Brenham Banner-Press

The Brenham Banner-Press was originally named the Southern Banner when it was first published in 1866 by John Gilbert Rankin, a former Confederate soldier in the American Civil War and a founder of the Texas Press Association. The Southern Banner reflected Rankin's opposition to Reconstruction Era policies by containing a distinct Democratic bias.[2] In 1871, the paper was renamed the Brenham Banner and was published in semiweekly and weekly editions. In 1876, a daily version of the paper, known as the Brenham Daily Banner, was published by Rankin and a man named Levin. From 1877–1907, a weekly version, known as the Brenham Weekly Banner, was still published by Rankin and a man named McCrimmon.[3] In the later years of the Brenham Weekly Banner, the focus of the paper shifted from Democratic political agendas to local and statewide reporting, covering news in nearby towns such as Burton, Chappell Hill, and Bellville.[2] Rankin suspended the Brenham Weekly Banner in 1907.

The Brenham Daily Press was founded by George Tucker in 1893. In 1913, it merged with the Brenham Daily Banner to form the Brenham Daily Banner Press, which was published as a daily and weekly newspaper from 1913–1926.[2] The paper became the first daily in Texas to hire a female editor, in 1917.[3] Brenham Daily Banner Press publisher George A.T. Neu was president of the Texas Press Association in 1927.

The paper was renamed The Brenham Banner-Press in 1926 and stopped publishing weekly editions.[3] In 1959, publisher Tom Whitehead Sr. was president of the Texas Press Association. The Brenham Banner Press moved to its current location in 1984 after a period of steady growth; they had occupied their previous location since 1900.[4] The paper is currently owned by Hartman Newspapers, LP, and Derek Hall is the current publisher.[5]