Early in his career, he worked as reporter, before enlisting in the U.S.Army, where he served as a captain, worked as a researcher and later served as an Assistant Secretary of War. He co-authored and authored several books and magazine articles.[1][2]
Career
Wilson reported for
Scripps Newspapers from 1910 to 1916, in Washington D.C.[2] Later, during the
First World War he served as a captain with the
US Army Chemical Warfare Service and later (1923-1927) as Assistant Secretary of War charged with gathering historical data on the conflict,[2] much of which formed the basis of a series of six co-authored works about mobilization: How America Went to War, published in 1921.[5] (See selected works below)
After the war, like tens of thousands of Americans, Wilson moved to Paris and lived there for some years, a period which he details in his book, Paris On Parade.[6] He worked as a European correspondent for
McCall's, (1923-1927) writing about life in Paris. Wilson wrote an article about a bookshop in Paris, "Shakespeare and Company," in 1925, titled, "Paris for Young Art," published by The Bookman.[7]
Two articles on fashion, "The House of Louisboulanger," and "The House of Camille Roger," appeared in the 1926 and 1927 issues of
Vogue (magazine).[2][8][9]
Wilson wrote the words and music for the song, "Go and teach the Kaiser how to sing the Marseillaise, then come home to me," published in 1918.[10]
Selected works
How America Went to War: an account from official sources of the nation's war activities 1917–1920, co-author with Benedict (Crowell Assistant Secretary of War), Yale University Press, 1921.[11]
The Road to France: the transportation of troops and military supplies 1917–1918, co-author with Benedict Crowell (Assistant Secretary of War), Yale University Press, 1921.[12]
Our Nation's Manufacture of Munitions for a World Arms: 1917–1918, co-author with Benedict Crowell (Assistant Secretary of War), Yale University Press, 1921.[13]
Demobilization: our industrial and military demobilization after the armistice, 1918–1920, co-author with Benedict Cowell (Assistant Secretary of War), Yale University Press, New Haven, 1921.[14]
The Giant Hand: Our Mobilization and Control of Industry and Natural Resources 1917–1918, co-author with Benedict Crowell (Assistant Secretary of War), Yale University Press, New Haven, 1921.[15]
The Living Pageant of the Nile, Bobbs Merrill, 1924.[16]
Paris on Parade, co-author with A.G. Warshawsky, Bobbs Merrill, Indianapolis, 1925.[6]
Rich Brat: a novel of Paris, Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1929.[17]
How to Wine and Dine in Paris (Chapters from "Paris on Parade"), Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1930.[18]
Crusader in Crinoline: The Life of Harriet Beecher Stowe, J.B. Lippincott Company, 1941.[3]