Idaho Statesman

History

On July 26, 1864, James S. Reynolds published the first edition of the Idaho Tri-Weekly Statesman in Boise, Idaho. It began publication from a log cabin on the future site of the Boise City Hall. In January 1872, Reynolds sold the paper, "lock, stock and barrel," to Judge Milton Kelly. In January 1888, the paper expanded to a daily and was renamed to the Idaho Daily Statesman.

Kelly's 17-year run ended in May 1889 when he sold the Statesman to Joseph Perrault, Calvin Cobb and R. Wildman. John R. French was named editor. Later Cobb and his brother-in-law, Jack Lyon, bought out the others. Calvin Cobb lost his wife in October 1917, and he died in November 1928. At that time the Statesman was inherited by his daughter Margaret Cobb Ailshie. As the paper's first female publisher, "Ailshie insisted on a lively editorial policy, deploring 'a dull newspaper.'"

Cobb Ailshie published the Statesman until her death in August 1959. General manager James Brown then assumed control of the paper. In October 1963, the Statesman was sold to Federated Publications, a chain that owned six other papers in Washington, Indiana and Michigan. At that time the Statesman had a Sunday circulation of 47,000. After the sale, John A. Scott was named publisher. Federated Publications merged with Gannett Co in June 1971.

In the early morning of March 21, 2004, the Statesmans pressroom caught on fire, which left two of the newspaper's nine press units severely damaged and two units partially destroyed. Newspapers from other cities chipped in and helped deliver papers to Boise. On August 3, 2005, Gannett agreed to sell the Statesman to Knight Ridder along with The Bellingham Herald and The Olympian. A year later McClatchy bought Knight Ridder.

In 2008, the Statesman entered into a partnership with the Idaho Press-Tribune to print the paper at its facility in Nampa, Idaho. In March 2018, printing was moved to a facility operated by the Times-News in Twin Falls, Idaho. In October 2019, the paper announced it will cut its Saturday edition. Starting October, 2023, the paper decreased its print edition days to three a week (Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays). It also switched from carrier to postal delivery.

Notable people

• E. L. "Shorty" Fuller was a photographer for the Statesman from 1937 to 1942. An archive of his work is found in the Idaho State Historical Society containing 3,000 of his negatives, prints and scrapbooks.
• Milton Kelly, owner and editor of the Statesman from 1871 to 1889
• Marjorie Paxson, journalist, editor and publisher

References

References

1. (2021-11-08). "McClatchy {{!}} Markets".
2. (July 26, 1864). "Salutatory.". The Idaho Statesman.
3. (July 30, 1864). "The Idaho Statesman". The Idaho World.
4. Poynter, Rebecca. (September 20, 2019). "The Idaho Statesman’s building is for sale, but our mission remains the same". Idaho Statesman.
5. (January 11, 1872). "Changed Hands". The Idaho World.
6. (January 14, 1888). "Notice". The Caldwell Tribune.
7. (May 7, 1889). "Notice". Idaho Semi-Weekly World.
8. (January 24, 2020). "About Us: 150 Years of News and Change". Idaho Statesman.
9. (October 11, 1917). "Mrs. Calvin Cobb Dies". The Idaho Statesman.
10. Flenner, Guy. (November 15, 1928). "Just Idaho {{!}} An Idaho Publisher Gone". South Idaho Press.
11. (November 19, 1928). "Miss Cobb Heads Daily Statesman {{!}} Succeeds Father, Late Calvin Cobb, as Publisher of Paper.". Shoshone News-Press.
12. "History of the Idaho Statesman". Idaho Statesman.
13. (August 27, 1959). "Margaret Cobb Ailshie, Statesman Publisher, Dies". The Idaho Statesman.
14. (August 27, 1959). "Boise Newspaper Publisher Dies". The Coeur d'Alene Press.
15. (October 1, 1963). "Sale Told Of Paper At Boise". South Idaho Press.
16. (June 29, 1971). "Merger okayed by two newspaper companies". The Times-News.
17. McMeekin, Tara. (May 2004). "Statesman press rebuild rolling along following pressroom fire".
18. Porretto, John. (August 4, 2005). "Several Knight Ridder, Gannett newspapers to change hands". Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
19. Seelye, Katharine Q.. (March 13, 2006). "Newspaper Chain Agrees to a Sale for $4.5 Billion". The New York Times.
20. (June 17, 2008). "Press-Tribune will print Statesman newspapers".
21. Woolsey, David. (2009-03-02). "IPT makes history, Newspaper prints Idaho Statesman in trailblazing partnership".
22. Prast, Rhonda. (February 26, 2018). "A new printing partner in Twin Falls, and more digital opportunities". Idaho Statesman.
23. Day, Don. (October 30, 1019). "Idaho Statesman to cut Saturday print delivery".
24. Cripe, Chadd. (4 August 2023). "Idaho Statesman to change print days, delivery method as digital transition evolves".
25. "Everett L. "Shorty" Fuller papers".
26. "Everett L. "Shorty" Fuller Photographs".