US Hall of Fame
Montgomery Major
Inducted 2026 1903-1963
United States of America
Biography
Montgomery Major of Chicago was a chess organizer, editor, and writer. He served as the first editor of Chess Life magazine, a position he held from May 1946 to the end of 1957. During this period, the publication, which appeared in newspaper format twice a month, averaged between eight to twelve pages per issue. Chess Life under Major was full of local, national and international news, and delivered in a timely fashion, keeping the roughly 1,000 United States Chess Federation members of the time well informed. Prior to his Chess Life work, Major edited the Yearbook of the United States Chess Federation for 1940, 1944, 1945, and 1946.
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