Anna Northend Benjamin
Anna Northend Benjamin was a trailblazing war correspondent who covered the Spanish-American War in Cuba and the Philippines, traveled extensively across Asia and Russia, and gained recognition for her fearless reporting before her untimely death at 27.
Anna Northend Benjamin
Born: October 6, 1874, Salem, MA.
Died: January 20, 1902, Paris, France.
Burial Location: Grove Ave, Lot 378, Grave #3.
Parents:
- Father: Charles A. Benjamin.
- Mother: Louisa H. Northend.
Anna Northend Benjamin graduated from St. Gabriel’s School in Peekskill NY in 1892. She was well liked by all who knew her. Working as a correspondent for Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Weekly, she was with the US Army in Tampa, Florida, then in Key West, Florida. Then she was sent to Cuba during the Spanish American War. She made her name in journalism. She was an impressive reporter on the war, being the only women reporter to enter Santiago, Cuba before its surrender. In 1899, she was based in the Philippines, thus making her the only woman to be present in both battlefields of the war. After departing from the Philippines, she visited Japan and Korea, and then traveled across Russia, visiting Siberia, Vladivostok and Moscow. She was said to have been one of only three American women to have made this overland trip at this time. When she returned to America, she gave lectures about her travels, accompanied by lantern slide photographs.
She had also reported for The Outlook, the McClure Syndicate, The Herald, The Post, other New York newspapers, and Look Magazine. A short story called “A Siberian Evangeline” was published in the Atlantic Magazine April 1902 edition. Unfortunately she would not live to see it.
Miss Benjamin died at age 27 in Paris, France at her sister’s home on January 21, 1902. She was working on a book describing her experiences. She was buried there, at Chateau de la Lande, but her remains were moved several years later. On October 3, 1905, she was buried at Harmony Grove Cemetery in her family’s lot 378 on Grove Ave. Grave #3. In her obituary she was praised for her courage and strong will, as well as for her sweet temper.
Photo: Streets of Salem, blog by Donna Seger.
Sources Consulted:
- Atlantic Magazine Archive: Atlantic Monthly Group LLC; April 1902.
- Harmony Grove Cemetery: Burial Card and Lot Card for Anna Northend Benjamin.
- Trove.org: Bradford Courier and Reedy Creek Times; Bradford, Victoria, Canada, Friday, 4 april 1902.
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