Kankakee Daily Journal Company

Beautifully engraved unissued certificate from the Kankakee Daily Journal Company . This historic document was printed by the American Banknote Company and has an ornate border around it with a vignette of Abraham Lincoln. March 16, 1903: A new publishing corporation was formed, called the Kankakee Republican Company. The corporation was organized by 50 stockholders, the principals being Len Small, who later was twice elected Governor of Illinois, Sen. Edward C. Curtis, Col. D.R. Miller, Edward Jeffers and Charles Robinson.

Kankakee Daily Journal Company History

1913: Leslie C. Small was made manager and continued without interruption for 40 years.

1931: There was a consolidation of the Kankakee Republican and the Kankakee Daily News, becoming the Kankakee Republican-News. Leslie C. Small continued in charge of the combined newspaper as managing editor. Directors of the newly-formed publishing corporation were Len Small, H.M. Stone, E.A. Jeffers, S.E. Moisant and Leslie Small.

1947: WKAN radio station, owned by The Daily Journal, went on the air.

1953: The Daily Journal was published by a corporation whose officers and directors were Leslie C. Small, president of the company and editor/publisher of The Daily Journal; Arthur L. Beckman, secretary and treasurer; Burrell L. Small, vice president and managing editor; Len H. Small, vice president and associate editor.

August 1, 1955: Acquired Ottawa, IL Publishing Company, publisher of the Ottawa Republican-Times.

January, 1957: Death of Leslie Small. His sons, Len H. Small and Burrell L. Small continued as publishers.

April 15, 1964: Acquired LaPorte, IN Publishing Company, publisher of the LaPorte Herald-Argus and an office supply affiliate, Mid America Press.

October 1, 1965: The Daily Journal and WKAN plan a new office building to serve as headquarters for several enterprises associated with the radio station. Burrell and Len Small, principal officers, made the announcement. Presidency of the Kankakee Daily Journal Company was assumed by Len H. Small. He also was president of the Ottawa Publishing Company which operated the Ottawa Republican-Times. Len Small was also president of the operating company for KIOA radio in Des Moines and WQUA radio in Moline. Burrell Small was executive vice president in each of the companies. Burrell Small was president of broadcasting operations being organized under the Mid America Group: WKAN, Kankakee; WIRL radio and WIRL-TV, Peoria; WIRE, Indianapolis; WRRR, Rockford. Len Small was executive vice president of each. Burrell Small was also publisher of LaPorte, IN Herald-Argus and president of Mid America Press at LaPorte. Len H. Small was executive vice president of the companies.

June 1, 1966: Kankakee Cable TV Company, 304 E. Court Street, began accepting applications for service. Permanent site, at 150 S. Dearborn Avenue (now 6 Dearborn Square) was under construction.

February 21, 1969: The Daily Journal made the following announcement: "Len H. Small, president of the publishing company for The Kankakee Daily Journal, and Burrell L. Small, president of Mid America Media Broadcasting group, which includes radio station WKAN and Kankakee TV Cable Company, today announced that the initial steps have been taken to reorganize their newspaper and broadcasting interests into separate operations."

June 24, 1977: Acquired Rochester, MN Post-Bulletin.

July 1, 1978: Small Newspapers opened a Washington, D.C. bureau to provide coverage from the nation's capital.

November 3, 1978: Acquired Metro Shopper, Davenport, IA, published by Scott County Publishing. In June 1986, the name was changed to The Leader.

September 1979: Jennifer Small became a correspondent with the Washington, D.C. bureau and later became Editorial Director.

January 31, 1980: Acquired Streator, IL Times-Press.

March 10, 1980: Len H. Small died in an automobile accident.

March 20, 1980: Jean Alice Small became Editor & Publisher of The Daily Journal and President of Small Newspapers.

July 31, 1981: Acquired Pacific Palisades, (CA) Post, publishing company for the Palisadian-Post, Brentwood Post and North Shore Mail.

August 18, 1981: Acquired Roseville, CA Press-Tribune.

March 9, 1983: Began printing USA Today, a new national, general-interest daily newspaper, the brainchild of Allen H. Neuharth, Chairman and President of Gannett Company, Inc.

June 1, 1983: Len Robert Small, Editor & Publisher of The Dispatch, Moline, IL, was appointed President & CEO of the Small Newspaper Group, Inc. Jean Alice Small was named Chairman of the Board and continues as Editor & Publisher of The Daily Journal.

December 31, 1985: Acquired the Rock Island, IL Argus. Len Robert Small assumed the title of Publisher of the combined operation of the Rock Island Argus and The Dispatch, Moline, IL.

February 26, 1987: Announcement was made that the Small Newspaper Group, Inc. acquired majority ownership in the Chicago Times Company, a major new consumer magazine serving the Chicago regional market.

August 30, 1987: Len Robert Small assumed the title of President of The Dispatch, Moline, IL and the Rock Island, IL Argus. At the same time, he assumed the title of Editor-in-chief of the Small Newspaper Group, Inc., in addition to the titles of President and Chief Executive Officer. At this time General Manager, Jerry Taylor, was promoted to Editor and Publisher of both The Dispatch and The Argus.

December 7, 1987: Thomas P. Small transferred to Chicago. As Senior Vice-President of Small Newspaper Group, Inc., he assists in all operations of the company. Roberta Donohue was named Publisher of the Palisadian-Post.

December 31, 1988: Small Newspaper Group sold the Roseville Press-Tribune to the Lescher Group. Color

May 8, 1989: Chicago Times sold.

History is from the the Kankakee Daily Journal Web Site at http://www.daily-journal.com/jinfo/history.html.