History of the American Newspaper Publishers Association was first published in 1950. Minnesota Archive Editions uses digital technology to make long-unavailable books once again accessible, and are published unaltered from the original University of Minnesota Press editions.

The dramatic story of the association that for sixty-three years has held a position of major importance in the development of our free press. For the first time the full story of the activities of this influential daily newspaper trade association is told by a scholar who was given access to the association's files of publications.

The story of the ANPA is primarily one of the advancement of the business interests of daily newspapers and of resulting conflicts and adjustments with labor unions, communications competitors, advertisers, newsprint makers, and the government. The author analyzes these areas of activity and integrates the history of the ANPA with the economic, political, and social developments that have transformed America and its daily newspapers since 1887.

Of major interest and importance is the discussion of the labor relations policy of the daily newspapers who are ANPA members.

Other major topics include the association's opposition to federal legislation which the ANPA asserted imperiled the freedom of the press; the association's battles to eliminate tariff charges on newsprint and to maintain favorable postal rates; competition with radio, magazines, and other communications media; business problems of daily newspapers in the field of advertising; and mechanical developments which have revolutionized the printing industry.