Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-02-23
Fine Collection OF
Newspapers AT The
Chicago University

Chicago, Feb. 23.--Thc press of the
west is shown in it's beginning at the
University of Chicago. in the finest
collection of it's kind in existence. The
university library has also cured the
best collection of western newspapers
! down to the Civil war.
Kentucky was the first of what arc
now regarded as the central western
and border states to be settled md ad-
mitted to the union, and journalism
in the west naturally tool its start III
Kentucky.
Passing by the first paper to be pub
lished west of the Alleghanies, the
Pittsburgh Gazette. rs the cast Of to-
day, tho first paper to be established
/ in what ms be regarded as the pres
cnt west was the Kentuckc Gazette.
which came from the press at 1-exing-
ton. The Pittsburgh Gazette had a
start of about a. yea for the first is
appearance in September of 1888. Lex
ington then proudly claimed the title
Of the Athens of h West
The university starts its file Of the
first Kentucky ape with Vol. l.. No.
%. dated March 8. 1888. Because Of
the great light this n~ewspaper throws
on middle western history. the Michi-
gan Historical society has co-operatcd
in making Il reproduction from the
nearly complete file in possession Of
the Lexington public library.
The first page of the first issue here
= opens with an account of a convention
held to ask statehood. The rivalry be-
mandifest in congress and Kentucky
was put off until 1892, when after Yer
mont had been admitted, Kentucky
was finally lie, in, making the fifteenth
state.
Within a year John Bradford. Ken
,-1- G--s ~ @rrJ 49,,
) petition. John Colerick, William Hunt
err and William H. Beaumont had
started the eco paper west Of the
Allrghanies in Pennsylvania at Wash
'ingtcn, Pa. in 1898, the library here
holding Vol. I, No. Is and following.
Though the telegraph a not in
vented for many years after. the name
Of the paper was the Western Telc-
$ graphic and Washington Advertiser
Hunter and Beaumont determined tc
follow opportunity farther west, re.
moved to Washington. ky., where the.
t founded the Mirror, the record here
showing Vol. 2, No. 4, Of May. 80. 1893
; Deciding that Washington, Ky, had
little future, Hunter moved on a little
later to the state capital, Frankfort
and on August 8, 1898. established The
Palladium. The university library pos.
l sessei his personal file, starting from
Vol. ] No. /. In some respects this new
journal was much the best conducted
thus far seen in the west, and com
pared favorably with the eastern pa.
t pers, according to DR.. Reuben Cole
Thwaites, superintendent of the Wis
=. cOnsin State Historical society. All au
: thority IN the press OF the west.
Seeking to gain the state printing
Ell kentucky's first printer then came in
l to Frankfort with The Guardian O
Freedom Of which the University ha'
Il file starting with Vol. II. No. 4. Ma.
t 80. 1893. It marked an innovation il
western journalism. being little NOR
than q Frankfort edition Of Bradford
Lexington paper.
On July z, 1906. the first printed
word revealing the Spanish Conspir
acy" to snatch a great section of tn,
g west from the United States for Spain
was published at Frankfort in a new
paper called "The Western World.
Its daring editor was Joseph NJ
Street. Disclosure of the conspirac.
: wrecked the hopes of Aaron Burr.
former vice president OF the Unitet
States, and caused him ultimately t.
f ny to Mexico where he died, A nun
u Der OF other early Kentucky issues ar
in the university's collection.
e The majority of it's volumes ar
from the collection of Col. Reuben 7
Durrett of Louisville. Ky. which tn
years ago and has ever since been ar
ranging. Col. Durrett in 1857 Dough
a half interest in the Louisville Courie
and for two years was its editor ii
chief. He gathered it is said, the fines
private library in the country Of tn
time, having to do with American his
tory. Its arrangement and ~subsequen
additions have been in charge of Ed
ward A. Henry Of the University o
ChSoo~N 1ihror;oo %. 4,