Q. Where can I search historical African American newspapers?

Answered By: Kathryn Ray
Last Updated: Jul 30, 2024     Views: 1621

Except where noted, these databases are online subscriptions available to current AU students, faculty and staff.

Many of these are ProQuest databases.  Take a look at their Subject Guide to Searching Historical News before launching your search. Also this FAQ has tips for searching news.

This is not a complete list!

Accessible Archives Complete - Collections: African American Newspapers, African American Newspapers in the South & individual titles, e.g. The Bee This link opens in a new window

African American Newspapers (1827-1998) Covers 270 newspapers from every region of the United States, including 7 from Washington DC.

African American Newspapers: The 19th Century  Full text access to seven 19th century African American newspapers.
 

The AFRO Black History Archives: "The Vault" (No subscription required). Spans over 100 years of various editions of the AFRO newspapers.

Atlanta Daily World  The Atlanta Daily World is one of the ProQuest Historical Newspaper - Black Newspapers collection and offers primary source material essential to the study of American history and African-American culture, history, politics, and the arts. It examines major movements from the Harlem Renaissance to Civil Rights, and explores everyday life.Contains full-text and full-image articles as well as digital reproductions of every page and every article from every issue in downloadable PDF files, including news stories, editorials, letters to the editor, obituaries, birth and marriage announcements, photos, and advertisements.

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Baltimore Afro-American (ProQuest Historical Newspapers) Complete issues, from 1893 to 1988, of one of the most widely-circulated African American newspapers.
 

Chicago Defender (1910-1975) A digitized version of a leading African American newspaper, with more than two-thirds of its readership outside Chicago. This database contains the complete run of the Chicago Defender from 1910 to 1975.

Cleveland Call and Post (1934-1991) Founded by Garrett Morgan, inventor of the gas mask and traffic light. Contributors included noted journalists Charles H. Loeb and John Fuster. The newspaper is well known for its support of the Scottsboro trial defendants with letters, clothing, stamps, and donations to the defense fund

Chronicling America (website that does not require a subscription) Historical Newspaper Project of the Library of Congress.  Search news from 1789-1963 or use the U.S. Newspaper Directory to find information about American newspapers published between 1690-present

Frederick Douglass Newspapers, 1847-74 (free on the web) Library of Congress Collection

Los Angeles Sentinel (1934-2005) The oldest and largest black newspaper in the western United
States and the largest African-American owned newspaper in the U.S.
 
Louisville Defender This link opens in a new window is a weekly newspaper and has been one of the main Black newspapers in the local Louisville area. It is an excellent source for coverage on issues affecting African Americans. The newspaper played an integral role in the fight for integration in the 1960s. Coverage is for 1951-2010.
 
New York Amsterdam News (1922-1993) The leading Black newspaper of the 20th century reached its peak in the 1940s. The Amsterdam News was a strong advocate for the desegregation of the U.S. military during World War II, and also covered the historically important Harlem Renaissance.
 

Norfolk Journal & Guide (1916-2003) The only black newspaper to provide on-the-scene, day-to-day coverage of the Scottsboro trial, and was one of the best researched and well written black newspapers of its time.

Philadelphia Tribune (1912-2001) The oldest continuously published black newspaper, is dedicated to the needs and concerns of the fourth largest black community in the U.S. During the 1930s the paper supported the growth of the United Way, rallied against the riots in Chester, PA, and continuously fought against segregation.
 
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Pittsburgh Courier (1911-2002) One of the most nationally circulated Black newspapers, the Pittsburgh Courier reached its peak in the 1930s. A conservative voice in the African-American community, the Pittsburgh Courier challenged the misrepresentation of African-Americans in the national media and advocated social reforms to advance the cause of civil rights.

ProQuest News & Newspapers Emphasis on 20th century historic newspapers. Coverage includes major American newspapers and prominent publications from African American news, Jewish news, and publications covering gender issues.
 
Abolitionist Newspapers (print copies)

AU Library has many facsimile volumes of anti-slavery and African American newspapers published between 1840 and 1950.  The Folio (oversized) volumes are shelved in the WRLC offsite storage facility but may be requested through the WRLC catalog.

Here are some sample volumes:

National Era 1847 -1860

National Principia 1859-1861

National Anti-Slavery Standard 1840-1870

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