By Jim Leach Jun 27, 2021 | 5:45 AM Times have certainly changed in the world of print journalism. But not that long ago, Springfield was home to not one, but two, daily newspapers. The Illinois State Journal was the older of the two papers, founded in 1831. It was considered the “Republican” paper in town and often touted its connections to Abraham Lincoln. While the Journal was published each morning, the Illinois State Register was the city’s afternoon paper, and was considered the “Democratic” paper in town. Copley Press bought the Journal in 1927, and then purchased the Register in 1942. After operating as separate publications for decades, the two newspapers merged into one, the State Journal-Register, on July 1, 1974. It would publish morning and afternoon editions for a while, but eventually discontinued the afternoon edition.