Dale Carnegie
Born 1888 · Age 137
American writer, lecturer and pioneer in public speaking, self-improvement and corporate training; author of How to Win Friends and Influence People and founder of the Dale Carnegie course/institute.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born on a farm in Maryville, Missouri
Born Dale Harbison Carnagey to James William and Amanda Elizabeth Carnagey; childhood on a poor Missouri farm shaped his early life.
Family moved to a farm in Warrensburg, Missouri
At about age 16 his family moved to a farm in Warrensburg; he became involved in debate and public speaking.
Completed high school
Finished high school; had attended Chautauqua assemblies and joined the school debate team.
Graduated from State Teachers College (Warrensburg)
Graduated from the State Teachers College in Warrensburg (now University of Central Missouri).
First job: selling correspondence courses
Took first post-college job selling correspondence courses to ranchers (International Correspondence Schools).
Worked as a traveling salesman for Armour & Company
Moved on to selling bacon, soap and lard for Armour & Company; became very successful in his territory (South Omaha).
Saved money and quit sales to pursue acting in New York
Saved (sources vary: ~$200–$500) and quit sales to move to NYC to try acting; attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Acting role in roadshow Polly of the Circus
Played the role of Dr. Hartley in a traveling production of Polly of the Circus before abandoning acting.
Started teaching public speaking at YMCA (first Dale Carnegie Course)
Persuaded YMCA manager on 125th St. to let him teach public-speaking classes in return for 80% of net proceeds; improvisation of speaking-on-anger technique launched his method.
Developed improvisational technique for public speaking students
In his first session he had students speak about 'something that made them angry'—a technique that reduced fear and became central to his course.
Began earning high weekly income from courses
By 1914 he was reportedly earning $500 per week from his public-speaking classes (equivalent to a much larger 2024 amount).
Co-authored The Art of Public Speaking
Published Art of Public Speaking with Joseph Berg Esenwein (listed in bibliographies as 1915).
Sold-out lecture at Carnegie Hall
Delivered a sold-out lecture at Carnegie Hall—a high-profile milestone that raised his public profile.
Served in the U.S. Army during World War I (Camp Upton)
Served a little over a year at Camp Upton; draft card notes conscientious objector status and loss of a forefinger.
Changed spelling of surname to 'Carnegie' (approx.)
Around 1919 (sources vary 1922–1925) he began using the spelling 'Carnegie'—likely to evoke association with Andrew Carnegie and for memorability.
Published Public Speaking: the Standard Course of the United Y. M. C. A. Schools
Published an early public speaking manual (listed in bibliographies as 1920).
Published Public Speaking: a Practical Course for Business Men
Compiled and standardized his teaching materials into this 1926 volume—later retitled in subsequent editions.
Married Lolita Baucaire
First marriage (sources record marriage in 1927; later ended in divorce).
Divorce from first wife
His first marriage ended in divorce in August 1931.
Published Lincoln the Unknown
Published a biography of Abraham Lincoln—part of his work as a biographer and researcher into successful personalities.
Published Little Known Facts About Well Known People
Released a compilation of short biographical facts; part of his biographical publications leading to his later bestseller.
The Carnegie Institute of Effective Speaking and Human Relations founded (approx.)
Course licensing and national organization efforts culminated in the creation of the Carnegie Institute (sources cite 1935 as formal institute founding).
Initial rapid sales of HTWFIP: 70,000 in 3 weeks
Britannica notes that within three weeks HTWFIP sold about 70,000 copies—an early-significant sales milestone.
Published How to Win Friends and Influence People
Simon & Schuster published the breakthrough self-help book in November 1936; it became an immediate bestseller.
Published Five Minute Biographies
Released a collection of short biographies (1937).
HTWFIP reached 1,000,000 copies sold
By November 1939 the book had sold about 1,000,000 copies (Britannica).
Published Biographical Round-up
Published another collection of biographical sketches (Biographical round-up, 1944).
Married Dorothy Price Vanderpool
Married his former secretary Dorothy Price Vanderpool on November 5, 1944; she later played a major role running the company after his death.
Published How to Stop Worrying and Start Living
Released this major self-help title in 1948; extended his influence in stress reduction and practical advice.
Moved institute headquarters to Manhattan brownstone (HQ relocation)
In 1953 the institute moved its headquarters into a converted five-story brownstone warehouse in Manhattan.
Company incorporated as Dale Carnegie & Associates, Inc.
Dale Carnegie's company became incorporated as Dale Carnegie & Associates, Inc.; the 1950s also saw international expansion.
Legacy metrics at time of death: book sales and course graduates
By Carnegie's death HTWFIP had sold about 5,000,000 copies (per sources) and there were ~450,000 graduates of Dale Carnegie courses worldwide.
Approx. 450,000 Dale Carnegie course graduates by 1955
An estimated 450,000 people had taken Dale Carnegie training by the time of his death.
Died of Hodgkin lymphoma in Forest Hills, New York
Died on November 1, 1955; buried in Belton, Missouri.
Posthumous: Dale Carnegie's Scrapbook published (edited by Dorothy Carnegie)
Collection of Dale Carnegie's writings edited and published by Dorothy Carnegie in 1959.
The Quick and Easy Way to Effective Speaking published (Dorothy Carnegie)
Book based on Dale Carnegie's notes and ideas, compiled/published by Dorothy Carnegie in 1962.
First Dale Carnegie leadership courses introduced (posthumous)
Leadership Training for Managers courses created in 1967 in response to changing management needs.
Course curriculum expanded: Customer Service & Personal Development
Curriculum broadened to add customer service and personal development training.
Dale Carnegie courses accredited by Continuing Education Council (ACCET)
Training courses were awarded accreditation in 1975 by the body now known as ACCET.
Strategic Presentations Workshop developed
Dale Carnegie Training developed its Strategic Presentations Workshop in 1985.
Began offering tailored corporate training solutions worldwide
Program expansion to provide bespoke corporate training services globally.
Approved to offer services to U.S. federal agencies (GSA schedule)
All locally sponsored U.S. Dale Carnegie organizations were approved under GSA Federal Supply Schedule #GS-10F-0329K in 2001.
100th anniversary of the Dale Carnegie Course
Dale Carnegie Training celebrated its centennial in 2012 (course first started 1912).
Launch of Global Day of Giving Initiative
Company-wide philanthropic initiative launched as part of broader legacy activities.
Named among Top 20 Sales Training Companies (TrainingIndustry.com)
Recognition among training industry rankings 2016 & 2017.
Named a Top Leadership Training Company (TrainingIndustry.com)
TrainingIndustry.com recognition in 2019.
Winner of 2020 Training Magazine Network Choice Awards (multiple categories)
Recognized in Custom Content/Program Development, Learning Portal/LMS, and Measurement, Testing & Assessment.
Named Top Leadership Training Company again (TrainingIndustry.com)
Repeated industry recognition in 2021.
110th anniversary and launch of Dale Carnegie eVolve
Company celebrated 110 years and introduced an interactive blended learning platform, Dale Carnegie eVolve.
Selected as Top 10 Transformative Business in America (CEO Forum Group)
Recognition by CEO Forum Group for company impact.
Named Top Leadership Training Company (TrainingIndustry.com) in 2024
Continued industry recognition for leadership training programs.
Company scale metrics (posthumous legacy)
Dale Carnegie Training reports over 8 million graduates, >2,700 trainers in 85+ countries and operations in 30+ languages (company legacy metric).
Key Achievement Ages
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