Search >> Stephens, William A

Editor.

William A. Stephens was a co-founder of Vanity Fair. Henry Clapp’s obituary mentions that "when the Saturday Press went the way of all journals that are too smart to live, Mr. Clapp, with Mr. Stevens [sic] and others, started the best imitation of Punch that we have had in this country-- Vanity Fair. Around this nucleus gathered the circle so widely known as ’The Bohemians,’ of whom Mr. Clapp was the head and exponent" (“Obituary” 7). Stephens, as editor of Vanity Fair, was closely linked to the happenings at Pfaff’s because many of the bohemians contributed regularly to the magazine, and Pfaffian Frank Wood was also an editor at the magazine (C. Leland 234).

References & Biographical Resources

Leland, Charles Godfrey. Memoirs. New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1893. [more about this work]

Leland mentions Stephens' association with Vanity Fair and the Pfaffians contributions to the magazine. [pages: 234-235]

"Obituary: Henry Clapp." The New-York Times. 11 Apr. 1875: 7. [more about this work]

The "Obituary" mentions that "when the Saturday Press went the way of all journals that are too smart to live, Mr. Clapp, with Mr. Stevens and others, started the best imitation of Punch that we have had in this country-- Vanity Fair . Around this nucleus gathered the circle so widely known as 'The Bohemians,' of whom Mr. Clapp was the head and exponent." [pages: 7]

Watson, J. W. "Notes and Comments: How Artemus Ward Became a Great Lecturer." North American Review. Apr. 1889: 521-522. [more about this work]

Watson states that "[a]bout thirty years ago there was a paper published in this city by several brothers named Stephens, called Vanity Fair..." (521). [pages: 521]