(This page's most recent update is November 2024)
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Just like newspapers of all types and sources, many of these African-American newspapers have been digitized and are available for research – some for free, some only available at a library or archive, and some via subscription. And of course, most are still in paper form or microfilm and have not been digitized, so must be searched offline. See below to find out where non-digitized publications may be found.
The sites below include newspaper publications from a variety of sources. The others are available via state-based newspaper collections; and the remainder via individual sites, including those of historically African-American colleges and universities. There are also collections only available at libraries. They are sorted by state.
Please note that I have not always entered the dates that are included in the collections, as I suspect they will change as more items are digitized. Also, I suspect that some of these links may change over time – so if there is a dead link – please use your favorite search engine to find their new location.
Free Sites:
Alabama
Arkansas
- Arkansas State Press (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959
- Arkansas Survey (Little Rock, Ark.) 1923-1935
- Arkansas Survey-Journal (Little Rock, Ark.) 1935-195?
- Arkansas Weekly Mansion (Little Rock, Ark.) 1880-1886
- Hot Springs Echo (Hot Springs, Ark.) 1???-19??
- Pine Bluff Weekly Herald (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1900-19??
- The American Guide (Little Rock, Ark.) 1889-1???
- The Arkansas Freeman (Little Rock, Ark.) 1869-18??
- The Arkansas World (Little Rock, Ark.) 1940-1957
- The Forrest City Herald (Forrest City, St. Francis County, Ark.) 1896-18??
- The Little Rock Reporter (Little Rock, Ark.) 1901-1906
- The Reminder (Stamps, Arkansas) 1913-????
- The Reporter (Helena, Ark.) 1891-1907
- Twin City Press (Little Rock, Ark.) 193?-1940
- BAD Times
- Black Americans for Democracy News
- Times – Black Americans for Democracy
- Blue Mountain – Blue Mountain Log (Company 768) (AA)
- Oden – Buck Knob Lookout (Company 768) (AA)
- Rosston – Camp Rosston News (Company 3790) (AA)
- BAD Times – Black Americans for Democracy Newspapers
Arizona
- Arizona Sun (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1942-196?
- Arizona Tribune (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1958-197?
- Phoenix Tribune (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1918-193?
- The Arizona Gleam (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1929-193?
- The Phoenix Index (Phoenix, Ariz.) 193?-19??
- 93d Blue Helmet
- Arizona Black Dispatch
- Arizona Sun
- Arizona Tribune
- Arizona’s Negro Journal
- Phoenix Tribune
- The Arizona Gleam
- The Arizona Times
- The Phoenix Index
California
- Mirror of the Times (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1857-1862
- Oakland Sunshine (Oakland, Calif.) 189?-19??
- San Francisco Vindicator (San Francisco, Cal.) 1884-1???
- The Elevator (San Francisco, Calif.) 1865-1???
- The Placer Herald (Auburn, Placer County, Calif.) 1855-1991
- The Western Outlook (San Francisco, Cal.) 1894-1928
- Elevator (San Francisco, 1865-1898)
- Pacific Appeal (San Francisco, 1862-1880)
- Black Dialog – San Francisco, CA
- Black Dialogue – San Francisco, CA
- Black Unity – Camp Pendleton, Vista, CA
- Los Angeles CA California Eagle
- San Francisco CA Elevator
- San Francisco CA Pacific Appeal
- Black Panther Party Community News Service
- California Eagle
- Liberator
- Commemorator Newspaper Collection 1991-2012
- Oakland Sunshine
- Western Outlook
- Black Voice
- Black Panther Newspaper, San Francisco
- Mirror of the Times
- San Francisco Vindicator
- The Pacific Appeal
Colorado
- Franklin’s Paper the Denver Star (Denver, Colo.) 1912-1913
- Franklin’s Paper the Statesman (Denver, Colo.) 1906-1912
- The Colorado Statesman (Denver, Colo.) 1895-1961
- The Denver Star (Denver, Colo.) 1913-1963
- The Statesman (Denver, Colo.) 1889-1906
- The Western Enterprise (Colorado Springs, Colo.) 1896-1912
- African Advocate
- The Denver Star
- The Statesman
Connecticut
- Connecticut Chronicle (Hartford, Conn.) 194?-194?
- Hartford Chronicle (Hartford, Conn.) 194?-1947
- New England Bulletin (Hartford, Conn.) 1949-19??
District of Columbia
- Daily National Era (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854
- National Savings Bank (Washington, D.C.) 1868-18?? [Online Resource]
- New Era (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1870
- New National Era (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874
- The Colored American (Washington, D.C.) 1893-19??
- The Leader (Washington, D.C.) 1889-18??
- The National Era (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860
- The National Leader (Washington, D.C.) 1888-1889
- The People’s Advocate (Alexandria, Va.; Washington, D.C) 1876-188?
- The Washington Tribune (Washington, D.C.) 1921-1946
- Washington Grit (Washington City [D.C.]) 1884-1884
- Washington – The National Era
- Washington – Washington Afro-American
- Washington – Washington Afro-American Red Star Edition
- Colored American
- New National Era
- Washington Tribune 1936-1946
Delaware
Florida
- The Florida Evangelist (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1896-1902
- The Florida Sentinel (Pensacola, Fla.) 1887-1???
- The Gazette and Land Bulletin (Waycross ; Brunswick, Ga. ; Tampa, Fla.) 1896-19??
- The Miami Times (Miami, Fla.) 1923-Current
- The Script
- Florida Sentinel Bulletin Collection
- The Script
- Florida Star
- The Florida Evangelist
- Miami Times
- The Colored Citizen
- The Florida Sentinel
- The Pensacola Courier
Georgia
- Atlanta Age (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-19??
- Columbus Chronicle (Columbus, Ga.) 1895-1900
- Savannah Weekly Echo (Savannah, Ga.) 1879-1884
- The Athens Republique (Athens, Ga.) 1919-????
- The Augusta Union (Augusta, Ga.) 1889-19??
- The Colored American (Augusta, Ga.) 1865-1866
- The Gazette and Land Bulletin (Waycross ; Brunswick, Ga. ; Tampa, Fla.) 1896-19??
- The Loyal Georgian (Augusta, Ga.) 1866-1867
- The Macon Sentinel (Macon, Ga.) 1899-19??
- The Savannah Tribune (Savannah [Ga.]; Savannah, Ga.) 1876-1960
- The Weekly Defiance (Atlanta, Ga.) 1881-1889
- The Weekly Loyal Georgian (Augusta, Ga.) 1867-1868
- Voice of Missions (Atlanta, Ga.) 1893-1900
- Athens, Ga., 1888-19?? – The Athens clipper.
- Athens, Ga., 1899-???? – The progressive era.
- Athens, Ga., 1919-???? – The Athens republique.
- Athens, Ga., 1993-current – Zebra magazine.
- Atlanta , Georgia, 1957-1980 – The Spelman spotlight.
- Atlanta , Georgia, 1980-1980 – The new Spelman spotlight.
- Atlanta, GA, 1898-1925 – The Athenaeum.
- Atlanta, GA, 1996-???? – The Maroon.
- Atlanta, Ga., 1881-1889 – The weekly defiance.
- Atlanta, Ga., 1893-1900 – Voice of missions.
- Atlanta, Ga., 1898-19?? – Atlanta age.
- Atlanta, Ga., 1963-???? – The Crusader.
- Atlanta, Georgia, 19??-1989 – The Panther.
- Atlanta, Georgia, 1924-19?? – The Campus mirror.
- Atlanta, Georgia, 1936-2001 – The Wolverine observer.
- Atlanta, Georgia, 1956-195? – Spelman reflections.
- Atlanta, Georgia, 1989-???? – Clark Atlanta University Panther.
- Atlanta, Georgia, 2008-???? – Inside Morehouse.
- Augusta, Ga., 1865-1866 – The colored American.
- Augusta, Ga., 1866-1867 – The loyal Georgian.
- Augusta, Ga., 1867-186? – The Daily loyal Georgian.
- Augusta, Ga., 1867-1868 – The weekly loyal Georgian.
- Augusta, Ga., 1889-19?? – The Augusta union.
- Augusta, Ga., 1971-1972 – The news-review.
- Augusta, Ga., 1972-1985 – The Augusta news-review.
- Augusta, Ga., 198?-current – Augusta focus.
- Carrollton, GA, 20??-current – StarNews.
- Columbus, Ga., 1895-1900 – Columbus chronicle.
- Macon, Ga., 1899-19?? – The Macon sentinel.
- Morehouse College, Atlanta, Georgia, 19??-current – The Maroon tiger.
- Nashville, Tenn., 1954-1965 – Southern school news.
- None, 1980-201? – The Spotlight.
- None, 2013-???? – The BluePrint.
- Savannah [Ga.], 1875-1876 – The Colored tribune.
- Savannah [Ga.], 1876-1960 – The Savannah tribune.
- Savannah, Ga., 1868-18?? – Freemen’s standard.
- Savannah, Ga., 1879-1884 – Savannah weekly echo.
- Waycross ;, 1896-19?? – The Gazette and land bulletin.
- Tiger’s Roar
- The Student Voice
- Loyal Georgian
- The Loyal Georgian
- The Loyal Georgian
- The Weekly Loyal Georgian
- The Weekly Loyal Georgian
Iowa
- Iowa Baptist Standard (Des Moines, Iowa) 1897-1???
- Iowa State Bystander (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916
- Luxemburger Gazette (Dubuque, Iowa) 1871-1918
- The Bystander (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922
- The Weekly Avalanche (Des Moines, Iowa) 1891-1???
Illinois
- Chicago World (Chicago, Ill.) 1918-????
- Metropolis Weekly Gazette (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??
- Metropolitan News (Chicago, Ill.) 1935-19??
- Sunday Chicago Bee (Chicago, Ill.) 1925-19??
- The Broad Ax (Salt Lake City, Utah; Chicago, Ill.) 1895-19??
- The Chicago Illinois Idea (Chicago, Ill.) 19??-19??
- The Chicago Reflector (Chicago, Ill.) 1896-1???
- The Chicago Whip (Chicago, Ill.) 1919-19??
- The Chicago World (Chicago, Ill.) 1900-19??
- The Conservator (Chicago, Ill.) 18??-1???
- The Forum (Springfield, Ill.; Springfield, Ill. ; Peoria, Ill.) 1904-192?
- The Illinois Times (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-19??
- The Robbins Eagle (Robbins, Ill.) 1951-1963
- The State Capital (Springfield, Ill.) 1886-19??
- Western Appeal (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1885-18??
- The Illinois Star 4 July 1935 – 6 November 1941 (6 issues)
- Aledo – Camp Aledo Speaks (Company 2665) (AA)
- Aledo – Keyhole (Company 2665) (AA)
- Mt. Carroll – Camp Carroll Volcano (Company 2664) (AA)
- Muhammad Speaks
- Illinois Star
- The State Capital
- The State Capital
Indiana
- The Colored Visitor (Logansport, Ind.) 1879-18??
- The Freeman (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1884-1927
- The Gary American (Gary, Ind.) 1928-Current
- The Gary Colored American (Gary, Ind.) 1927-1928
- The Indianapolis Leader (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890
- The Indianapolis World (Indianapolis, Ind.; Indianapolis, Indiana) 188?-19??
- The Recorder (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1897-1910
- The Weekly Review (New Albany, Ind.) 1881-188?
- Indianapolis – The Freeman
- Evansville Argus (Evansville, Vanderburgh County; 25 June 1938 – 22 October 1943)
- Indianapolis Leader (Indianapolis, Marion County; 30 August 1879 – 24 June 1882)
- Indianapolis Recorder (Indianapolis, Marion County; 7 January 1899 – 30 December 2005)
- Muncie Times (Muncie, Delaware County; 10 January 1991 – 25 August 2011)
- The Reformer (1967-1970)
- Brownstown – Camp Chatter Of Company 517 (Company 517) (AA)
- Corydon – Wyandotte Wa-Hoo (Company 517) (AA)
- Cynthiana – News (Company 539) (AA)
- South Bend – Ditch Dots And Dashes (Company 517)
- Indianapolis Recorder
- The colored visitor
- Muncie Times Newspaper
- The Reformer
Kansas
Kentucky
- The Bulletin (Louisville, Ky.) 18??-18??
- The Lexington Standard (Lexington, Ky.) 1892-1912
- The Ohio Falls Express (Louisville, Ky.) 1878-19??
- Covington – Lincoln=Grant Herald (Covington, Ky.)
- Frankfort – Star (The)
- Lexington – American citizen (The)
- Lexington – Lexington standard
- Louisville – Afro-American mission herald (The)
- Louisville – American Baptist
- Louisville – Bulletin (The) (Louisville, Ky.)
- Louisville – Colored democratic voice (Louisville, Ky.)
Louisiana
- Le Dimanche (Nouvelle-Orléans [i.e. New Orleans, La.]) 1861-1876
- L’union (Nouvelle-Orléans [La.]) 1862-1864
- New Orleans Daily Creole (New Orleans [La.]) 1856-18??
- New Orleans Tribune (New Orleans [La.]) 1864-187?
- Semi-Weekly Louisianian (New Orleans, La.) 1871-1872
- Southern Republican (New Orleans, La.) 1898-1907
- The Black Republican (New Orleans [La.]) 1865-186?
- The Concordia Eagle (Vidalia, La.) 1873-1890
- The Echo (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1872-1878
- The Louisianian (New Orleans, La.) 1870-1871
- The Observer (Baton Rouge, La.) 1899-1900
- The Republican Courier (New Orleans, La.) 1899-1900
- The Weekly Louisianian (New Orleans, La.) 1872-1882
- The Weekly Pelican (New Orleans, La.) 1886-1889
- New Orleans Advocate
- The Republican Courier
- Southern Republican
- The Concordia Eagle
Massachusetts
- Hartford-Springfield Chronicle (Springfield, Mass.) 1940-194?
- The Boston Advance (Boston, Mass.) 1896-1907
- The Boston Courant (Boston, Mass.) 1890-19??
- The Guardian (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960
- Colored American Magazine
Maryland
- The Afro-American (Baltimore, Md.) 1892-1899
- The American Citizen (Baltimore [Md.]) 1879-1???
- The Commonwealth (Baltimore, Md.) 1915-19??
- The Negro Appeal (Baltimore ; Annapolis, Md.) 1899-19??
- The Race Standard (Baltimore, Md.) 18??-1???
- Baltimore – The Afro American
- Baltimore – Baltimore Afro-American
- Baltimore – The Afro American Ledger
- African American Times
- Slaves and Free African Americans, Reports and opinions from the newspapers of Hagerstown, Washington County, and Cumberland, Allegany County, Maryland, 1790 to 1864
Michigan
- Detroit Tribune (Detroit, Mich.) 1933-1933
- The Detroit Informer (Detroit, Mich.) 1897-19??
- The Detroit Tribune (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966
- The Michigan Chronicle (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-Current
- The Plaindealer (Detroit, Mich.) 1883-1895
- The Tribune Independent of Michigan (Detroit, Mich.) 1933-1935
- Detroit Tribune — Detroit, Wayne County (Mich.) — 4 January 1964 – 29 January 1966
- Focus News — Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County (Mich.) — 1 April 1968 – 15 November 1982
- Focus — Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County (Mich.) — 10 June 1965 – 1 January 1968
Minnesota
- Afro-Independent (St. Paul, Minn. ; Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1???
- Minneapolis Spokesman (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000
- St. Paul Recorder (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000
- The Afro-American Advance (Minneapolis, Minn. ; St. Paul, Minn.) 1899-19??
- The Appeal (Saint Paul, Minn. ; Minneapolis, Minn. ; Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??
- The Minneapolis Observer (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1890-1???
- The Negro World (St. Paul, Minn. ; Minneapolis, Minn.) 1892-19??
- The Northwestern Bulletin (St. Paul, Minn. ; Minneapolis, Minn.) 1922-1924
- The Northwestern Bulletin-Appeal (St. Paul, Minn. ; Minneapolis, Minn.) 1924-1925
- The Saint Paul Sun (St. Paul, Minn.) 1941-1976
- The St. Paul Echo (St. Paul ; Minneapolis, Minn.) 1925-1927
- The Twin City Star (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??
- The Twin-City American (Minneapolis [Minn.] ; St. Paul [Minn.]) 1899-1899
- Twin City Observer (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1943-1976
- Western Appeal (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1885-18??
- Duluth, Minn. – The world
- Minneapolis [Minn.] – Timely digest
- Minneapolis, Minn. – Minneapolis spokesman
- Minneapolis, Minn. – The Minneapolis messenger
- Minneapolis, Minn. – The Minneapolis observer
- Minneapolis, Minn. – The Minnesota messenger
- Minneapolis, Minn. – The Twin City star
- Minneapolis, Minn. – Twin-City herald
- Minneapolis, MN – Minnesota spokesman-recorder
- Minneapolis; St. Paul – Northwestern-vine
- Minneapolis; St. Paul – The Afro-American advance
- Minneapolis; St. Paul – The National advocate
- Minneapolis; St. Paul – The protest
- Minneapolis; St. Paul – The Twin-City American
- Mpls. [i.e. Minneapolis], MN – Insight news
- St. Paul ; Minneapolis, Minn. – The St. Paul echo
- St. Paul, Minn. ; Minneapolis, Minn. – The northwestern bulletin-appeal
- St. Paul, Minn. – St. Paul recorder
- St. Paul, Minn. – Western appeal
- St. Paul; Minneapolis – Afro-independent
- St. Paul; Minneapolis – The Negro world
- St. Paul; Minneapolis – The northwestern bulletin
- St. Paul; Minneapolis – The Twin City guardian
- St. Paul; Minneapolis; Chicago, Ill. – The Appeal
- Minnesota Black Newspaper Index
Missouri
- Kansas City Observer (Kansas City, Mo.) 1896-19??
- Sedalia Weekly Conservator (Sedalia, Mo.) 1903-1909
- St. Louis Palladium (St. Louis, Mo.) 1903-19??
- The American Eagle (St. Louis, Mo.) 1894-19??
- The American Negro (Springfield, Mo.) 1890-1890
- The Kansas City Sun (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924
- The Missouri Messenger (Macon ; Kansas City, Mo.) 1894-1900
- The Palladium (St. Louis, Mo.) 18??-1903
- The Professional World (Columbia, Mo.) 1901-192?
- The Rising Son (Kansas City, Mo.) 1896-19??
- The Sedalia Times (Sedalia, Mo.) 1894-1905
- The Times-Observer (Topeka, Kan.) 1891-1892
- DeSoto – C.C.C. Call (Company 1743) (AA)
- Pine Street Torch
- St. Louis Argus
Mississippi
- Afro-American Courier (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1926-19??
- Jackson Advocate (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-Current
- The Century Voice (Yazoo City, Miss.) 194?-19??
- The Community Citizen (New Albany, Miss.) 19??-19??
- The Delta Leader (Greenville, Miss.) 1939-19??
- The Echo (Meridian, Miss.) 1942-1960
- The Free State (Brandon, Miss.) 1898-19??
- The Golden Rule (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1898-19??
- The Light (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1891-19??
- The Mississippi Enterprise (Jackson, Miss.) 1938-Current
- The Southern Advocate (Mound Bayou, Miss.) 1933-19??
- The Weekly Echo (Meridian, Miss.) 1931-1942
- The Weekly Negro World (Cary, Miss.) 189?-19??
- Voice of the People (Laurel, Miss.) 19??-19??
- The Golden Rule
- The Light
Montana
- The Colored Citizen (Helena, Mont.) 1894-1894
- The Montana Plaindealer (Helena, Mont.) 1906-1911
- The New Age (Butte, Mont.) 1902-190?
- Helena – The Montana Plaindealer
Nebraska
- Omaha Monitor (Omaha, Nebraska) 1928-????
- The Enterprise (Omaha, Neb.) 1893-1914
- The Monitor (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928
- The Omaha Guide (Omaha, Neb.) 1927-19??
- The Progress (Omaha, Neb.) 1889-19??
- The Voice (Lincoln, Nebraska) 1946-195?
- The Weekly Review (Lincoln, Nebraska) 1933-19??
New Jersey
- The Sentinel (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882
- Grafrica
- New Jersey Herald News
- New Lisbon – Camp Pack News (Company 237) (AA)
- New Lisbon – Flash (Company 235) (AA)
North Carolina
- African Expositor (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-18??
- Africo-American Presbyterian (Wilmington, N.C.) 1879-1938
- North Carolina Gazette (Raleigh, N.C.) 1885-18??
- North Carolina Republican (Raleigh, N.C.) 1879-1880
- The Banner-Enterprise (Wilmington, N.C.) 1883-18??
- The Carolina News (Forest City, N.C. ; Harris, N.C.) 1952-19??
- The Carolina Tribune (Raleigh, N.C.) 19??-1940
- The Educator (Fayetteville, N.C.) 1874-1875
- The Future Outlook (Greensboro, N.C.) 1941-1972
- The Gazette (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-1???
- The Journal of Industry (Raleigh, N.C.) 1879-1???
- The Laurinburg Post (Laurinburg, N.C.) 1895-1???
- The N.C. Republican, and Civil Rights Advocate (Weldon, N.C.) 1884-1???
- The Peoples’ Advocate (New-Berne [New Bern], N.C.) 1886-188?
- The Southern News (Asheville, N.C.) 1936-19??
- The Southland Advocate (Asheville, N.C.) 19??-????
- The True Reformer (Littleton, N.C.) 1899-19??
- African Expositor (Raleigh, N.C.)
- Africo-American Presbyterian (Wilmington, N.C.)
- Charlotte Messenger (Charlotte, N.C.)
- Fayetteville Educator (Fayetteville, N.C.)
- National Savings Bank (New Bern, N.C.)
- North Carolina Christian Advocate (Raleigh, N.C.)
- North Carolina Federation of Negro Women’s Clubs Journal
- North Carolina Gazette (Raleigh, N.C.)
- Sanford Enterprise (Sanford, N.C.)
- The AC Phoenix News (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
- The Banner-Enterprise (Wilmington, N.C.)
- The Carolina News (Forest City, N.C.)
- The Carolina Times (Durham, N.C.)
- The Carolinian (Raleigh, N.C.)
- The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
- The Chowan Pilot (Winton, N.C.)
- The Colored Industrial (Lincolnton, N.C.)
- The Daily Record (Wilmington, N.C.)
- The Educator (Fayetteville, N.C.)
- The Future Outlook (Greensboro, N.C.)
- The Goldsboro Star (Goldsboro, N.C.)
- The Journal of Industry (Raleigh, N.C.)
- The Laurinburg Post (Laurinburg, N.C.)
- The Maxton Blade (Maxton, N.C.)
- The Metrolinian (Charlotte, N.C.)
- The N.C. Republican, and Civil Rights Advocate (Weldon, N.C.)
- The Peoples’ Advocate (New Bern, N.C.)
- The Queen City Gazette (Charlotte, N.C.)
- The Raleigh Independent (Raleigh, N.C.)
- The Souler (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
- The Southland Advocate (Asheville, N.C.)
- The Star of Zion (Charlotte, N.C.)
- The Tribunal Aid (High Point, N.C.)
- The True Reformer (Littleton, N.C.)
- The Weekly Journal (Charlotte, N.C.)
- The Wilmington Herald [1894] (Wilmington, N.C.)
- The Wilson Blade (Wilson, N.C.)
- Waters Institute Journal (Winton, N.C.)
- Wilmington Journal [1945-1994] (Wilmington, N.C.)
- Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
- Bennett College Student Newspaper
- Black Ink (Black Student Movement, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
- Carver High School Student Newspaper
- Dillard High School Student Newspaper
- DuBois High School Student Newspaper
- Dudley High School Student Newspaper
- Elizabeth City State University Student Newspaper
- Fayetteville State University Student Newspaper
- Hillside High School Student Newspaper (Durham, N.C.)
- J. T. Barber High School Student Newspaper
- Johnson C. Smith University Student Newspaper
- Lincoln High School Student Newspaper (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
- Mary Potter School Student Newspaper
- Mecklenburg College Student Newspaper
- North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Student Newspaper
- North Carolina Central University Student Newspaper
- Orange Street Graded School Student Newspaper
- Penn-Griffin School for the Arts Student Newspaper (High Point, N.C.)
- Person County High School Student Newspaper
- Saint Augustine’s University Student Newspaper
- Winston-Salem State University Student Newspaper
New York
- Black Republican and Office-Holder’s Journal (New York, N.Y.) 18??-18?? [1]
- Frederick Douglass’ Paper (Rochester, N.Y.) 1851-18?? [230]
- The Freeman (New York [N.Y.]) 1884 to 1884 [3]
- The New York Freeman (New York [N.Y.]) 1884 to 1887 [146]
- The Northern Star and Freemen’s Advocate (Albany, N.Y.) 1842-18?? [11]
- The Weekly Anglo-African (New York [N.Y.]) 1859 to 1861 [52]
- New York City – The New York Age
- Frederick Douglass Paper
- Black Spectrum
- Communique
- Harlem youth speaks
- Transition
- Frederick Douglass’ Paper
- Masonville – 299Th Broadcast (Company 299)
- Panama – Big Apple Gazette (Company 246) (AA)
- Wawayanda – Beacon (Company 247) (AA)
- Wawayanda – Breeze Hill Top (Company 246) (AA)
- Wawayanda – Breeze Hill (Company 246) (AA)
- Freedomways – New York
- Black Panther Party Newspaper
- Black Panther Newspaper , 1974
- Colored American 1837-1841
- Colored American Magazine
- Colored World 1921-1930
- Freedom’s Journal
- Freeman 1884
- Negro World 1921-1930
- The Negro World
- Weekly Anglo-African
- Weekly Anglo-African 1859-1860
- Frederick Douglass’ Paper
- Frederick Douglass’ Paper
- Friend of Man
Ohio
- Columbus Standard (Columbus, Ohio) 1898-1901
- Ohio Standard and Observer (Xenia, Ohio ; Wilberforce, Ohio) 1897-19??
- The Aliened American (Cleveland, Ohio) 1853-18??
- The Cleveland Gazette (Cleveland, Ohio) 1883-1892
- The Colored Citizen (Cincinnati, O. Ohio]) 1863-18??
- The Daily Bulletin (Dayton, Ohio) 1942-1946
- The Daily Express (Dayton, Ohio) 1950-1955
- The Dayton Forum (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949
- The Free American (Columbus, Ohio) 1887-18??
- The Gazette (Cleveland, Ohio) 1892-194?
- The Ohio Daily-Express (Dayton, Ohio) 1946-1950
- The Plaindealer (Detroit, Mich.) 1883-1895
- Akron – Reporter – 1969-1999, 2003-2018
- Columbus – Ohio State Monitor – 1919-1920
- Columbus – Ohio State News – 1944-1952
- Dayton – Daily Bulletin – 1944-1946
- Dayton – Daily Express – 1950-1952
- Dayton – Dayton Forum – 1918-1919,
- Dayton – Ohio Daily-Express – 1947-1950
- Springfield – Springfield Post – 1956
- East Side Daily News
- The Advocate
- The Afro-American
- The Colored Citizen
- The Forum
- The Gazette
- The Informer
- The Journal
- The Ohio State Monitor
- The Palladium of Liberty
- The Union
- The Tattler
- Columbus African American Collection
Oklahoma
- The Guide (Oklahoma City, Okla. Territory) 1897-1903
- The Langston City Herald (Langston City, O.T. [Okla.]) 1891-1902
- The Muskogee Cimeter (Muskogee, Indian Territory, Okla.) 1901-19??
- The Tulsa Star (Tulsa, Okla.) 1913-1921
- The Black Dispatch
Oregon
Pennsylvania
- Odd Fellows’ Journal (Philadelphia, Pa.) 1897-19??
- The Christian Banner (Philadelphia, Pa.) 1888-19??
- The Ebensburg Alleghanian (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871
- The State Journal (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1883-1885
- The Colonization Herald and General Register Newspaper
- Lincoln News
- Lincolnian
- Mount Union – Camp S-56 Bulletin (Company 314) (AA)
- Wilcox – Straight Camp Herald (Company 316) (AA)
- Christian Recorder 1861-1865, 1899-1901
- Christian recorder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church
- The Colonization herald and general register
South Carolina
- The Afro-American Citizen (Charleston, S.C.) 1899-1902
- The Charleston Advocate (Charleston, S.C.) 1867-1868
- The Free Citizen (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1874-1876
- The Free Press (Charleston, S.C.) 1868-186?
- The Georgetown Planet (Georgetown, S.C.) 1873-1875
- Missionary Record (Charleston, S.C.) 1868-1879
- The People’s Recorder (Columbia, S.C.) 1893-1925
- The Rock Hill Messenger (Rock Hill, S.C.) 1896-1921
- South Carolina Leader (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-18??
- The Southern Indicator (Columbia, S.C.) 1903-1925
- The Southern News (Asheville, N.C.) 1936-19??
- Charleston, S.C., 1865-18?? – South Carolina leader.
- Charleston, S.C., 1867-1868 – The Charleston advocate.
- Charleston, S.C., 1868-186? – The free press.
- Charleston, S.C., 1868-1879 – Missionary record.
- Charleston, S.C., 1899-1902 – The Afro-American citizen.
- Charleston, S.C., 1941-1954 – Lighthouse and informer.
- Columbia, S.C., 1925-196? – The palmetto leader.
- South Carolina Leader
- South Carolina Leader
- The Free Press
- The Free Press
- The Peoples Recorder
Tennessee
- Justice (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1887-18??
- Maryville Republican (Maryville, Tenn.) 1867-187?
- Maryville Republican (Maryville, Tenn.) 187?-1877
- Negro World (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1888-1???
- The Colored Tennessean (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866
- The Jackson Headlight (Jackson, Tenn.) 1900-19??
- The Knoxville Negro World (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1887-1888
- The Nashville Globe (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?
- The Republican (Maryville, Tenn.) 187?-187?
- The Tennessean (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1867
- The Tennessee Star (Nashville, Tenn.) 1886-18??
- The Weekly Negro World (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1887-1887
- The Jackson Headlight
- Southern Worker
- The Colored Tennessean
- The Colored Tennessean
- The Tennessean
- The Tennessean
Texas
- Oil City Afro-American (Corsicana, Tex.) 1898-19??
- The Dallas Express (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970
- The Free Man’s Press (Austin, Tex.) 1868-1868
- The Freedman’s Press (Austin, Tex.) 1868-1868
- The Freeman’s Journal (Galveston, Tex) 1887-1891
- The Independent (Houston, Tex.) 1898-19??
- The Item (Dallas, Tex.) 1891-1900
- The Torchlight Appeal (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1886-18??
- African-American Related Articles in the Tyler Morning Telegraph, 1930-1941
Utah
Virginia
- Richmond Planet (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938
- The Leader (Washington, D.C.) 1889-18??
- The Midland Express (Boydton, Va.) 1891-189?
- The National Pilot (Petersburg, Va.) 1886-19??
- The People’s Advocate (Alexandria, Va.; Washington, D.C) 1876-188?
- The Reformer (Richmond, Va.) 1895-19??
- The Southern News (Richmond, Va.) 1892-1???
- The Tribune (Roanoke, Va.) 1951-19??
- The Virginia Star (Richmond, Va.) 1877-18??
- Richmond – Richmond Afro American
- Afro-American Churchman (Petersburg, VA, 1886-1890)
- Beacon (Norfolk, VA, 1955)
- Campus Informer (Richmond, VA, 1982-1985)
- Campus Review (Ettrick, VA, 1929)
- Charles City Times (Charles City, VA, 1966-1967)
- Church News (Roanoke, VA, 1934)
- Circuit (Catlett, VA, 1940-1946)
- Clarion (Ettrick, VA, 1914)
- Crater Scroll (Ettrick, VA, 1924-1925)
- EMQ (Dunnsville, VA, 1937-1940)
- Lancet (Petersburg, VA, 1882-1886)
- McDowell Times (Keystone, W. Va., 1936-1941)
- Middlesex Review (Stormont, VA, 1945-1947)
- Mirror (Syringa, VA, 1934)
- Newport News Star (Newport News, VA, 1925-1938)
- Panther (Richmond, VA, 1933-1972)
- Panther (Richmond, VA, 1990)
- People’s Advocate (Alexandria, VA, 1876-1886)
- People’s Journal (Berryville, VA, 1899-1927)
- Rappahannock Central Gazette (Locust Hill, VA, 1963-1964)
- Reformer (Richmond, VA, 1897)
- Richmond Planet (Richmond, VA, 1889-1930)
- Southern Workman (Hampton, VA, 1872-1939)
- Spartan Echo (Norfolk, VA, 1953-2008)
- Star (Newport News, VA, 1918-1921)
- Staunton Reporter (Staunton, VA, 1916)
- Staunton Tribune (Staunton, VA, 1894)
- Staunton Tribune (Staunton, VA, 1927-1931)
- Tribune (Roanoke, VA, 1951-1957)
- Trojan Echo (Norfolk, VA, 1950-1952)
- True Southerner (Hampton, VA, 1865-1866)
- University Herald (Richmond, VA, 1987)
- Virginia Statesman (Ettrick, VA, 1929-2008)
- Virginia Union Bulletin (Richmond, VA, 1941-1980)
- Heritage Discovered
- Williamsburg – Company 247 News (Company 247) (AA)
- Williamsburg – Jamestown Dragon (Company 247) (AA)
- Yorktown – Sentinel And Review (Company 323) (AA)
- Yorktown – Ye Olde York Times (Company 323) (AA)
- Hampton VA Southern Workman
- Reflector
- The Southern Workman
Washington
- Cayton’s Monthly (Seattle, Wash.) 1921-1921
- Cayton’s Weekly (Seattle, Wash.) 1916-1921
- The Daily Republican (Seattle, Wash.) 18??-189?
- The Enterprise (Seattle, Wash.) 192?-1930
- The Northwest Enterprise (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952
- The Republican (Seattle, Wash.) 1894-1???
- The Seattle Enterprise (Seattle, Wash.) 1920-192?
- The Seattle Republican (Seattle, Wash.) 1???-1915
- The World (Seattle, Wash.) 1898-19??
- The Black Lens (Spokane, Spokane County, WA — 1 January 2015 – 1 January 2022)
West Virginia
- La Sentinella Del West Virginia (Thomas, W. Va.) 1905-1913
- Pioneer Press (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1882-19??
- The Advocate (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913
- The McDowell Times (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941
Wisconsin
- The Northwestern Recorder (Milwaukee, Wis.) 1892-1893
- The Wisconsin Weekly Advocate (Milwaukee, Wis.) 1898-19??
- The Wisconsin Weekly Blade (Madison, Wis.) 1916-1925
- Wisconsin Afro-American (Milwaukee, Wis.) 1892-1892
- Wisconsin Labor Advocate
Subscription and Free Library Sites:
If you have access to a library that has a ProQuest or ReadEx (or any other online newspaper site) subscription, then there may be additional historic newspapers available to you for free. Below is a list of some of those, as well as a summary of newspaper collection websites that require a paid subscription.
ProQuest – There are 11 publications in the collection (per their website): Atlanta Daily World, Baltimore Afro-American, Chicago Defender, Cleveland Call and Post, Los Angeles Sentinel, Louisville Defender, Michigan Chronicle, New York Amsterdam News, Norfolk Journal and Guide, Philadelphia Tribune, and Pittsburgh Courier.
Ancestry.com – According to their website there are over 200 African-American newspapers in their collection.
Newspapers,com – there is no breakdown on their website (that I could find) that divides their collection by topic as opposed to location. But I did check and some of the titles of African-American newspapers are indeed in their collection.
Genealogy Bank – Over 270 newspapers are available through this subscription site. Here is a link to their African American Collection.
Newspaper Archive – There is no breakdown (that I could find) of all of their titles that provide information as to what number of African-American newspapers exist in their collection.
Readex – Their website states that they have 350 publications covering over 35 states.
Paper and Microfilm Collections:
If you want to know where non-digitized collections of African-American newspapers may be held, either in paper or in microfilm, follow these instructions:
- Go to the Chronicling America Newspaper Directory.
- Under “Ethnicity” in the lower left-hand corner of “More Search Options” select “African American”; then press “Search” in the lower right-hand corner of the screen. Up will come the list of over 2,000 titles.
- To find where the titles are held – select a title; the next screen will display information about the publication; then select the “View complete holdings information” link at the very bottom and the locations of all the institutions that have that publication will be displayed for you.
If you wish more information about newspaper research for genealogy, including access to tutorials and dozens of articles about becoming a proficient researcher as well as lists of links to thousands of other free U.S. online newspaper titles, please visit the Newspapers page on this website.
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!
3 replies on “Historical African American Newspapers Online”
I am searching for an article about MLK visiting North Philadelphia in mid August 1965. The publication is called Philadelphia Afro American. The date of the article is August 14, 1965. The article says he was joined by George Wood and Cecil Moore, NAACP president.
We have digitized and made the following publically available online:
Voice of the Fugitive: Jan. 1, 1851 to Dec. 16, 1852: http://ink.ourdigitalworld.org/vf
Provincial Freeman: Mar. 24, 1853 to Jan. 3, 1876: http://ink.ourdigitalworld.org/pf
Ebony, MLK was there in early August 1965 and I found a few articles in other papers about his visit. Maybe because it was a weekly paper, the Philadelphia Afro-American didn’t publish its article until mid-August. I don’t see where it’s been digitized but this link will show you what libraries have it. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045816/holdings/
Perhaps you could request microfilm through interlibrary loan?
Good luck!