He also served as president of the board of curators of both his alma mater of the University of Missouri at Columbia (established 1839), and the private / religious-affiliated all-women Stephens College, the latter being named after his father James L. Stephens and founded 1833.

Edwin William Stephens was born in into a prominent family in Columbia, Missouri on January 21, 1849.

He was hired by William F. Switzler (1819-1906), prominent publisher of the Missouri Statesman.

In 1870 he went into business for himself, eventually founding the Columbia Herald, which became famous as "America's model weekly."

His relationship with Walter Williams (1864-1834), who he employed at The Herald, would lead to the creation of the world's first school of journalism: the Missouri School of Journalism associated with the University of Missouri in Columbia.