List of African-American newspapers in Indiana

This is a list of African-American newspapers that have been published 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.

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 that high rate of attrition, however, new African-American newspapers continued to be established in Indiana throughout the 20th century,[2] a trend which has continued in 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]
  • Published by Joe H. Andrews. Extant issues date from 1968 and 1969.[8]
Fort Wayne Frost Illustrated 1968[9] 2017[9] Weekly[10]
Fort Wayne Ink 2001[11] 2009[12] Weekly
Fort Wayne Fort Wayne Ink Spot 2018 current Biweekly[13]
Fort Wayne The Fort Wayne Observer 1900s[14] 1900s[14] Weekly[14]
  • Attested from 1955.[14]
Gary
1927 ? Weekly,[16] later biweekly
Gary The Commonwealth 1924[17] 1934[17] Weekly[17]
Gary The Gary Crusader 1961 current Weekly[18]
Gary Gary Dispatch, later Lake County Journal 1921[20] 1924[20] Weekly[21] or irregular[20]
Gary Gary Info 1963[22] ? Weekly[23]
  • 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]
  • 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]
Marion Community Express 1980[29] 1981 (uncertain)[29] Weekly[29]
  • Published by James Carter.[30]
South Bend South Bend Forum 1923[31] 1900s[31] Weekly[31]
South Bend South Bend Herald-Times 1950s[32] 1900s[32]
South Bend South Bend Journal 1928[33] ? Weekly[33]
  • Edited by William D. LaMarr.[33]
South Bend The Reformer 1967[34] 1971 Weekly
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]
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[39] or 1888[40] 1926[41] Weekly
  • First illustrated Black newspaper in the United States[42]
Indianapolis
  • Indiana Herald (1957–)[43]
  • Hoosier Herald (1949–1957)
  • Indianapolis Herald-Tribune (1957–1960)[44]
  • Indiana Herald-Times[45]
  • Indianapolis Herald-Times[46]
 1949[37] 2010s[47] Weekly[25]
  • Operated from 1958 to 1983 by Opal L. Tandy[47]
Indianapolis Indy Word 1989[48] ?[48] 14 times a year[48]
Indianapolis Indianapolis Leader 1879 1890 Weekly
Indianapolis Indianapolis Ledger 1912[50] or 1913[25] 1921?[51] or 1925?[25] Weekly[25]
  • Described by one historian as "undoubtedly subsidized by the Klan".[52]
  • Edited by William H. Jackson.[51]
Indianapolis
  • Indianapolis Post
  • Midwestern Post[50]
 1943[53] 1947?[54] Weekly[50]
  • May have become the Hoosier Herald.[25]
  • Published by Lowell M. Trice.[54]
Indianapolis Indianapolis Recorder 1896[25] or 1897[55] current Weekly[25]
Indianapolis Indianapolis Daily Standard 1922[56]
Indianapolis Urban Times 1996 (uncertain)[57] ? Weekly[57]
  • Published by Richard Bottoms.[58]
  • Distinct from Indianapolis monthly of same name established 2005[59]
Indianapolis Indianapolis Visions 1982 (uncertain)[55] 1986[25] Weekly,[55] later monthly[25]
  • Edited by Jane Saxton. Published by Philip Saxton.[60]
Indianapolis Indianapolis Voice 1957[55] 1958 (uncertain)[55] Weekly[55]
Indianapolis Indianapolis World, originally Indianapolis Colored World 1883 (uncertain)[55] 1932[55] Weekly[55] ("generally"[25])
Indianapolis
  • Indianapolis World Telegram
  • The World Telegram
  • World-Telegram
 1929[55] or 1939[25] 1940[25] Weekly[55] or irregular[25]
  • Published by G.L. Porter.[61]
Muncie The Muncie Times 1991[62] 2011[62] Twice monthly[63] or biweekly[64]
  • Ceased publication after death of founder and publisher Bea Moten-Foster in 2011.
Richmond Richmond Blade 1918[25] 1922[25] Weekly[65] or irregular[25]
  • Motto: "Hew to the line; let the quips fall where they may."[66]
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

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]
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]
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]
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]
  • Published by Edwin Horn, who later co-founded the Indianapolis World.[71] Published through at least 1880.[69]
Evansville Our Times Newspaper 1983[18] current Biweekly[72] or semimonthly[18]
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[73] 1880s[74] Weekly[73]

See also

Works cited
  • Adams, Grace (2005). BAPWD, Black Authors & Published Writers Directory.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • 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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • 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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Schneider, Mark Robert (2002). We Return Fighting: The Civil Rights Movement in the Jazz Age. UPNE. p. 344. ISBN 9781555534905.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

References
  1. Smith, Jessie Carney (2012). Black Firsts: 4,000 Ground-Breaking and Pioneering Historical Events. Visible Ink Press. p. 409. ISBN 9781578593699.
  2. 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. Danky 1998, p. 234.
  5. Danky 1998, p. 154, 203.
  6. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 203, ¶ 2116.
  7. "About Spirit publications. (Elkhart, Ind.) 1975-19??". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  8. "About Coffee break. (Fort Wayne, Ind.) 196?-196?". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
  9. Rozier, William Bryant (2018-03-06). "Frost Giant". Fort Wayne Ink Spot. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
  10. Danky 1996, p. 243.
  11. Adams 2005, p. 185.
  12. Kolkman, Jr., Richard (2013-01-07). "Escape to Fort Wayne". Fort Wayne Reader. Vince Robinson and Terri Miller published INK newspaper (2001-2009)
  13. "About". Fort Wayne Ink Spot. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
  14. "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. Danky 1998, p. 167.
  18. Bigham 1996, p. 51.
  19. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 246, ¶ 2584.
  20. Bigham 1996, pp. 51-52.
  21. Schneider 2002, p. 344.
  22. Bigham 1996, p. 68.
  23. Bigham 1996, p. 52, 68.
  24. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 296, ¶ 3112.
  25. Bigham 1996, p. 52.
  26. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 246, ¶ 2585.
  27. "About National defender and sun. (Gary, Ind. ;) 1905-1923". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
  28. Danky 1998, p. 163.
  29. Danky 1998, p. 169.
  30. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 169, ¶ 1756.
  31. "About South Bend forum. [online resource] (South Bend, Ind.) 1923-19??". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
  32. "About South Bend herald-times. [volume] (South Bend, Ind.) 195?-19??". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  33. 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. "About The shining star. [volume] (Anderson, Ind.) 1922-19??". Chronicling America. Library of Congress.
  36. Bigham 1996, p. 58.
  37. Danky 1998, p. 45.
  38. Danky 1998, p. 83.
  39. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 241, ¶ 2522.
  40. Bigham 1996, p. 54.
  41. Bigham 1996, p. 65.
  42. Bigham 1996, p. 55.
  43. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 294, ¶ 3097.
  44. Danky 1998, p. 243.
  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. Baskin, Andrew (2015). "Tandy, Opal L.". The Kentucky African American Encyclopedia. p. 493. ISBN 9780813160665.
  48. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 295, ¶ 3110.
  49. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 294, ¶ 3098.
  50. Danky 1998, p. 294.
  51. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 294, ¶ 3099.
  52. 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.
  53. Danky 1998, p. 294-295.
  54. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 294, ¶ 3100.
  55. Danky 1998, p. 295.
  56. Gore, George William (1922). Negro Journalism: An Essay on the History and Present Conditions of the Negro Press. University Microfilms. p. 20.
  57. Danky 1998, p. 585.
  58. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 585, ¶ 6121.
  59. "About". Urban Times. 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.
  60. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 295, ¶ 3102.
  61. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 621, ¶ 6495.
  62. "Muncie Times Newspaper". Ball State Digital Media Repository. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
  63. Danky 1998, p. 379.
  64. "About The Muncie times. [volume] (Muncie, IN) 1991-current". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
  65. Danky 1998, p. 493.
  66. "About The Richmond blade. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1918-192?". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
  67. "About Consolidated news. (Evansville, ind.) 1943-1956". Chronicling America. Library of Congress.
  68. "About Inner city reporter. (Evansville, Ind.) 1981-????". Chronicling America. Library of Congress.
  69. "Indianapolis Leader". Indianapolis Leader. 1 (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. Pride & Wilson 1997, p. 102.
  72. "About Our times. (Evansville, IN) 19??-current". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
  73. Danky 1998, p. 608.
  74. "About The weekly review. [volume] (New Albany, Ind.) 1881-188?". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
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