Articles of Incorporation
The Marion Broadcasting Company • Filed April 22, 1940
On April 22, 1940, The Marion Broadcasting Company was formally incorporated under the laws of the State of Ohio. This filing established the legal corporate entity that would construct and operate radio station WMRN in Marion, Ohio.
At the time of incorporation, radio broadcasting was entering one of its most influential eras. Local stations served as primary sources of news, weather, civic information, and national programming. The formation of The Marion Broadcasting Company placed Marion within this expanding communications network during a period of rapid technological and social change.
The incorporation was recorded in Volume 471, Page 131 in the official records of the Ohio Secretary of State.
Archival Record: WMRN-2026-039
Corporate Structure and Authority
The Articles granted the corporation broad operational authority, including:
- Owning and operating radio broadcasting stations
- Operating television and facsimile services
- Conducting advertising and promotional business
- Buying, leasing, and managing real estate
- Entering into contracts necessary to carry out corporate purposes
Notably, the document references television broadcasting in 1940 several years before television became commercially widespread, reflecting the forward-looking legal language commonly used in corporate filings of the period.
Filing Details
- Date Filed: April 22, 1940
- State: Ohio
- County: Marion
- Recorded: Volume 471, Page 131
- Initial Capitalization: $15,000
- Authorized Shares: 250 (no par value)
Archival Citation
Articles of Incorporation, The Marion Broadcasting Company. Filed April 22, 1940. Ohio Secretary of State, Records of Incorporation, Volume 471, Page 131. Certified copy preserved by the Marion County Historical Society, Marion, Ohio.
Digital Facsimile
This certified copy of the Articles of Incorporation is preserved in the collection of the Marion County Historical Society and is reproduced here for historical documentation and research purposes.
Editorial Statement
This document is reproduced as a primary historical record. All details, names, and corporate authorities presented in this exhibit derive directly from the certified filing recorded by the Ohio Secretary of State on April 22, 1940.