The Foreign Service Journal, May 2006

A PPRECIATION Editor, Mentor, Friend of the Foreign Service Shirley R. Newhall 1921 – 2006 M A Y 2 0 0 6 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 57 hirley R. Newhall, editor of the Foreign Service Journal from 1968 to 1981, died on Feb. 2 at her home in Londonderry, Vt., after a long illness. A native of Vermont, Mrs. Newhall was born in Londonderry in 1921. She relocated to Washington in the early days of World War II to become a secretary for the U.S. Army. Her work was with a secret project housed at the Georgetown estate called Dumbarton Oaks, where her self-taught skill in spelling and using scientific terms was greatly valued. It was there that she heard about “that young Dr. Newhall,” who had just been brought into the project, and she made an effort to meet him. That same evening in 1944 she met Robert M. Newhall at the main gate to the estate, and they began a love affair that would last nearly 50 years, until his death in 1991. After the war ended, Mrs. Newhall joined the staff of the Army Times Publishing Company, and was eventually named editor of Family Times , a publication written for the depen- dents of service members on active and reserve status. She particularly enjoyed doing a monthly column. Later, she joined the editorial staff of U.S. Lady , a newly established magazine for service wives and servicewomen. Starting in the late 1950s — in the era when the National Press Club did not admit female members —Mrs. Newhall was a member of the American News Women’s Club. In the mid-1960s, while serving in a leadership position, she helped with the purchase of the club’s building on 22nd Street NW in the District of Columbia. At the Helm of the FSJ In 1963, Mrs. Newhall joined the Foreign Service Journal as associate editor, later advancing to executive editor. In 1968, she was appointed editor, serving in that capacity until her retirement in 1981. Upon retirement, Mrs. Newhall wrote “A Love Letter from the Editor” that appeared in the May 1981 issue of the Journal (see p. 58). In it she thanked all those with whom she had worked, recalled the highlights of her tenure and vowed to continue to “build a constituen- cy” for the Foreign Service. Mrs. Newhall’s professional legacy can be seen in the work of the many young journalists whom she mentored while editor of the Journal. During her tenure at the FSJ , she was responsible for a number of innovations. For instance, in visiting the homes of Foreign Service families and in corresponding with them, she learned that many found in art a way of capturing mem- ories and handling stress. At her request, members of the Foreign Service submitted their own drawings, paintings and photographs, which she used on the magazine’s cover and for illustrations within its pages. Over the years she and her hus- band bought some of the art to decorate their home, focus- ing in particular on paintings of Asian sites, a special passion of theirs. Through a web of friendships, Mrs. Newhall was able to bring some unexpected writers to the magazine. She espe- cially delighted in telling of a visit to her office by the poet Robert Pinsky. As they talked, Mrs. Newhall mentioned that she had some empty space in the current issue, and Mr. Pinsky immediately sat down and wrote a poem to fill it. When he became poet laureate in 1997, she made sure to remind him of his gracious contribution to the Journal. She was also glad to help friends, especially those attempting to break into journalism or start new publications. Back in Londonderry Following their retirements, Mr. and Mrs. Newhall moved to Londonderry to renovate and settle in the late-18th century farmhouse that had been home to generations of S