John Bradford's place in history rests on his establishing the Kentucky Gazette, the first newspaper in Kentucky and second west of the Allegheny Mountains; his "Notes on Kentucky" (1826-1829); and his leadership in municipal and state development. Though he was not a trained printer, Bradford's efforts led to a strong, leading western newspaper that lasted more than half a century. His "Notes on Kentucky," published in that newspaper from 1826 to 1829, reveal keen abilities as a scholar and historian and remain important sources of information about early Kentucky. Bradford was closely associated with the newspaper he founded for only seventeen of its sixty-one years, but throughout his life, he was a leading citizen in his community and state.

Though no extensive biography of Bradford exists, he and the Kentucky Gazette have been the subjects of much study, with the result that conflicting information appears--especially in earlier sources. Douglas McMurtrie...