J. B. Watkins was president of the Record Publishing Company for its entire life in Lawrence, Kansas. This company published the Lawrence Daily and Lawrence Weekly Record from 1889 to 1893 and was active in the commercial printing business during the period. Watkins claimed he never dictated editorial policy except in three areas. The Record was to support prohibition in all cases, fight the Force Bill, and fight the McKinley Bill. However, the Record was established as a Democratic alternative publication and partisan politics did surface in its pages.

The series contains correspondence, bills, and receipts related to the Record Publishing Company.