Lexington-Herald Leader (Firm)

The origins of the Lexington Herald-Leader can be traced back over 130 years to the Lexington Daily Press. Its descendant, the Morning Herald, was first published January 1, 1895 and became known as the Lexington Herald in 1905. Another large circulating newspaper during this time was the Kentucky Leader (formed by a group of Fayette County republicans in 1888) which eventually became known as the Lexington Leader in 1901.

In 1937, the owner of the Leader, John G. Stoll, bought the Herald, and both daily papers were published concurrently (the Herald in the morning and the Leader in the afternoon) for the next 46 years. The newspapers had a combined Sunday edition, but their editorial policies remained quite different. The Leader was a Republican, society-based evening edition, and the Herald a more political, heavily Democratic morning edition.

In 1973, the newspapers were purchased by the Knight-Ridder Corporation and in 1983 were merged into a single, morning paper that is still published as The Lexington Herald-Leader. The coverage of the newspaper has grown over the years and while its focus has always been on the Lexington Metropolitan area (including 7 additional counties) it presently circulates in 78 of 120 counties throughout central and eastern Kentucky.

From the description of The John C. Wyatt Lexington Herald-Leader Photographic Collection, 1939-1990. (University of Kentucky Libraries). WorldCat record id: 64228376