100th Anniversary Brenham "Banner-Press"
Brenham, Washington County, Texas
Marker Inscription
(1866-1966) Founded Jan. 1, 1866, as weekly "Southern Banner", by Dan McGary and John C. Rankin, Confederate veterans. For his independent policies, editor McGary was jailed that year; shop and nearby businesses burned. But paper survived; became a daily in 1876. "Banner" was merged with "Press" in 1912 by George Neu. Mrs. Ruby Robertson, on staff in 1912, in 1917 became first woman in Texas to edit a daily. Jim Byrd, production superintendent, has been on force since 1921. Ben F. Blanton, a newspaperman since 1939, became editor and publisher on Feb. 1, 1962. (1966)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Founded on New Year's Day in 1866 as the weekly Southern Banner by Confederate veterans Dan McGary and John C. Rankin, this newspaper survived a rough birth in Reconstruction Texas—its outspoken editor was jailed and its shop burned that first year. It became a daily in 1876 and merged with the Press in 1912. Among its notable figures was Ruby Robertson, who in 1917 became the first woman in Texas to edit a daily newspaper.
Why it matters
The paper's long run illustrates the fierce, often dangerous independence of the postwar Southern press—and marks a milestone for women breaking into American journalism.
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Related people
- · Dan McGary
- · John C. Rankin
- · Ruby Robertson
- · George Neu
- · Ben F. Blanton
Themes & tags
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