Who Wrote the Original Dear Abby
The original Dear Abby was written by Pauline Phillips, who used the pen name Abigail Van Buren. She launched the column in 1956 and offered practical advice on relationships, family, and everyday problems.
How the Dear Abby Column Began
Phillips created Dear Abby for the San Francisco Chronicle. The column quickly became popular because it gave direct, common-sense answers to reader questions. It was later syndicated in newspapers across the United States.
Legacy of the Original Dear Abby
Pauline Phillips continued writing Dear Abby for decades. Her column influenced modern advice media and is often cited as a classic example of newspaper advice writing. Learn more about the history of Dear Abby at Britannica.
