Such an American Story: Lessons in Dr. Benjamin Spock-onomics, Internet History, and Venture Capital

We discuss Dr. Benjamin Spock’s personal finances and the venture capitalists that brought Baby and Child Care to the World Wide Web.
References

• Associated Press. “Dr. Spock’s Advice - 60 Years Later.” The Canadian Press. 25 Oct. 2004.
• Carvajal, Doreen. “Dr. Spock, Old and Infirm, Needs Money, Wife Says.” The New York Times. 28 Feb. 1998, p. A6.
• “Digital Health and Human Rights Symposium.” Eventbrowse.
• Dinzeo, Maria. “Dr. Spock’s Widow Says Website Owes Her $84K.” Courthouse News. 28 July 2010.
• “The Dr. Spock Company Appoints New Members to Board of Directors.” Business Wire. 9 May 2001.
• “The Dr. Spock Company Launches in Parenting Media Market.” Business Wire. 9 May 2001.
• “The Dr. Spock Company and Pocket Books Re-launch Book Partnership With New Guides on Parenting.” PR Newswire. 10 July 2002.
• “The Dr. Spock Company’s Parenting Television Series Reaches 35% of National Television Market.” PR Newswire. 10 July 2002.
• Eagan, Margery. “Spock Shows Even Elderly Rich Are Ripe for Problems.” Boston Herald. 3 March 1998.
• “Jane Cheney Spock.” Significant Others: A History Podcast. 6 Sept. 2022.
• Maier, Thomas. Dr. Spock: An American Life. Harcourt Brace & Company, 1998.
• Massie, Robert K. “‘Not the Dr. Spock!’” Saturday Evening Post, vol. 239, no. 10, May 1966, pp. 80–86.
• Mochari, Ilan. “Putting Stock in Dr. Spock.” Inc., vol. 23, no. 16, Dec. 2001, pp. 40-42.
• “Parents and Dr. Spock; 4; Fathers and Children.” 1955-00-00. Thirteen WNET, Library of Congress, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Web. June 13, 2023.
• Parker-Pope, Tara. “Two Pediatrician Moms Offer Baby Advice.” The New York Times. 12 November 2010.
• Spock, Benjamin. The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care. Duell, Sloan and Pearce, 1957.
• ---. The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care. Duell, Sloan and Pearce, 1946.
• Strahler, Steven R. “Minority-Run Venture Capital Firm Replaces Boss; Investors Complained of Poor Returns.” Crain’s Chicago Business, vol. 27, no. 24, 14 June 2004, p. 4.

Keywords
depression, 1930s, sailboat, sailing, wealth, wealthy, portfolio, personal finances, academic career, book royalties, bestseller, generational wealth, income gap, privilege, scholarly sources, peer review, pop culture, mayo clinic, endorsement, university of pittsburgh, faculty, popular media, tv doctor, salary, ladies home journal, pitt medical school, patient care, bedside manner, home health care, goop, elder care, macrobiotic diet, douglas lee, john buckley, menlo park, entrepreneurs, venture capital, vc fund, american online, twentieth century history, history podcast, pediatrician, pediatrics, celebrity, mass communication

Like Spock Talk? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or email us at [email protected]. And listen to our other podcast, It's My Screen Time Too!
Logo design by Creative Cookie Jar.
Copyright 2023 Deborah Copperud + Katie Curler