Over 100 years of making long-term investments

Founded by independent-minded Stilson Hutchins, The Washington Post began publishing on Thursday, December 6. It was printed at 914 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., and had a circulation of 10,000. The newspaper contained four pages and cost three cents a copy. Joseph Pulitzer wrote for The Post when he was temporarily in Washington, and the then relatively unknown Theodore Roosevelt contributed a series of western stories to The Post that appeared without his byline.

The Post is sold to Hutchins sold to Frank Hatton, a Republican Cabinet member, and Beriah Wilkins, a former Democratic congressman. They then move The Post a few years later to a new building at 1335 E Street, N.W., next to the National Theatre.

On June 1, a public bankruptcy auction was held on the steps of The Post’s E Street Building and the newspaper was sold for $825,000 to Eugene Meyer, a California-born financier. Meyer was not an experienced newspaperman, but he had strong convictions about publishing a newspaper. He expressed that “The first mission of a newspaper is to tell the truth as nearly as the truth may be ascertained. ” and that “The newspaper shall not be the ally of any special interest, but shall be fair and free and wholesome in its outlook on public affairs and public men.” (Photo: Eugene Meyer is announced as the owner of The Washington Post after purchasing the paper at auction June 1, 1933, in Washington, D.C)

President Harry S. Truman appointed Eugene Meyer the first president of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Meyer was succeeded at The Washington Post by his daughter Katharine Meyer Graham’s husband, Philip L. Graham, who was named publisher of the newspaper, a position he held until 1961. (Photo: Philip L. Graham and Eugene Meyer hold the first issue of The Washington Post and Times-Herald on March 18, 1954)

The Washington Post Company was incorporated on August 4. Philip L Graham was named president. The Company then begins to explore and execute investments in businesses more than just newspapers. (Photo: Washington Post Company HQ in 1948.)

Katharine Graham became president of The Washington Post Company following the death of her husband, Philip Graham. She leads the Company to continued organic and acquisitive growth.

The Washington Post Company purchased Stanley H. Kaplan Educational Centers Limited. Kaplan was founded in 1938 when Stanley Kaplan started tutoring students in the basement of his parents’ Brooklyn home. Many of his students were from immigrant families, eager to pursue higher education and achieve success in America. Over the next several decades, Kaplan grew to become one of the nation’s leading providers of test preparation, with more than 100 centers across the country. Kaplan, Inc. has expanded its offerings beyond test preparation to include higher education, professional training, English and pathway programs, and K12 services.  Today, with more than 400 locations in over 30 countries, Kaplan is one of the largest diversified education companies in the world, serving one million students each year.

The Company makes its first investment in healthcare through acquiring Celtic Healthcare in Pennsylvania, a home health and hospice provider.

On August 5, the Company announced an agreement to sell The Washington Post newspaper and other newspaper division assets to Jeffrey P. Bezos. The Company was renamed Graham Holdings Company, with Don Graham leading as CEO.

Graham Holdings Company continues its growth in healthcare through acquiring Residential Healthcare Group in Michigan.
Additionally, Tim O’Shaughnessy is named President of Graham Holdings Company.

Celtic and Residential continue their growth trajectories and merge to Graham Healthcare Group.

Graham Healthcare Capital is founded in Nashville to continue making investments for Graham in healthcare. David Curtis and Justin DeWitte lead as Managing Partners.