List of African American newspapers in Pennsylvania

Front page of an 1845 issue of The Mystery.

This is a list of African American newspapers that have been published in the state of Pennsylvania.

This list includes both current and historical newspapers. In the 19th century, Pennsylvania saw a level of publishing that rivaled New York, with 14 African American periodicals in circulation from 1838 to 1906.[1] Pennsylvania's first African American newspaper was The Mystery, published in Pittsburgh by Martin Robison Delany from 1843 to 1847.[2]

Today, Pennsylvania is home to numerous active African American newspapers, including the oldest such newspaper nationwide, the Philadelphia Tribune. Other notable current newspapers include the New Pittsburgh Courier and Philadelphia Sunday Sun.

Newspapers

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (January 2020)
City Title Beginning End Frequency Call numbers Remarks


Allentown First World News 1993[3] 1995[3] Bimonthly newspaper[3]
  • ISSN 2639-958X
  • LCCN 2011254374
  • OCLC 664611225
Harrisburg The Harrisburg Journal 1976[4] ?[4] Monthly newspaper[4]
  • LCCN sn88080949
  • OCLC 16570321
  • Published by Bill Kiser[4]
Harrisburg The State Journal 1882[5] or 1883[6] 1885[5] Weekly[5]
  • LCCN sn83027086, 2014254315
  • OCLC 9868965, 7254989
Harrisburg The Harrisburg Tymes 1995[7] ? Weekly[7]
  • OCLC 33424063
Philadelphia Philadelphia Afro-American (1937–1965)[8]
The Afro-American (1934–1937)[9]		 1934[10] 1965[8] Weekly[10]
  • LCCN sn84025924, sn83045816
  • OCLC 9673741, 10702239, 18842397
  • Circulation of 18,496 in 1951.[11]
Philadelphia The Christian Banner 1888[12] 1920[12] Weekly[12]
  • LCCN 2011254287, sn83027087
  • OCLC 745907855, 9869515
Philadelphia The Christian Recorder / Daily Christian Recorder 1861[13] 1960[13] Weekly[13]
  • LCCN sn93062890
  • OCLC 27975220
  • Associated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Philadelphia The Christian Review 1913[14] 1952[14] Weekly[14]
  • LCCN sn85054688
  • Circulation of 6,000 in 1951.[11]
Philadelphia The Defender 1897[15] 1909?[15] Weekly[15]
  • LCCN sn83027088, 2011254360
  • OCLC 9885792, 747837303
  • One issue available online
  • Suspended publication in November 1905.[16]
  • Published by H.C.C. Astwood[16]
Philadelphia The Philadelphia Flame 1971[17] ?[17]
  • LCCN sn88079585
  • OCLC 18666635
  • Published by the Black United Liberation Front[17]
Philadelphia Flipshot News 1993[18] ? [18] Monthly newspaper[18]
  • OCLC 29329497
Philadelphia Garvey's Voice 1960s[19] ?[19] Irregular[19]
  • LCCN sn92060460, sn94092742
  • OCLC 8641694, 32785553
Philadelphia The Philadelphia Independent 1931[20] 1971[20] Weekly[20]
  • LCCN sn85055146
  • OCLC 12715626
  • Circulation of 24,213 in 1951.[11]
Philadelphia The Jamal Journal 1994[21] Quarterly newspaper[21]
  • LCCN sn98068295
  • OCLC 32846849
  • Published by Concerned Family & Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal.[21]
Philadelphia The Journal 1892[22] 1892[22] Weekly[22]
  • LCCN sn88079488
  • OCLC 18150882
Philadelphia The National Leader 1982[23] 1985[23] Monthly newspaper[23]
  • ISSN 0744-5709
  • LCCN sn8203042, 850642950, sn88019240
  • OCLC 11810634, 19333155, 12761504, 8391610
Philadelphia Philadelphia New Observer / Philadelphia Observer 1976[24] current Weekly[24]
  • ISSN 0890-8435
  • LCCN sn8602567, sn94093032
  • OCLC 14552816, 33390581
  • Official site
Philadelphia North Philly Free Press 1982[25] 1983[25] Monthly[25]
  • ISSN 2642-9888
  • LCCN 2013254349
  • OCLC 664611332
Philadelphia Odd Fellows’ Journal 1897[26] 1917[26] Weekly[26]
  • LCCN sn83027089
  • OCLC 9891050
  • One issue available online
Philadelphia Schuylkill River Express 1970[27] 1972[27] Irregular[27]
  • LCCN sn88079584
  • OCLC 18665479
Philadelphia Scoop USA 1960[28] current Weekly[28]
  • ISSN 2688-6359
  • LCCN sn88080720
  • OCLC 17763219
  • Official site
  • Free weekly newspaper.[28]
  • Founded by Richard Driver and published since 2018 by Sherri Horsey Darden.[28]
Philadelphia The Philadelphia Sunday Sun 1992[29] current Weekly[29]
  • OCLC 29329394
  • Official site
Philadelphia Tribune Metro 1990?[30] ?[30] Weekly[30]
  • OCLC 31216194
Philadelphia The Philadelphia Tribune 1884[31] current Twice weekly[31]
  • ISSN 0746-956X
  • LCCN sn83045144
  • OCLC 2759971, 2266077
  • Official site
  • Oldest continuously-published African American newspaper.
  • Circulation of 20,916 in 1951.[11]
Philadelphia The Weekly Prophet 1900s[32] 1900s[32] Weekly[32]
  • LCCN sn88079517
  • OCLC 18396408
Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Courier (1910–1967)
New Pittsburgh Courier (1967–present)		 1910[33] current Weekly[33]
  • LCCN sn83045181, sn83045340, sn83045182, sn84025931
  • OCLC 7191537, 7163977, 7163951, 7163927
  • Official site
  • Circulation of 268,447 in 1951.[11]
Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Homewood-Brushton News 1967?[34] ?[34] Biweekly[34]
  • LCCN sn87080121, sn85054968
  • OCLC 15474152, 12178315
Pittsburgh The Mystery 1843[36] 1847[36] Weekly[37]
  • "[T]he first African American newspaper west of the Allegheny Mountains."[36]
Pittsburgh The Pennsylvania Guard 1926?[38] ?[38] Unknown[38]
Pittsburgh Triangle Advocate Weekly
  • Circulation of 2,000 in 1951.[11]
Pittsburgh The Thrust 1968[39] ?[39] Weekly[39]
  • LCCN sn89077276
  • OCLC 17735407
  • Published by the United Movement for Progress and edited by Bouie Haden.[39]
Reading The ‘M’ Voice 1989?[40] 1995[40] Monthly[40]
  • OCLC 33424010
West Philadelphia Tribune Metro: West Philadelphia 1990?[41] ?[41] Weekly[41]
  • OCLC 35201713
  • Extant through at least 1993.[41]

See also

Works cited

  • Blockson, Charles L. (1994). African Americans in Pennsylvania: A History and Guide. Black Classic Press. ISBN 9780933121850.
  • Danky, James Philip; Hady, Maureen E., eds. (1998). African-American newspapers and periodicals : a national bibliography. Harvard University Press. ISBN 9780674007888.
  • Penn, Irvine Garland (1891). The Afro-American Press and Its Editors. Willey & Company.
  • Pride, Armistead Scott; Wilson, Clint C. (1997). A History of the Black Press. Howard University Press. ISBN 9780882581927.
  • Smith, Jessie Carney (2012). Black Firsts: 4,000 Ground-Breaking and Pioneering Historical Events. Visible Ink Press. ISBN 9781578593699.
  • Smith, Jessie Carney; Horton, Carrell Peterson, eds. (1995). Historical Statistics of Black America: Media to Vital Statistics. Gale Research. ISBN 0810393921.


References

  1. ^ Blockson 1994, p. 60.
  2. ^ Smith 2012, p. 409.
  3. ^ a b c "About First world news. [online resource] (Allentown, PA) 1993-1995". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-08.
  4. ^ a b c d "About The Harrisburg journal. (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1976-????". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-08.
  5. ^ a b c Danky & Hady 1998, p. 541, ¶ 5634.
  6. ^ "About The state journal. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1883-1885". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-06.
  7. ^ a b Danky & Hady 1998, p. 270, ¶ 2830.
  8. ^ a b "About Philadelphia Afro-American. [volume] (Philadelphia, Pa.) 1937-1965". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-08.
  9. ^ "About The Afro-American. [volume] (Philadelphia, Pa.) 1934-1937". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-08.
  10. ^ a b Danky & Hady 1998, p. 461, ¶ 4813.
  11. ^ a b c d e f Smith & Horton 1995, p. 1207.
  12. ^ a b c Danky & Hady 1998, p. 150, ¶ 1559.
  13. ^ a b c "About The Christian recorder. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1861-1960". Chronicling America. Library of Congress.
  14. ^ a b c Danky & Hady 1998, p. 151, ¶ 1569.
  15. ^ a b c Danky & Hady 1998, p. 189, ¶ 1965.
  16. ^ a b "About The defender. [online resource] (Philadelphia ;) 1897-19??". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-08.
  17. ^ a b c "About The Philadelphia flame. (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1971-19??". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-08.
  18. ^ a b c Danky & Hady 1998, p. 228, ¶ 2384.
  19. ^ a b c d "About Garvey's voice. [volume] (Philadelphia, Pa.) 196?-19??". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-08.
  20. ^ a b c "About The Philadelphia independent. [volume] (Philadelphia, Pa.) 1931-1971". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-07.
  21. ^ a b c "About The Jamal journal. [volume] (Philadelphia, PA) 1994-current". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-08.
  22. ^ a b c d "About The Journal. (Philadelphia, Pa.) 1892-1892". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-08.
  23. ^ a b c Danky & Hady 1998, p. 391, ¶ 4077.
  24. ^ a b Danky & Hady 1998, p. 462, ¶ 4815.
  25. ^ a b c Danky & Hady 1998, p. 430, ¶ 4471.
  26. ^ a b c Danky & Hady 1998, p. 438, ¶ 4567.
  27. ^ a b c "About Schuylkill River express. ([Philadelphia, Pa.) 1970-1972". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-08.
  28. ^ a b c d Russ, Valerie (2018-07-26). "New publisher of Philly's Scoop USA keeps a black-owned newspaper going with faith and own funds". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2020-01-06.
  29. ^ a b Danky & Hady 1998, p. 462, ¶ 4816.
  30. ^ a b c Danky & Hady 1998, p. 567, ¶ 5925.
  31. ^ a b Danky & Hady 1998, p. 462, ¶ 4817.
  32. ^ a b c d e "About The Weekly prophet. (Philadelphia, Pa.) 19??-19??". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-08.
  33. ^ a b Danky & Hady 1998, p. 412, ¶ 4289.
  34. ^ a b c Danky & Hady 1998, p. 465, ¶ 4845.
  35. ^ "Erroll B. Davis". Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Retrieved 2020-01-06.
  36. ^ a b c Davidson, Adenike Marie. "Martin Robinson Delany (1812–1885)". In Nelson, Emmanuel Sampath (ed.). African American Authors, 1745-1945: Bio-bibliographical Critical Sourcebook. p. 101.
  37. ^ "The Mystery". Pennsylvania Newspaper Archive. Retrieved 2020-01-06.
  38. ^ a b c Danky & Hady 1998, p. 458, ¶ 4770.
  39. ^ a b c d Danky & Hady 1998, p. 560, ¶ 5848.
  40. ^ a b c Danky & Hady 1998, p. 348, ¶ 3649.
  41. ^ a b c d Danky & Hady 1998, p. 567, ¶ 5927.
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