Jim Bishop

Jim Bishop (1907-1987) gained instant fame in 1955 when his book The Day Lincoln Was Shot became a bestseller. His journalistic career had begun 26 years earlier as a copy boy for the New York Daily News and reached its high point in writing a syndicated column carried in hundreds of newspapers from 1957 until his retirement in 1983.

Bishop began his association with St. Bonaventure University in 1958 when he came as a featured speaker at the University’s Press Day, at which time he received an honorary doctorate. Shortly thereafter he began donating manuscripts and notebooks to form an archives of his writings at the Library.

Another important aspect of Jim Bishop’s association with the University is his leadership in establishing The Mark Hellinger Award, in honor of the man who was his early mentor. The Hellinger Award has been given each year since 1960 to a promising graduate of the Russell J. Jandoli School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

This web-page not only lists the materials in the Jim Bishop archives owned by the University, but also seeks to be the primary web reference source for information about the life and writings of Jim Bishop.