List of African American newspapers in Indiana

Front page of the Indianapolis Leader, one of Indiana's first African American newspapers.
Newspaper rack with issues of the Gary Crusader in 2020.

Various African American newspapers have been published in Indiana. The Evansville weekly Our Age, which was in circulation by 1878, is the first known African American newspaper in Indiana.[1] Alternatively, some sources assign the title of first to the Indianapolis Leader[2] or the Logansport Colored Visitor,[3] both of which were first published in August 1879.

A 1996 survey of Indiana's African American newspapers found that two-thirds were founded before the Great Migration began in 1915.[2] Only a quarter of the newspapers surveyed lasted for more than five years.[2] Despite the high rate of attrition, African American newspapers continued to be established in Indiana throughout the 20th century[2] and into the 21st.

More than half the African American newspapers in Indiana have been published in Indianapolis and Evansville.[2] In the northern part of the state, the greatest number of such newspapers have been published in Gary.[2]

The following list contains some newspapers published only on an irregular or sporadic basis, or for which no information on frequency is available. Many of these shorter-lived newspapers, particularly in the 19th century, were political broadsheets produced only in connection with a specific election.

African American newspapers published in Indiana today include the Gary Crusader, the Indianapolis Recorder, the Fort Wayne Ink Spot, and Evansville's Our Times Newspaper.

Northern Indiana

Northern Indiana is the northern third of the state, home to the industrial Calumet Region as well as small cities further east such as South Bend, Fort Wayne and Logansport.

City Title Beginning End Frequency Call numbers Remarks


East Chicago The Forum 1950[4] ? Weekly[4]
East Chicago
  • East Chicago Voice
  • Citizen Voice
 1962[5] 1970s Weekly[5]
  • Edited by Thorton Smith.[6]
Elkhart Spirit Publications 1975[7] ?[7] Weekly[7]
  • LCCN sn87056390
  • OCLC 16835457
  • Attested through at least 1976.[7]
Fort Wayne Coffee Break 1960s[8] 1960s[8] Weekly[8]
  • LCCN sn87056700
  • OCLC 16886111
  • Published by Joe H. Andrews. Extant issues date from 1968 and 1969.[8]
Fort Wayne Frost Illustrated 1968[9] 2017[9] Weekly[10]
  • LCCN sn87055965
  • OCLC 15626550
Fort Wayne Ink 2001[12] 2009[11] Weekly
Fort Wayne Fort Wayne Ink Spot 2018 current Biweekly[13]
  • Official site
Fort Wayne The Fort Wayne Observer 1900s[14] 1900s[14] Weekly[14]
  • LCCN sn90068952
  • OCLC 22481729
  • Attested from 1955.[14]
Gary
1927 ? Weekly,[16] later biweekly
  • LCCN sn86058053
  • OCLC 13231213
  • Gary Colored American:
    • LCCN sn86058052
    • OCLC 13231111
Gary The Commonwealth 1924[17] 1934[17] Weekly[17]
  • LCCN sn87055673
  • OCLC 15117675
Gary The Gary Crusader 1961 current Weekly[18]
  • LCCN sn83025624
  • OCLC 18766769, 2400666, 9694324
  • ISSN 1930-7012
  • Official site
  • Published by Dorothy Leavell.[19]
Gary Gary Dispatch, later Lake County Journal 1921[20] 1924[20] Weekly[21] or irregular[20]
Gary Gary Info 1963[22] ? Weekly[23]
  • LCCN sn87055756, sn94085049
  • OCLC 15504502, 32260852
  • Published by Imogene Harris.[24]
Gary Lake County Observer 1946[25] 1950[25] Irregular[25]
Gary
  • Gary Sun[26]
  • National Defender And Sun[27]
 1905[25] 1931[25] or 1929[26] Weekly[25]
  • LCCN sn83025598, sn87056403, sn87056497, sn87056498
  • OCLC 16626132, 16626135, 16626142, 9647337
  • Moved to Gary from Milwaukee in 1910s, became a national women's magazine around 1923[25]
Logansport The Colored Visitor 1879[28] 1879[28] Twice monthly[28] or irregular[25]
  • LCCN 2011254353, sn82016213
  • OCLC 2639492, 747720174, 9202276
Marion Community Express 1980[29] 1981 (uncertain)[29] Weekly[29]
  • LCCN sn87055065
  • OCLC 15080420
  • Published by James Carter.[30]
South Bend South Bend Forum 1923[31] 1900s[31] Weekly[31]
  • LCCN 2014254043
  • OCLC 879304902
South Bend South Bend Herald-Times 1950s[32] 1900s[32]
  • LCCN sn95063990
  • OCLC 32881294
South Bend South Bend Journal 1928[33] ? Weekly[33]
  • Edited by William D. LaMarr.[33]
South Bend The Reformer 1967[34] 1971 Weekly
  • Free online archive
South Bend Observer 1913[25]

Central Indiana

Central Indiana takes up the central third of the state, including the state capital Indianapolis as well as numerous small cities including Anderson, Muncie and Terre Haute.

City Title Beginning End Frequency Call numbers Remarks


Anderson The Shining Star 1922[35] 1927 (uncertain)[18] Weekly[35][36] or irregular[18]
  • LCCN sn86058388
  • OCLC 13317294
Indianapolis The Anthem 1991[37] ? Weekly[37]
Indianapolis Argus 1886[25] 1887[25]
Indianapolis Black Focus Newsweekly 1996[38] ? Weekly[38]
Indianapolis Courier 1893[25] 1890s[25]
Indianapolis Indianapolis Freeman 1884[40] or 1888[41] 1926[39] Weekly
  • LCCN 2011254382, sn82016211
  • OCLC 22091308, 25863079, 764798092, 9201961
  • First illustrated Black newspaper in the United States[42]
Indianapolis
  • Indiana Herald (1957–)[44]
  • Hoosier Herald (1949–1957)
  • Indianapolis Herald-Tribune (1957–1960)[10]
  • Indiana Herald-Times[45]
  • Indianapolis Herald-Times[46]
 1949[37] 2010s[43] Weekly[25]
  • LCCN sn84025903, sn84025904, sn84025905, sn84025906
  • OCLC 10637578, 10637588, 10637599, 2407308, 2701350
  • Operated from 1958 to 1983 by Opal L. Tandy[43]
Indianapolis Indy Word 1989[47] ?[47] 14 times a year[47]
Indianapolis Indianapolis Leader 1879 1890 Weekly
  • LCCN 2013272083, sn84027490
  • OCLC 11257023, 4826989, 862978579
  • ISSN 2332-2527, 2332-2535
  • Free online archive
  • Published by J.D. Bagby.[48]
Indianapolis Indianapolis Ledger 1912[50] or 1913[25] 1921?[49] or 1925?[25] Weekly[25]
  • LCCN 2012254025, sn85047649
  • OCLC 4815339, 664611244
  • ISSN 2574-4534, 2688-5131
  • Described by one historian as "undoubtedly subsidized by the Klan".[51]
  • Edited by William H. Jackson.[49]
Indianapolis
  • Indianapolis Post
  • Midwestern Post[50]
 1943[53] 1947?[52] Weekly[50]
  • LCCN sn87056553, sn87056554
  • OCLC 16403875, 16404030
  • May have become the Hoosier Herald.[25]
  • Published by Lowell M. Trice.[52]
Indianapolis Indianapolis Recorder 1896[25] or 1897[54] current Weekly[25]
  • LCCN sn82014475, sn84025902, 2014254306
  • OCLC 476120122, 10645111, 22865220, 33106332, 8797400, 8956731
  • Official site
  • Indiana's longest-lived Black newspaper[2]
Indianapolis Indianapolis Daily Standard 1922[55]
Indianapolis Urban Times 1996 (uncertain)[56] ? Weekly[56]
  • OCLC 37162902
  • Published by Richard Bottoms.[57]
  • Distinct from Indianapolis monthly of same name established 2005[58]
Indianapolis Indianapolis Visions 1982 (uncertain)[54] 1986[25] Weekly,[54] later monthly[25]
  • Edited by Jane Saxton. Published by Philip Saxton.[59]
Indianapolis Indianapolis Voice 1957[54] 1958 (uncertain)[54] Weekly[54]
  • LCCN sn85047653
  • OCLC 4826884
Indianapolis Indianapolis World, originally Indianapolis Colored World 1883 (uncertain)[54] 1932[54] Weekly[54] ("generally"[25])
  • LCCN sn82016212, 2012254026
  • OCLC 773197937, 2636827, 8950537, 9202154
Indianapolis
  • Indianapolis World Telegram
  • The World Telegram
  • World-Telegram
 1929[54] or 1939[25] 1940[25] Weekly[54] or irregular[25]
  • LCCN sn87056532
  • OCLC 16264042
  • Published by G.L. Porter.[60]
Muncie The Muncie Times 1991[61] 2011[61] Twice monthly[62] or biweekly[63]
  • LCCN sn95067519
  • OCLC 28815803
  • Ceased publication after death of founder and publisher Bea Moten-Foster in 2011.
Richmond Richmond Blade 1918[25] 1922[25] Weekly[64] or irregular[25]
  • LCCN sn86058212
  • OCLC 13053364
  • Motto: "Hew to the line; let the quips fall where they may."[65]
Richmond Interview 1906[25]
Richmond Indiana Register 1906[25] 1908[25]
Terre Haute Afro-American Journal 1895[25] 1896[25] Irregular
Terre Haute The Eagle 1906[25] Irregular
Terre Haute The Right Way 1896[25] 1898[25] Irregular
Terre Haute The Times 1909[25] 1912[25] Irregular
Terre Haute Vanguard News August 5, 1994[66] February 4-18, 1995[66] Biweekly, then monthly Edited by Phillip Norton. "It is about black people taking care of business. The business of and for black people. We will also contribute to the development of a viable black community” [66]

Southern Indiana

Southern Indiana makes up the southern third of the state, and is home to the Indiana's third-largest city Evansville, as well as smaller cities along the Ohio River.

City Title Beginning End Frequency Call numbers Remarks


Evansville Argus 1938[18] 1943[18] Weekly[18]
  • LCCN sn86058884
  • OCLC 14583411
Evansville Chronicle 1882[18] Irregular[18]
Evansville Clarion 1914[18] 1915[18] Irregular[18]
Evansville Consolidated News 1943[67] 1956 (uncertain)[67] Weekly[67] or irregular[18]
  • LCCN sn86058885
  • OCLC 14583388
Evansville Graphic 1891[18] Irregular[18]
Evansville Guide 1908[18] Irregular[18]
Evansville Inner City Reporter 1981[68] 1984[18] Biweekly[68] or monthly[18]
  • LCCN sn87056168
  • OCLC 16308896
Evansville Negro Press 1911[18] Irregular
  • Political campaign tract[2]
Evansville Our Age, later Our Weekly Age[69] 1875?[70] or 1878[71] ? Weekly[71]
Evansville Our Times Newspaper 1983[18] current Biweekly[72] or semimonthly[18]
  • LCCN sn95067518
  • OCLC 27649117
  • Official site
Evansville Pilot 1888[18] Irregular
Evansville The Right Way 1880[18] Irregular
Evansville The Transcript 1905[18] Irregular[18]
Evansville The Watch Tower 1880s[18] Irregular[18]
New Albany New Albany Weekly Review 1881[74] 1880s[73] Weekly[74]
  • LCCN sn86058076, 2013254360
  • OCLC 13351985, 849418982

See also

Works cited

  • Adams, Grace (2005). BAPWD, Black Authors & Published Writers Directory.
  • Bigham, Darrel E. (1996). "The Black Press in Indiana, 1879-1985". In Suggs, Henry Lewis (ed.). The Black Press in the Middle West, 1865-1985. Greenwood Press. ISBN 9780313255793.
  • Danky, James Philip; Hady, Maureen E., eds. (1998). African-American newspapers and periodicals : a national bibliography. Harvard University Press. ISBN 9780674007888.
  • Pride, Armistead Scott; Wilson, Clint C. (1997). A History of the Black Press. Howard University Press. ISBN 9780882581927.
  • Schneider, Mark Robert (2002). We Return Fighting: The Civil Rights Movement in the Jazz Age. UPNE. p. 344. ISBN 9781555534905.

References

  1. ^ Smith, Jessie Carney (2012). Black Firsts: 4,000 Ground-Breaking and Pioneering Historical Events. Visible Ink Press. p. 409. ISBN 9781578593699.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Bigham 1996, p. 53.
  3. ^ "African-American/Black History and Genealogy Research". Indiana State Library. Retrieved 2019-12-10. The Colored Visitor (first black newspaper published in Indiana)
  4. ^ a b Danky 1998, p. 234.
  5. ^ a b Danky 1998, p. 154, 203.
  6. ^ Danky 1998, p. 203, ¶ 2116.
  7. ^ a b c d "About Spirit publications. (Elkhart, Ind.) 1975-19??". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  8. ^ a b c d "About Coffee break. (Fort Wayne, Ind.) 196?-196?". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
  9. ^ a b Rozier, William Bryant (2018-03-06). "Frost Giant". Fort Wayne Ink Spot. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
  10. ^ a b Danky 1998, p. 243.
  11. ^ Kolkman, Jr., Richard (2013-01-07). "Escape to Fort Wayne". Fort Wayne Reader. Vince Robinson and Terri Miller published INK newspaper (2001-2009)
  12. ^ Adams 2005, p. 185.
  13. ^ "About". Fort Wayne Ink Spot. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
  14. ^ a b c d "About The Fort Wayne observer. (Fort Wayne, Ind. [Indiana]) 19??-19??". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
  15. ^ "About The Gary colored American. [volume] (Gary, Ind.) 1927-1928". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
  16. ^ "About The Gary American. [volume] (Gary, Ind.) 1928-current". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
  17. ^ a b c Danky 1998, p. 167.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa Bigham 1996, p. 51.
  19. ^ Danky 1998, p. 246, ¶ 2584.
  20. ^ a b c Bigham 1996, pp. 51–52.
  21. ^ Schneider 2002, p. 344.
  22. ^ Bigham 1996, p. 68.
  23. ^ Bigham 1996, p. 52, 68.
  24. ^ Danky 1998, p. 296, ¶ 3112.
  25. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am Bigham 1996, p. 52.
  26. ^ a b Danky 1998, p. 246, ¶ 2585.
  27. ^ "About National defender and sun. (Gary, Ind. ;) 1905-1923". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
  28. ^ a b c Danky 1998, p. 163.
  29. ^ a b c Danky 1998, p. 169.
  30. ^ Danky 1998, p. 169, ¶ 1756.
  31. ^ a b c "About South Bend forum. [online resource] (South Bend, Ind.) 1923-19??". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
  32. ^ a b "About South Bend herald-times. [volume] (South Bend, Ind.) 195?-19??". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  33. ^ a b c Danky 1998, p. 523.
  34. ^ Fosmoe, Margaret (2014-06-23). "'60s black newspaper to be available online". South Bend Tribune. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  35. ^ a b "About The shining star. [volume] (Anderson, Ind.) 1922-19??". Chronicling America. Library of Congress.
  36. ^ Bigham 1996, p. 58.
  37. ^ a b c Danky 1998, p. 45.
  38. ^ a b Danky 1998, p. 83.
  39. ^ Bigham 1996, p. 65.
  40. ^ Danky 1998, p. 241, ¶ 2522.
  41. ^ Bigham 1996, p. 54.
  42. ^ Bigham 1996, p. 55.
  43. ^ a b Baskin, Andrew (2015). "Tandy, Opal L.". The Kentucky African American Encyclopedia. p. 493. ISBN 9780813160665.
  44. ^ Danky 1998, p. 294, ¶ 3097.
  45. ^ "About Indiana herald-times. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1957-1960". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
  46. ^ "About Indianapolis herald-times. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1957-1957". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
  47. ^ a b c Danky 1998, p. 295, ¶ 3110.
  48. ^ Danky 1998, p. 294, ¶ 3098.
  49. ^ a b Danky 1998, p. 294, ¶ 3099.
  50. ^ a b c Danky 1998, p. 294.
  51. ^ Thornbrough, Emma Lou (1961). "Segregation in Indiana During the Klan Era of the 1920's". Journal of American History. 47 (4): 612. doi:10.2307/1889600. JSTOR 1889600.
  52. ^ a b Danky 1998, p. 294, ¶ 3100.
  53. ^ Danky 1998, p. 294-295.
  54. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Danky 1998, p. 295.
  55. ^ Gore, George William (1922). Negro Journalism: An Essay on the History and Present Conditions of the Negro Press. University Microfilms. p. 20.
  56. ^ a b Danky 1998, p. 585.
  57. ^ Danky 1998, p. 585, ¶ 6121.
  58. ^ "About". Urban Times. 23 October 2017. Retrieved 2019-12-09. Urban Times grew out of The Lockerbie Letter, which Bill edited and produced from 1996 to 2005 before creating the multi-neighborhood newsmagazine that is Urban Times.
  59. ^ Danky 1998, p. 295, ¶ 3102.
  60. ^ Danky 1998, p. 621, ¶ 6495.
  61. ^ a b "Muncie Times Newspaper". Ball State Digital Media Repository. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
  62. ^ Danky 1998, p. 379.
  63. ^ "About The Muncie times. [volume] (Muncie, IN) 1991-current". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
  64. ^ Danky 1998, p. 493.
  65. ^ "About The Richmond blade. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1918-192?". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
  66. ^ a b c "Inventory: Vanguard News". Vigo County Public Library. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  67. ^ a b c "About Consolidated news. (Evansville, ind.) 1943-1956". Chronicling America. Library of Congress.
  68. ^ a b "About Inner city reporter. (Evansville, Ind.) 1981-????". Chronicling America. Library of Congress.
  69. ^ a b "Indianapolis Leader". Indianapolis Leader. Vol. 1, no. 33. 1880-03-28. p. 1. We received this week 'Our Weekly Age,' E. F. Horn's paper, formerly 'Our Age,' of Evansville. It is a neat, spicy little folio, and we hope its shadow may never grow less.
  70. ^ Buckley, Gail Lumet (2002). The Hornes: An American Family. Applause. p. 38. ISBN 9781557835642.
  71. ^ a b c Pride & Wilson 1997, p. 102.
  72. ^ "About Our times. (Evansville, IN) 19??-current". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
  73. ^ "About The weekly review. [volume] (New Albany, Ind.) 1881-188?". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
  74. ^ a b Danky 1998, p. 608.
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