The Full Interview Conducted by Film Director Lesley Topping for Our Film, Women Rising: The Scarsdale Suffragists

In 2024, for our film Women Rising: The Scarsdale Suffragists, we had the privilege of interviewing Linda Leavitt, an accomplished journalist who served as Associate Editor and later Editor-in-Chief of the Scarsdale Inquirer from 1984 to 2015. Beyond contributing to our project, we also sought to document Linda’s remarkable career and legacy.

The following two videos highlight Linda’s reflections on her journey in journalism, her most memorable stories, the evolving roles of women in Scarsdale, and the history of the Scarsdale Inquirer.

The Scarsdale Inquirer was Scarsdale’s first local newspaper. It originated in the late 1800s, as a neighborhood newsletter in Scarsdale’s Arthur Manor and later evolved into a newspaper under the ownership of the Bronxville Review. When the paper faced financial difficulties in 1919, a group of Scarsdale suffragists, who had recently formed the Scarsdale Woman’s Club, bought the paper. Over the years, the Scarsdale Inquirer was transformed into award-winning and beloved local newspaper. Although the Woman’s Club sold the paper in 1959, it continued to be staffed mostly by women. After Linda Leavitt’s retirement in 2015, Valerie Abrahams succeeded her as Editor-in-Chief, and led a team of talented dedicated journalists until the paper ceased publication in 2024. 

About Linda Leavitt

Linda Leavitt joined The Scarsdale Inquirer in 1984 as associate editor covering Scarsdale schools, arts and entertainment and religion. When editor David Kirkwood retired in 1991, she was appointed editor, serving until her retirement in July 2015.

During her tenure as editor the paper won many awards from the New York Press Association, including overall best newspaper, general excellence and awards for editorials, news and feature stories. Along with her predecessor Kirkwood, Leavitt received the New York State Bar Association Media Award in 1985 for the paper’s coverage of the Scarsdale crèche case.

The Inquirer was honored by the Scarsdale community several times over the years: in 1997 by the Scarsdale Historical Society and in 2001 with the Town and Village Civic Club Public Service Award. In 2006, Leavitt was named a distinguished alumna of Scarsdale High School and also received the Scarsdale Teen Center Visions of Community Award. In October 2015 the Scarsdale Forum presented her with its public service award.

Since retiring, she has joined the boards of the Scarsdale Adult School and the Scarsdale Woman’s Club. She takes painting classes with the adult school and writes a monthly column and occasional theater reviews for the Inquirer.

Leavitt moved to River Road with her family in 1954. She attended Greenacres Elementary School and was in the first class to go all the way through the Scarsdale Junior High School. She attended Connecticut College and received her B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College.

She is a lifelong member of Hitchcock Presbyterian Church. She lives in Stamford, Connecticut with her husband Liam Murphy. She has two daughters and four grandchildren.

For a further exploration of the Scarsdale Inquirer’s history, see The Story of Our Century: 1901–2001: Celebrating 100 years of Scarsdale News. This book is available at the Scarsdale Public Library. 

The Scarsdale Inquirer has been digitized from 1901 - 1977, all available online. This was part of a joint project with the Scardale Public Library.

Part 1: Interview with Linda Leavitt

Exclusive Content From Women Rising: The Scarsdale Suffragists

Part 2: Interview with Linda Leavitt

Exclusive Content From Women Rising: The Scarsdale Suffragists