History of
The Union-Recorder
1806-1820: There were five newspapers in Milled-
geville: The Milledgeville Intelligencer, The Argus, The
Republican, The Reflector and The Journal.
Feb. 15 1820: Seaton Grantland and Richard Orme
published the first issue of the Southern Recorder (a
weekly newspaper published on Tuesdays.) At the time,
Milledgeville was the capital of Georgia. In its second
issue, the Southern Recorder assume a responsibility we
have honored to this day... “The obligation to promote
the welfare of our community.”
July 1830: The Federal Union appeared, beginning a
40-year editorial war with the Southern Recorder. This
battle did not cease until the two merged in 1872. Before
the merger, the Federal Union had changed its name to
the Milledgeville Federal Union.
1851: Federal Union was sold to Boughton, Nesbit and
Barnes.
1861: Federal Union changed name to Southern Federal
Union.
1865: Jere N. Moore purchased one-fourth interest in
the newspaper. Mr. Moore was made managing editor of
the Federal Union, which later purchased the Southern
Recorder. Throughout the Civil War, publishing a news-
paper became more difficult with ea ch day. Paper, ink and
equipment were harder to obtain with the North’s tightening
blockades.
Many Georgia editors gave
up
their efforts of publishing a
weekly paper, but the
Southern Recorder
and Federal Union
endured through
the war.
1872:The
owners of the
Federal Union
purchased
the Southern
Recorder
and formed
one newspaper
named The Union
and Recorder. Aug.
7, 1872 the masthead
was changed to say the Milledgeville Union Recorder.
1877: Mr. Boughton died. Barnes and Moore purchased
Mr. Boughton’s interest.
1886: The name changed to The Union-Recorder.
1886: The Georgia Press
Association was founded
in Milledgeville. The two
Milledgeville newspapers
were host to editors from
Atlanta, Macon, Thomas-
ville and Sandersville. The
Association was formed
and the two Milledgeville
editors were elected as officers of the organization.
1902: Jere N. Moore was suceeded by his son R.B.
Moore as editor. The Union-Recorder remained in the
Moore family until it was sold in 1961.
1942: Jere Moore, son of R.B. Moore and gradnson of
Jere N. Moore, became editor of The Union-Recorder.
The newspaper was published weekly on every Thursday.
1961: The Union-Recorder was purchased by Peyton
Anderson, who also owned the Macon Telegraph.
1969: The Union-Recorder and the Macon Telegraph
were purchased by Knight Newspapers, Inc.
1974: Knight Newspapers merged with Ridder Newspa-
pers and became Knight-Ridder Newspapers, Inc.
1979: The Union-Recorder began publishing bi-weeky
on Wednesdays and Fridays.
1980: The paper broke ground on a new location at 165
Garrett Way.
1981: The newspaper moved into the new facility on
Garrett Way. Before this, the newspaper had always been
downtown.
1982: The paper began publishing daily - Tuesday
through Saturday.
1997: The Union-Recorder was purchased by Newspa-
per Holdings, Inc./Community Newspaper Holdings,
Inc.
2020: The paper still publishes daily, with a Bright Side
edition on Wednesdays. Online extras have been added
and CNHI, LLC owns the newspaper.
Feb. 15, 1820
first issue of the
Southern Recorder
The Union-Recorder is the oldest newspaper in Georgia
in continuous publication. Upon news of Sherman’s
march through Georgia, the printing press and other
equipment was hidden. With the help of a printer’s help-
er, The Union-Recorder was published as Sherman made
his march through Milledgeville. The Union-Re-
corder has never missed a publication.
<< Jere N. Moore: The first
photographed editor of The
200th l 9
Union-Recorder