Phyllis Marie Battelle Van Horn (January 4, 1922 – February 25, 2005) was an American journalist, a columnist for the International News Service (and later United Press International). In 1957 she was described as "one of the most widely read columnists in America."[1]
Battelle first worked in newspapers at the Dayton Journal-Herald; one of her colleagues there was Erma Bombeck, who was also just starting her career.[4][5] Battelle moved to New York City after college, and was a fashion writer at Women's Wear Daily.[1] She became women's editor for the International News Service,[6] and wrote the service's "Assignment: America" column and from 1955 into the late 1980s. In 1951, Battelle won the Newswomen's Club of New York's award for distinguished writing.[7] She was known for her celebrity interviews,[8][9] and fashion reports,[10] but she also covered diplomacy,[11][12] the arts,[6] and cultural controversies,[13] including the Karen Ann Quinlan case.[14]
Battelle also wrote a theatrical sketch, Hobby Op'ry, which was produced in Dayton in 1947.[15] In 1974, she was named to the Order of the Delta Gamma Rose.[16]
Publications
In addition to her Assignment: America columns, which were widely syndicated, Battelle wrote for magazines including Good Housekeeping[17][18] and The Ladies' Home Journal.[19][20] She also worked with the Quinlan family on a book about Karen Ann Quinlan.[21]
"Two Phyllis Battelles Meet in San Francisco" (1956; one of her Assignment: America columns)[22]
"Americans Live by the Numbers" (1963; one of her Assignment: America columns)[23]
Battelle married fellow journalist Arthur Honnold Van Horn in 1957.[2] They lived in Pound Ridge, New York, and had a son, Jonathan.[16] She died in 2005, at the age of 83.