It saddens me when thinking about the LSC bankruptcy. I remember when LCS was part of R.R. Donnelley, which in the 1990s was the largest printer in America. In fact, it was the preeminent publication printer in the country.

Any bankruptcy story is a sad one. All businesses start with high hopes and usually lots of vision. There is a rich history here worth noting.

In 1864 Richard R. Donnelley, a 26-year-old saddlemaker’s apprentice from Hamilton, Ontario, moved to Chicago. There he established a print shop, called Church, Goodman, and Donnelley–Steam Printers, which became a modest success. When the shop’s building and presses were destroyed in the Chicago fire of 1871 leaving Donnelley virtually penniless, he borrowed $20 for a trip to New York, where he managed to get new presses completely on credit. Nevertheless, it took Donnelley nearly two years to get the printing plant fully operational again.