Clare M. Reckert, the first female financial reporter at the New York Times, died last week at the age of 100. Reckert had worked on the business desk for 44 years until retiring in 1981.
Jack O’Dwyer writes, “She was the first female financial writer at the NYT and for many years used the byline ‘C.M. Reckert.’ Publisher Orvil Dryfoos, after meeting her one day in the composing room and discovering her gender, told her to use her full first name.
“She started at the paper as a secretary for the financial desk and got into writing by preparing press releases for use by reporters who were out on assignment.
“Reporters thanked her and gave her tips on writing.
“Helping her to win an editorial berth was a shortage of male reporters during World War II. She said financial editors called on her to do numerous chores including financial writing.”
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