Lucius William Nieman (December 13, 1857 – October 1, 1935) was an American businessman and founder of ''

The Milwaukee Journal The ''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel'' is a daily morning broadsheet printed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where it is the primary newspaper and also the largest newspaper in the state of Wisconsin, where it is widely read. It was purchased by the ...

''.

Biography

Born at Bear Valley in

Sauk County, Wisconsin Sauk County is a county in Wisconsin. It is named after a large village of the Sauk people. As of the 2020 census, the population was 65,763. Its county seat and largest city is Baraboo. The county was created in 1840 from Wisconsin Territor ...

, Lucius's father was Conrad Nieman; and Sara Elizabeth Delamater was his mother. He had an older sister Violette. Lucius was two years of age when his father died. His mother took him home to her parents: H. H. and Susan Cuppernall in

Mukwonago Mukwonago is a village in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 8,262 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. The village is located mostly within the Mukwonago (town), Wisconsin, Town of Mukwonago in Waukesha County, Wisconsin ...

. A local schoolteacher boarded at their home, and Lucius benefited from the adult company. Theron Haight, editor of ''The Waukesha Freeman'', gave Lucius his start in the publishing industry. At age 12 he was set to menial tasks, and eventually learned to set type. This skill brought him to the composing room of ''The Milwaukee Sentinel'' in 1871. Ambitious to become a

journalist A journalist is a person who gathers information in the form of text, audio or pictures, processes it into a newsworthy form and disseminates it to the public. This is called journalism. Roles Journalists can work in broadcast, print, advertis ...

, Lucius returned to his grandmother Delamater and study at

Carroll College Carroll College is a private Catholic college in Helena, Montana. The college has 21 buildings on a 63-acre campus, has over 35 academic majors, participates in 15 NAIA athletic sports, and is home to All Saints Chapel. The college motto, in L ...

in Waukesha. In fact, he became the Waukesha correspondent for ''The Milwaukee Sentinel''. The paper continued to employ Lucius, next as a

reporter A journalist is a person who gathers information in the form of text, audio or pictures, processes it into a newsworthy form and disseminates it to the public. This is called journalism. Roles Journalists can work in broadcast, print, advertis ...

for Milwaukee, then in 1875 as correspondent in

Madison Madison may refer to: People * Madison (name), a given name and a surname * James Madison (1751–1836), fourth president of the United States * Madison (footballer), Brazilian footballer Places in the United States Populated places * Madi ...

covering government business in the state capital. He became

managing editor A managing editor (ME) is a senior member of a publication's management team. Typically, the managing editor reports directly to the editor-in-chief and oversees all aspects of the publication. United States In the United States, a managing edi ...

in 1876. In 1880 Nieman went to

Saint Paul, Minnesota Saint Paul (often abbreviated St. Paul) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Minnesota and the county seat of Ramsey County, Minnesota, Ramsey County. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, ...

as managing editor of the ''

Saint Paul Dispatch The ''Saint Paul Dispatch'' was a daily newspaper in Saint Paul, Minnesota from 1868 until 1985. Hall and Castle years When Harlan Hall founded the ''Dispatch'' in 1868, he made no secret of his political affiliations.Weber, "The Story of the S ...

''. Though successful in boosting circulation and advertising, Nieman left Minnesota and returned to Wisconsin. There

Peter V. Deuster Peter Victor Deuster (February 13, 1831December 31, 1904) was a German American immigrant, newspaperman, diplomat, and Democratic politician. He represented Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in the United States House of Representatives for three terms (187 ...

was running for re-election to

Congress A congress is a formal meeting of the representatives of different countries, constituent states, organizations, trade unions, political parties, or other groups. The term originated in Late Middle English to denote an encounter (meeting of ...

and publishing ''The Daily Journal'' to promote his campaign. Nieman acquired half interest in the paper on December 11, 1882. Deuster returned to Washington and Nieman became

editor in chief An editor-in-chief (EIC), also known as lead editor or chief editor, is a publication's editorial leader who has final responsibility for its operations and policies. The editor-in-chief heads all departments of the organization and is held account ...

and had editorial independence. The name was changed to ''The Milwaukee Journal'', and from modest beginnings the paper grew to challenge ''The Sentinel'' for dominance in Milwaukee.Harry J. Grant (April 7, 1941
Lucius W. Nieman, Newspaperman
from archived Nieman Foundation article from

Harvard University Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...

Nieman intended to provide a "channel for the expression of views not dictated by 'bossism' or corrupted by 'machine' politics." The paper advocated "regulation of

public utilities A public utility company (usually just utility) is an organization that maintains the infrastructure for a public service (often also providing a service using that infrastructure). Public utilities are subject to forms of public control and r ...

, conservation of the state’s natural resources, reforestation, development of the state’s water-power resources, and a better highway program." In 1895 Nieman responded to a plea to help the less fortunate. "It might be a downright good thing to have the women run the ''Journal'' for a day", he said. On February 22 men were replaced in the editorial and business offices by female reporters and managers. Agnes Elizabeth Gunter Wahl became Mrs. Nieman on November 29, 1900. Her father Christian Wahl is known as "the father of Milwaukee’s public park system". Lucius W. Nieman died in Milwaukee on October 1, 1935.

Legacy

When Nieman died, his 55% interest in the Milwaukee Journal was valued at $3,850,000. He directed in his will that equal shares of stock sale proceeds go to his widow and to his niece, Faye McBeath, a Journal employee and assistant to Nieman. The

Nieman Foundation for Journalism The Nieman Foundation for Journalism is the primary journalism institution at Harvard University. History It was founded in February 1938 as the result of a $1.4 million bequest by Agnes Wahl Nieman, the widow of Lucius W. Nieman, founder of ...

was established after his widow, Agnes Wahl Nieman, left

$1 million in her will in 1937.

Nieman Fellowship The Nieman Fellowship is a fellowship from the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University. It awards multiple types of fellowships. Nieman Fellowships for journalists The Nieman Fellowship is an award given to journalists by the Nieman ...

s for study at Harvard are awarded to experienced news reporters.

James Bryant Conant James Bryant Conant (March 26, 1893 – February 11, 1978) was an American chemist, a transformative President of Harvard University, and the first U.S. Ambassador to West Germany. Conant obtained a Ph.D. in chemistry from Harvard in 191 ...

was President of Harvard when the bequest was made. Mrs. Nieman had stipulated that funds were to be used to raise standards of journalism. The fellowship program for proven reporters was established by Conant after some consultations. The Niemanlab covers the Nieman Foundation, ''Nieman Reports'', and Nieman Storyboard. Accountability journalism was backed by the Nieman Watchdog. Accountability continues to be pursued in ''Nieman Reports''. At

Marquette University Marquette University () is a Private university, private Jesuit research university in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. It was established as Marquette College on August 28, 1881, by John Henni, the first Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Ar ...

in Milwaukee, the Department of Journalism and Media Studies has named a lead faculty position the Lucius W. Nieman Chair of Journalism.Lucius W. Nieman Chair of Journalism
from

References

* Lucius W. Nieman, Editor, Dies at 77; As Head of Milwaukee Journal Since 1882 He Made Paper Nationally Famous, ''

New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'', October 2, 1935 {{DEFAULTSORT:Nieman, Lucius W. 1857 births 1935 deaths American male journalists Editors of Wisconsin newspapers People from Sauk County, Wisconsin Patrons of schools