
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.
(Updated March 2023; recently added links are in BOLD)
Free Sites:
Alabama
Arizona
- 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
Arkansas
- BAD Times
- BAD Times – Black Americans for Democracy Newspapers
- Black Americans for Democracy News
- Times – Black Americans for Democracy
- Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Newspapers 1933-1942 – Blue Mountain – Blue Mountain Log (Company 768) (AA)
- Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Newspapers 1933-1942 – Oden – Buck Knob Lookout (Company 768) (AA)
- Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Newspapers 1933-1942 – Rosston – Camp Rosston News (Company 3790) (AA)
California
- Elevator (San Francisco, 1865-1898)
- Pacific Appeal (San Francisco, 1862-1880)
- Black Dialog – San Francisco, CA; – African American Press
- Black Unity – Camp Pendleton, Vista, CA – GI Underground
- Los Angeles CA California Eagle
- Los Angeles – Liberator
- San Francisco CA Elevator
- San Francisco CA Pacific Appeal
- Black Voice
- Black Panther Party Community News Service
- Mirror of the Times
- Oakland Sunshine
- The Western Outlook (1894-1928), San Francisco, CA
- Black Panther Newspaper, San Francisco
- San Francisco Vindicator
- The Pacific Appeal
- The California Eagle (1879-1966), Los Angeles, CA
Colorado
- Denver, Colo., 18??-1906 – The statesman.
- Denver, Colo., 1906-1912 – Franklin’s paper the statesman.
- Denver, Colo., 1912-1913 – Franklin’s paper the Denver star.
- Denver, Colo., 1913-1963 – The Denver star.
- The Statesman, Denver 1905-1912
- The Denver Star, Denver 1912-1918
Delaware
- Wilmington, Del., 1899-19?? – The advance.
District of Columbia
- Washington [D.C.], 1847-1860 – The national era.
- Washington, D.C., 1854-1854 – Daily national era.
- Washington, D.C., 1868-18?? – National savings bank. [online resource]
- Washington, D.C., 1870-1870 – New era.
- Washington, D.C., 1870-1874 – New national era.
- Washington, D.C., 1882-1884 – The bee.
- Washington, D.C., 1884-1922 – The Washington bee. volume
- Washington, D.C., 1893-19?? – The colored American.
- Washington, D.C., 1910-19?? – The national forum.
- Washington – The National Era
- Washington – Washington Afro-American Red Star Edition
- Washington – Washington Afro-American
- Black News Digest
- Colored American
- New National Era
- Washington – Washington Tribune 1936-1946
Florida
- Titusville, Fla., 1880-1917 The Florida star.
- Florida sentinel (Tallahassee, Fla.) (309 issues)
- Florida star (Jacksonville, FL) (1466 items)
- Florida star (Titusville, FL) (734 issues)
- Jacksonville free press (636 issues)
- Miami times (1409 issues)
- Florida Star
- The Colored Citizen
- The Florida Sentinel
- The Pensacola Courier
- Florida Sentinel Bulletin
- The Script
- Florida Sentinel Bulletin Collection
- Jacksonville – The Florida Evangelist
- St. Petersburg – The Weekly Challenger
- The Script
Georgia
- Augusta, Ga., 1865-1866 – The colored American. [volume]
- 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, 1996-???? – The Maroon.
- Atlanta, Ga., 1881-1889 – The weekly defiance.
- Atlanta, Ga., 1893-1900 – Voice of missions.
- Atlanta, Ga., 1963-???? – The Crusader.
- Atlanta, Ga., 1980-201? – The Spotlight.
- Atlanta, Ga., 2013-???? – The BluePrint.
- 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., 1867-186? – The Daily loyal Georgian.
- Augusta, Ga., 1867-1868 – The weekly loyal Georgian.
- Augusta, Ga., 1971-1972 – The news-review.
- Augusta, Ga., 1972-1985 – The Augusta news-review.
- 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.
- 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
Idaho
- Blackfoot, Idaho, 1887-1891 – Idaho news.
- Blackfoot, Idaho, 1891-1902 – Blackfoot news.
- Blackfoot, Idaho, 1904-1932 – The Idaho Republican.
- Blackfoot, Idaho, 1907-1918 – The Blackfoot optimist.
- Blackfoot, Idaho, 1918-1930 – The Bingham County news.
Illinois
- The Illinois Star (1???-????), Galesburg, IL: 1935, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941
- Saint Paul, Minn. ;, 1889-19?? – The Appeal.
- Saint Paul, Minn., 1885-18?? – Western appeal.
- Salt Lake City, Utah, 1895-19?? – The broad ax.
- Illinois Star
- The State Capital, Springfield
- The State Capital
- The Illinois Star (1935-1941)
- Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Newspapers 1933-1942 – Aledo – Camp Aledo Speaks (Company 2665) (AA)
- Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Newspapers 1933-1942 – Aledo – Keyhole (Company 2665) (AA)
- Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Newspapers 1933-1942 – Mt. Carroll – Camp Carroll Volcano (Company 2664) (AA)
- Chicago – Muhammad Speaks
Indiana
- Indianapolis, Ind., 1879-1890 – The Indianapolis leader.
- Logansport, Ind., 1879-18?? – The colored visitor. [volume]
- 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 2011)
- Indianapolis Recorder
- Muncie Times (Muncie, Delaware County; 10 January 1991 – 25 August 2011)
- Muncie Times Newspaper
- The colored visitor
- The Reformer
- St. Joseph County Public Library Newspapers – South Bend Herald
- Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Newspapers 1933-1942 – Brownstown – Camp Chatter Of Company 517 (Company 517) (AA)
- Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Newspapers 1933-1942 – Corydon – Wyandotte Wa-Hoo (Company 517) (AA)
- Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Newspapers 1933-1942 – Cynthiana – News (Company 539) (AA)
- Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Newspapers 1933-1942 – South Bend – Ditch Dots And Dashes (Company 517) (AA)
Iowa
- Des Moines, Iowa, 1894-1916 – Iowa state bystander.
- Des Moines, Iowa, 1916-1922 – The bystander.
Kansas
- Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Newspapers 1933-1942 – Lone Star – Lone Star Gazer (Company 767) (AA)
Kentucky
- Lexington The Lexington standard 1892-1912
- Louisville American Baptist 1879-19??
- Owensboro Kentucky reporter 1???-19??
- Kentucky reporter (Owensboro, Ky.) (4)
- Reporter (28)
- True American (Lexington, Ky. : 1845) (268)
- Afro-American Mission Herald (4)
- Lexington standard (1)
- Lexington KY True American
- Louisville Leader
- Lincoln Institute Leader
- Louisville – Afro-American mission herald (The)
Louisiana
- New Orleans, La., 1870-1871 – The Louisianian.
- New Orleans, La., 1871-1872 – Semi-weekly Louisianian.
- New Orleans, La., 1872-1882 – The weekly Louisianian. [volume]
- Vidalia, La., 1873-1890 – The Concordia eagle.
- Vidalia – The Concordia Eagle
- The Republican Courier
- Southern Republican
- New Orleans Advocate
Maryland
- Baltimore – The Afro American
- Baltimore – Baltimore Afro-American
- Baltimore – The Afro American Ledger
- African American Times
- Slaves and Free African Americans, Reports from newspapers
Massachusetts
Michigan
- Detroit, Mich., 1933-1933 – Detroit tribune.
- Detroit, Mich., 1933-1935 – The Tribune independent of Michigan.
- Detroit, Mich., 1935-1966 – The Detroit tribune.
- Detroit Tribune — Detroit, Wayne County (Mich.) — 4 January 1964 – 29 January 1966
- Detroit Tribune
- Detroit Tribune (post 1963)
- The Detroit Tribune (1935-1963)
Minnesota
- Saint Paul, Minn. ;, 1889-19?? – The Appeal.
- Saint Paul, Minn., 1885-18?? – Western appeal.
- Duluth, Minn. – The world (1896-04-25 – 1897-11-20)
- Minneapolis, Minn. – The Minneapolis messenger (5/7/1921 – 4/1/1922)
- Minneapolis, Minn. – The Minneapolis observer (1890-08-16 – 1890-09-27)
- Minneapolis, Minn. – The Minnesota messenger (4/8/1922 – 2/9/1924)
- Minneapolis, Minn. – The Twin City star (6/2/1910 – 1/25/1919)
- Minneapolis, MN – Minnesota spokesman-recorder (1/7/2016 – 12/31/2020)
- Minneapolis; St. Paul – Northwestern-vine (10/4/1902 – 10/10/1903)
- Minneapolis; St. Paul – The Afro-American advance (1899-05-27 – 11/17/1900)
- Minneapolis; St. Paul – The National advocate (7/27/1917 – 8/22/1924)
- Minneapolis; St. Paul – The protest (1892-08-13 – 1892-10-08)
- Minneapolis; St. Paul – The Twin-City American (1899-05-04 – 1899-05-18)
- Mpls. [i.e. Minneapolis], MN – Insight news (1/4/2016 – 12/11/2017)
- St. Paul, Minn. – Western appeal (1885-06-13 – 1888-12-29)
- St. Paul; Minneapolis – Afro-independent (1888-09-22 – 1888-09-22)
- St. Paul; Minneapolis – The Negro world (1892-07-23 – 6/9/1900)
- St. Paul; Minneapolis – The northwestern bulletin (3/11/1922 – 12/30/1922)
- St. Paul; Minneapolis – The Twin City guardian (6/14/1919 – 1/17/1920)
- St. Paul; Minneapolis; Chicago, Ill. – The Appeal (1889-02-23 – 11/24/1923)
- Minnesota Black Newspaper Index
Mississippi
Missouri
- Columbia, Mo., 1901-192? The professional world.
- Kansas City, Mo., 1896-19?? The Rising son.
- Kansas City, Mo., 1908-1924 The Kansas City sun.
- Sedalia, Mo., 1903-1909 Sedalia weekly conservator.
- Boone – Columbia Professional World (1901-1903)
- Cole – Lincoln University Clarion (1940-1975)
- Lincoln University Clarion (1935-1975)
- Jackson – Kansas City Rising Son (1903-1907)
- Jackson – Kansas City Sun (1914-1920)
- Pettis – Sedalia Weekly Conservator (1903-1908)
- Lincoln University Clarion, 1935-1975
- Sedalia Weekly Conservator
- St. Louis Palladium
- Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Newspapers 1933-1942 – DeSoto – C.C.C. Call (Company 1743) (AA)
- St. Louis Argus
- Pine Street Torch
Montana
- The Colored Citizen (1894), Helena, MT: 1894
- The Montana Plaindealer (1906-1911), Helena, MT: 1906-1911
- The New Age (1902-1903), Butte, MT: 1902-1903
- Helena – The Montana Plaindealer
New Jersey
- Advance
- After Hours Magazine
- Black Mirror News
- Herald Advance
- New Jersey Herald News
- Newark Herald
- Trend Magazine (1957-1959)
- Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Newspapers 1933-1942 – New Lisbon – Camp Pack News (Company 237) (AA)
- Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Newspapers 1933-1942 – New Lisbon – Flash (Company 235) (AA)
New York
- New York, N.Y., 18??-18?? – Black Republican and office-holder’s journal. [volume]
- Freedom’s Journal (1827-1829), New York, NY: 1827-1829
- New York City – The New York Age
- Manhattan – New York NY Age (1906-1953 )
- Manhattan – New York NY Amsterdam News (1963-1988)
- Manhattan – New York NY Weekly Anglo African (1859-1864 )
- Buffalo, N.Y., 1925-1973 – The Buffalo Criterion.
- Buffalo, N.Y., 1978-current – The Buffalo Criterion.
- Black Spectrum
- Communique
- Freedomways
- Harlem youth speaks
- Transition
- Frederick Douglass’ Paper
- Colored American Magazine
- The Negro World
- Weekly Anglo-African
- Frederick Douglass’ Paper
- Frederick Douglass’ Paper
- Friend of Man
- Black Panther Party Newspaper
- Black Panther Newspaper , 1974
- Colored American 1837-1841
- Colored World 1921-1930
- Freeman 1884
- Negro World 1921-1930
- Weekly Anglo-African 1859-1860
- Commentator (Corning, NY, 1937-1940)
- Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Newspapers 1933-1942 – Panama – Big Apple Gazette (Company 246) (AA)
- Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Newspapers 1933-1942 – Wawayanda – Beacon (Company 247) (AA)
- Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Newspapers 1933-1942 – Wawayanda – Breeze Hill (Company 246) (AA)
- Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Newspapers 1933-1942 – Wawayanda – Breeze Hill Top (Company 246) (AA)
North Carolina
- Raleigh, N.C., 18??-1??? – The gazette.
- Raleigh, N.C., 1879-1??? – The journal of industry. [volume]
- Raleigh, N.C., 1879-1880 – North Carolina Republican. [volume]
- Raleigh, N.C., 1885-18?? – North Carolina gazette.
- Wilmington, N.C., 1883-18?? – The Banner-enterprise. [volume]
- Africo-American Presbyterian (Wilmington, N.C.)
- Fayetteville Educator (Fayetteville, N.C.)
- The Carolina News (Forest City, N.C.)
- The Carolina Times (Durham, N.C.)
- The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
- The Daily Record (Wilmington, N.C.)
- The Future Outlook (Greensboro, N.C.)
- The Harris Herald (Harris, 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
- The Educator (Fayetteville, N.C.)
- The Souler (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
- The Star of Zion (Charlotte, N.C.)
- The Tribunal Aid (High Point, N.C.)
- The True Reformer (Littleton, N.C.)
- The Wilson Blade (Wilson, 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)
- Elizabeth City State University Student Newspaper
- Fayetteville State University Student Newspaper
- J. T. Barber High School Student Newspaper
- North Carolina Central University Student Newspaper
- Saint Augustine’s University Student Newspaper
- Winston-Salem State University Student Newspaper
- The Carolina Times (1927-present), Durham, NC: 1937-1943, 1949-1950, 1952-1982
- The News Argus, Winston-Salem State University Student Newspaper (1???-present), Winston-Salem, NC: 1962-present
- The Tribunal Aid (1973-1976), High Point, NC: 1973-1976
- Wilmington, N.C., 1879-1938 – Africo-American Presbyterian. [volume]
- Penn-Griffin School for the Arts Student Newspaper (High Point, N.C.)
- Person County High School Student Newspaper
Ohio
- The Advocate (1914-1924), Cleveland, OH: 1915-1920
- The Afro-American (1882-?), Cincinnati, OH: 1885
- Akron – Reporter – 1969-1999, 2003-2018
- The Colored Citizen (1863-1869), Cincinnati, OH: 1866
- Cincinnati, O. [Ohio], 1863-18?? – The colored citizen. [volume]
- The Forum (1913-1949?), Dayton, OH: 1918-1919
- The Gazette (1883-1945?), Cleveland, OH: 1883-1904
- The Informer (1897-1924, 1925-????), Urbana and Springfield, OH: 1902-1920
- The Journal (1903-1913?), Cleveland, OH: 1903-1910
- The Ohio State Monitor (1918-1922?), Columbus, OH: 1918-1920
- The Palladium of Liberty (1843-1844), Columbus, OH: 1843-1844
- The Tattler (1890-1891), Dayton, OH: 1890
- The Union (1907-1952), Cincinnati, OH: 1918-1923
- The Reporter, Akron
- Ohio State News, Columbus
- Ohio State Monitor, Columbus
- Dayton, Ohio, 1950-1955 – The Daily express.
- Dayton – Daily Express – 1950-1952
- Dayton – Ohio Daily-Express – 1947-1950
Oklahoma
- The Black Dispatch (1914?-????), Oklahoma City, OK: 1917-1922
- The Oklahoma Guide (1892-1922), Guthrie, OK: 1904-1922
- The Peoples Elevator (1922-194?), Guthrie, OK: 1922
- Langston City, O.T. [Okla.], 1891-1902 – The Langston City herald.
- Muskogee, Indian Territory, Okla., 1901-19?? – The Muskogee cimeter.
- Tulsa, Okla., 1913-1921 – The Tulsa star.
- The Western World
- The Black Dispatch
Oregon
Pennsylvania
- The Colonization Herald and General Register (1839-1849), Philadelphia, PA: 1839
- The Colonization Herald and General Register Newspaper
- Lincoln News
- Lincolnian
- Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Newspapers 1933-1942 – Mount Union – Camp S-56 Bulletin (Company 314) (AA)
- Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Newspapers 1933-1942 – Wilcox – Straight Camp Herald (Company 316) (AA)
- Philadelphia – Christian Recorder 1861-1865, 1899-1901
South Carolina
- 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.
- Columbia, S.C., 1893-1925 – The people’s recorder.
- Columbia, S.C., 1903-1925 – The Southern indicator.
- Georgetown, S.C., 1873-1875 – The Georgetown planet.
- Orangeburg, S.C., 1874-1876 – The free citizen.
- Rock Hill, S.C., 1896-1921 – The Rock Hill messenger.
- 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.
- Charleston – South Carolina Leader
- South Carolina Leader
- The Free Press
- The Peoples Recorder
Tennessee
- Knoxville, Tenn., 1888-1??? – Negro world.
- Maryville, Tenn., 1867-187? – Maryville Republican.
- Maryville, Tenn., 187?-187? – The Republican.
- Maryville, Tenn., 187?-1877 – Maryville Republican.
- Nashville, Tenn., 1865-1866 – The colored Tennessean.
- Nashville, Tenn., 1906-193? – The Nashville globe.
- Southern Worker
- The Colored Tennessean, Nashville
- The Colored Tennessean
- Jackson – The Jackson Headlight
- Nashville – The Tennessean
- The Tennessean
Texas
- Corsicana, Tex., 1898-19?? – Oil city Afro-American.
- Dallas The Dallas express.
- Africo-American Presbyterian (1)
- African-American News & Issues (1)
- The Afro-American Citizen (1)
- The Community Bulletin (43)
- The Dallas Express (282)
- The Free Man’s Press (7)
- The Freedman’s Press (1)
- The Freeman’s Journal (1)
- The Houston Informer (100)
- The Independent (74)
- The Item (1)
- The Jackson Headlight (1)
- The Reporter (2)
- Paul Quinn Weekly (1)
- The Representative (24)
- San Antonio Register (2,448)
- Taborian Banner (3)
- The Torchlight Appeal (3)
- The Weekly Anglo-African (52)
- The Western Star (42)
- African-American Related Articles in the Tyler Morning Telegraph, 1930-1941
Utah
Virginia
- Richmond, Va., 1883-1938 – Richmond planet.
- Hampton – The True Southerner
- Richmond – Richmond Afro American
- Afro-American Churchman (Petersburg, VA, 1886-1890)
- Charles City Times (Charles City, VA, 1966)
- Church News (Roanoke, VA, 1934)
- Circuit (Catlett, VA, 1940-1946)
- Lancet (Petersburg, VA, 1882-1886)
- McDowell Times (Keystone, W. Va., 1936-1941)
- Newport News Star (Newport News, VA, 1925-1938)
- People’s Advocate (Alexandria, VA, 1876-1886)
- People’s Journal (Berryville, VA, 1899-1927)
- Reformer (Richmond, VA, 1897)
- Richmond Planet (Richmond, VA, 1889-1930)
- Southern Workman (Hampton, VA, 1872-1939)
- 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)
- True Southerner (Hampton, VA, 1865-1866)
- 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 1872-1886
- Reflector
- The Southern Workman
Washington
- Port Townsend, W.T. [Wash.], 1876-1882 Puget Sound weekly Argus. [volume]
- Port Townsend, W.T. [Wash.], 1882-1883 Puget Sound Argus. [volume]
- Washington – Cayton’s Monthly (1921?), Seattle, WA: 1921
- Washington – Cayton’s Weekly (1916-1921), Seattle, WA: 1917-1921
- Washington – The Daily Republican (1896), Seattle, WA: 1896
- Washington – The Republican (189?-1???), Seattle, WA: 1896-1898
- Washington – The Seattle Republican (1???-19??), Seattle, WA: 1900-1913
West Virginia
- West Virginia – Keystone, W. Va., 1904-1941 – The McDowell times.
- West Virginia – Martinsburg, W. Va., 1882-19?? – Pioneer press. [volume]
- West Virginia – Charleston, W. Va., 1901-1913 – The advocate. [volume]
Wisconsin
Black Abolitionist Newspapers (clippings)
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.
Accessible Archives – There are 11 publications in the collection (per their website): The Christian Recorder, The Colored American, Weekly Advocate, Frederick Douglass’ Paper, Freedom’s Journal, The National Era, The North Star, Provincial Freeman, Frederick Douglass Monthly, The Freedmen’s Record, and The Negro Business League Herald.
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!