Western Newspaper Union Building

This building on the west end of downtown Kanas City was built in 1900 for the A. N. Kellogg Auxiliary Newspaper Company, which sold pre-printed newspapers to small town publishers. Kellogg started a ready-print business in Chicago in 1865, supplying newspapers with ads, stories, comics, and news. George Joslyn later expanded this into the largest auxiliary newspaper company by 1906. Joslyn's aggressive tactics made the Western Newspaper Union a dominant force, but legal issues halted his monopoly plans. After Joslyn's death in 1916, the company continued its operations under his widow. By 1952, the company shifted its focus to printing supplies. The Western Newspaper Union Building stands today as a landmark for the competitive media landscape of the early 20th century in the midwest. The competition between Kellogg and Joslyn now exist as contributions that continue to impact the newspaper industry today. Now, the building stands as a law office.

In 1900, the building at 304 W. 10th Street was constructed for the A. N. Kellogg Auxiliary Newspaper Company.  The business specialized in ready-print newspapers, or boiler-plate newspapers. The practice was centered around creating nearly complete newspapers with national news and advertisements that would be sold to local publications who would add local news to the remaining sections. Kellogg opened a ready-print company in Chicago in 1865, providing newspapers with pre-printed material that included advertisements, stories, comics, and national news. Over the years, Kellogg expanded his market to various cities across the country, with a branch office in Kansas City, Missouri opening in 1882. It would be only five years later until George Joslyn, owner of Western Newspaper Union, who transformed these into the largest auxiliary newspaper company in the country. Under Joslyn's leadership, the Western Newspaper Union grew to serve over 12,000 newspapers in 32 cities across America.

George Joslyn played a key role in the growth of the Western Newspaper Union, acquiring and merging with various printing firms and expanding its reach across the Mississippi Valley territory. Joslyn's aggressive business practices led to the WNU becoming a dominant force in the industry. Joslyn's ambition to create a monopoly in the newspaper industry led to the acquisition of several other printing firms. By 1909, he had almost completed his monopoly, but was thwarted by the Sherman Antitrust Act. Despite his death in 1916, WNU continued to be a major player in the industry, engaging in legal battles with the American Press Association.

After Joslyn's death, his widow negotiated the sale of her controlling interest in WNU in 1929, though the company continued to operate as usual. By 1952, the WNU business had evolved, moving away from patent-inside services and transitioning to a focus on other printing supplies and equipment. The WNU Company in Kansas City operated until 1961 when it was sold and renamed.

The Western Newspaper Union Building in Kansas City was constructed in 1900 with an addition in 1906, featuring distinctive architectural elements like cast-iron columns and terra cotta quoining. The main facade has five bays with original narrow fenestration and a notable south-facing entrance. The east facade mirrors the south with rusticated brick piers and aluminum window units. The west facade is characterized by masonry while a one-story addition from 1906 features wood frame double-hung sash windows. Restoration of the exterior and interior spaces has led not only to its continued preservation but also its revival as home to law offices.

Millstein, Cydney. National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form - Western Newspaper Union Building, MoStateParks. August 7th, 2006. Accessed July 15th, 2024. https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/Western%20Newspaper%20Union%20Bldg.pdf.

Coombs, Cathy. The Historic ‘Western Newspaper Union Building’ Built in 1900 is Still Standing Strong, Medium. November 21st, 2021. Accessed July 15th, 2024. https://medium.com/@cjcwriter04/the-historic-western-newspaper-union-building-built-in-1900-is-still-standing-strong-ead7226af913.