Lawson, Victor Fremont (1850-1925)

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A Daily Paper for One Cent a Day: The Chicago Daily News

Victor Fremont Lawson to Jane Addams, September 26, 1903

Victor Fremont Lawson to Jane Addams, October 3, 1903

William Kent to Victor Fremont Lawson, May 10, 1911

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Birth Date

1850-09-09

Death Date

1925-08-19

Birthplace

Chicago, IL

Biographical Text

Victor Fremont Lawson was a businessman and publisher of the Chicago Daily News between 1876-1925. He was best-known for anticipating the popularity of low-cost newspapers; the Chicago News was the first western paper to sell for only a penny. He was a founder and leading member of the Associated Press. Lawson was a believer in keeping his newspaper independent of political influence, refusing to own shares in public service corporations. He was a supporter of the movement for government-funded savings banks. Lawson was also generous to a numver of Chicago charities, though he sought to keep his name out of the press. He funded individual familes, the Young Men's Christian Association in Chicago, and funded the Daily News Fresh Air Fund that helped poor children in ill health. He was also a supporter of settlement hosues. Lawson died of a heart attack in 1925.

Lawson married Jessie S. Bradley in 1880; she died in 1914. The couple had no children.