandals which earned him a growing reputation—and a steady presence in the periodicals Town Topics and The New York Times. These two publications played a key role in shaping Thaw’s public image with both different but also at times overlapping portrayals of his character.
This project explores the descriptive language used by Town Topics and The New York Times to construct—and reconstruct—Harry Thaw’s public image over time. By analyzing and visualizing the most frequently used descriptors from each magazine, it becomes clear how language shaped the narrative around Thaw.
Framing Evelyn Nesbit: Gossip, Gender, and Scandal in Town Topics
This digital project explores the media representation of Evelyn Nesbit, an artist’s model, performer, and central figure in one of the most sensational scandals of the early 20th century, as portrayed in the American society magazine Town Topics.
Spanning the years 1905 to 1922, my project analyzes how Nesbit’s public image evolved before, during, and after the murder trial of her husband, Harry K. Thaw. Through Town Topics’ gossip columns, she was cast in a range of roles: the scandalous bride, the tragic victim, the ambitious performer, and ultimately a fading symbol of notoriety. With my digital timeline it highlights key articles, quotes, and shifts in tone to show how gender, class, and morality were negotiated through scandal journalism.
This project invites readers to critically examine how early celebrity culture in the United States of America used gossip not only to entertain but also to enforce societal norms and how one woman’s story was told and retold to reflect those anxieties.
Town Topics’ Downfall – Significant Libel Cases
Whether there was a secret love affair, another couple that eloped or somebody’s latest fashion faux pas, it was almost certain that one magazine would cover it in their next issue.
Town Topics: The Journal of Society was a notorious gossip magazine, known for its salacious coverage of high society and scandalous gossip columns. The magazine became infamous for its unethical practices, particularly blackmail and libel. This project investigates how a series of legal challenges, centered around libel and blackmail cases, led to the magazine’s downfall in 1937. This blog will focus on telling the most interesting parts of the story (embedded with juicy receipts), beginning with the Edwin Post blackmail case in 1905, which exposed the magazine’s corrupt practices and set the stage for its eventual collapse.
All content for educational purposes only.
University of Greifswald
Seminar: Editing Scandal
(Summer Semester 2025)
Instructor: Prof. Dr. Katrin Horn