The Papers of Colonel Robert R. McCormick
The McCormick Tribune Papers are the personal and business correspondence of
the late Colonel Robert R. McCormick, (1880-1955). These documents and
papers provide insight into his life as businessman, journalist, politician,
soldier and veteran. Born in 1880, Col. McCormick had been a Chicago
Alderman (1904), the President of the Sanitary District Board (1905-1910),
President of the Tribune Company (1911-1955) and Editor and Publisher of the
Chicago Tribune (1914-1955). Col. McCormick served his country with the
First Division, A.E.F. in World War I and was a lifelong member of the
Society of the First Division.
It was as Editor and Publisher of the Chicago Tribune that Col. McCormick
found himself at the center of many political and legal struggles. A staunch
supporter of the freedom of the press, Col. McCormick was involved in
several landmark cases, including Ford vs Chicago Tribune, City of Chicago vs Chicago Tribune and
Near vs Minnesota. Col. McCormick also led many press
campaigns against political corruption and waste, as well as various
governmental policies. His strongly held beliefs led him to oppose
Prohibition, the New Deal and interventionism. Colonel McCormick’s
correspondence is a rich source of materials regarding the controversies and
issues of 20th-Century American and world history.
The McCormick Tribune Papers are available for research. Please submit a
request for research by email to the Director of the McCormick Research
Center at egillespie@firstdivisionmuseum.org.
The McCormick Tribune Papers do not contain Chicago Tribune newspaper
articles, news photos or back issues. For these items, please contact the
Chicago Tribune Store at 312.222.3080 and at
tribunestore@tribune.com, or
the Chicago Tribune at
www.chicagotribune.com.
