Harper's Weekly

Publication

-

Museum of Public Relations

Name/Title

Harper's Weekly

Secondary Title

The Disastrous Railroad Wreck At Atlantic City

Description

A train wreck that occurred in Atlantic City, New Jersey on October 28, 1906.

Context

The 1906 Atlantic City train wreck occurred when a West Jersey and Seashore Railroad electric train fell off a bridge, drowning 53 people. The incident led to what is considered the first-ever press release when public relations pioneer Ivy Lee, in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Railroad, the parent company of the West Jersey and Seashore Railroad, persuaded the company to issue a statement directly to journalists at the accident site. The New York Times published the statement (without revisions) on October 30, 1906.

Category

Public Relations

Publication Details

Publication Type

Magazine

Periodical

Harper's Weekly

Publisher

Harper & Brothers

Place Published

State/Province

New York

Country

United States

Continent

North America

Date Published

Nov 10, 1906

Notes

Page: 1616

Created By

jade@prmuseum.org

Create Date

November 12, 2025

Updated By

jade@prmuseum.org

Update Date

November 12, 2025