List of African American newspapers in Virginia

The True Southerner from February 1866.

George Freeman Bragg, editor of the Virginia Lancet .

Front page of the Richmond Planet from 1902.

This is a list of African American newspapers that have been published in Virginia. It includes both current and historical newspapers.

The first African American newspaper in the state was The True Southerner , in 1865. ^[1] In the ensuing four decades, more than 50 such newspapers sprang up, addressing the manifold challenges facing the African American community during and after Reconstruction. ^[2] Among these, a few took a leading role in the state's political discourse, such as the Richmond Planet , Virginia Lancet and Virginia Star . ^[3]

Notable African American newspapers in Virginia today include the New Journal and Guide , Roanoke Tribune , and Richmond Free Press .

Newspapers

City	Title	Beginning	End	Frequency	Call numbers	Remarks
Alexandria	Clipper	1891 [4]	1894 [4]			Merged with Alexandria Leader in 1894. [4]
Alexandria	The Industrial Advocate	1900	1910			Edited by Magnus Lewis Robinson. [4]
Alexandria	Leader	1888 [4]	1894 [4]			Merged with Alexandria Clipper in 1894. [4]
Alexandria	Leader and Clipper / The Alexandria Leader (1898–) [4]	1894 [4]	1890s [4]			Formed from merger of Leader and Clipper in 1894. [4]
Alexandria	The Metro Herald	1990? [5]	2018 [6]	Weekly [6]	ISSN   1061-4532 LCCN   sn92003167 OCLC   25375495
Alexandria	The People's Advocate	1876 [7]	1879 [7]	Weekly [7]	LCCN   2014254005, sn84025894 OCLC   874920534, 10587978	Moved to Washington, D.C. in 1879. [8]
Alexandria	Post and National Echo	1882 [4]	1882 [4]			Founded by Magnus Lewis Robinson. [4]
Alexandria	Virginia Post	1880 [4]	1882 [4]			Taken over by Magnus Lewis Robinson in 1881 after editor P.W. Stewart suspended publication. [4]
Berryville	The People's Journal	1800s [9]	1900s [9]	Monthly newspaper [9]	LCCN   sn95079087 OCLC   32261642	Extant in at least 1899. [9] Published by G.L.D. Harris. [9]
Boydton	The Midland Express	1891 [10]	1895 [10]	Weekly [10]	LCCN   2013254314, sn86058060 OCLC   844090234, 13352245, 2772284
Buckingham	The Informant	1987 [11]	current	Monthly newspaper [11]	LCCN   sn96009500 OCLC   34457929	Published by Charles W. White. [11] Extant through at least 2017. [12]
Catlett	The Circuit	1937 [13]	1954 [14]	Monthly newspaper [13]	LCCN   sn99066743 OCLC   40901521
Charles City	Charles City Times	1966 [15]	? [15]	Twice-monthly [15]	LCCN   sn94060074 OCLC   30963442
Charlottesville	The African American Reflector	2003 [16]	2005 [17]	Biweekly [16]	LCCN   sn2004061518 OCLC   52433907	Edited by Corey E. Carter. [16] Named in honor of T.J. Sellers' The Reflector newspaper. [18]
Charlottesville	Messenger	1909 [19]	1928 [19]	Weekly [20]		Edited by John G. Shelton. [20]
Charlottesville	The Reflector	1933 [21]	? [21]	Weekly [21]	LCCN   sn95079541 OCLC   32404255	Extant through at least 1935. [21] Published by T.J. Sellers. [21]
Charlottesville	Charlottesville Tribune	1950 [22]	1951 [22]	Weekly [22]	LCCN   sn95079538 OCLC   32252741	Published by the Roanoke Tribune. [22]
Charlottesville	The Tribune (1992–) [23] / Charlottesville-Albemarle Tribune (1954–1992)	1954 [24]	2011 [25]	Weekly [24]	The Tribune: LCCN   sn95079529 OCLC   27008933 Charlottesville-Albemarle Tribune: LCCN   sn95079521 OCLC   12302644
Claremont	The Monthly Advocate	1896 [26]	1800s [26]	Twice-monthly [26]	LCCN   sn98068239 OCLC   40099702	Published by the Temperance, Industrial and Collegiate Institute. [26]
Danville	Danville News and Observer	1974? [27]	? [27]	Monthly [27]	LCCN   sn99063219 OCLC   41609458	Extant through at least 1977. [28]
Farmville	The Voice Of Prince Edward County	1960s [29]	? [29]	Monthly newspaper [29]	LCCN   sn98068058 OCLC   38371567	Extant from 1966. [29]
Hampton	The Hampton Roads Voice	1994 [30]	2014 [30]	Weekly [30]	LCCN   sn2004061588 OCLC   55228230	Published by Jack J. Green. [30] Merged with Richmond Voice in 2014 to form The Voice . [30]
Hampton	The True Southerner	1865 [31]	1866 [31]	Weekly [31]	LCCN   sn93059185 OCLC   27480413	Free online archive Started by white army officer in 1865, but taken over by Joseph T. Wilson in 1866. [32] Moved to Norfolk in 1866. [33] Printing presses smashed by white mob in Norfolk later that year. [32]
Lynchburg	Counselor and Herald	1892? [34]	? [34]	Weekly [34]
Lynchburg	First Class	1984 [35]	? [35]	Bimonthly newspaper [35]
Lynchburg	Interpreter	1903 [8]	1906 [8]			Founded by Robert W. Goff. [8] Only African American paper in Lynchburg in first decade of 1900s. [8]
Lynchburg	Laboring Man	1886 [8]	1888 [8]
Lynchburg	Southern Forge	1895 [8]	1896 [8]
Lynchburg	The Voice Of God	1890s [36]	1900s [36]	Weekly [36]	LCCN   sn96096555 OCLC   34494037	Surviving issue from 1897. [36]
Newport News	The Star/ Newport News Star [37]	1900 [19] or 1901 [38]	1940 [37]	Weekly [38]	The Star LCCN   sn95079078 OCLC   32253086 Newport News Star LCCN   sn95079077 OCLC   32253046
Newport News	Your Tidewater Community Paper	1991 [39]		Monthly (Irregular) [39]	OCLC   24782717	Published by Ibn H.K. Khailfah. [39]
Norfolk	American Sentinel	1880 [4]	1881 [4]			Co-founded by Joseph T. Wilson. [4]
Norfolk	The American Ethiopian	1900 [19]	1907 [19]
Norfolk	Journal and Guide / The New Journal and Guide (1991–) [40]	1901 [41]	current	Weekly [41]	ISSN   2641-1350 LCCN   2011263305, sn95079582 OCLC   767759130, 26628042	Official site Published as Journal and Guide and Newport News Star from 1940 to 1943. [42]
Norfolk	The Lodge Journal and Guide	1900 [19]	1910 [19]
Norfolk	The News and Advertiser	1900 [19]	1908 [19]
Norfolk	The Rambler	1894 [19]	1898 [19]
Norfolk	The Right Way	1885 [4]
Norfolk	The Speaker	1889 [19]	1893 [19]			Politically independent. [19]
Norfolk	The Spectator	1887 [19]	1891 [19]
Norfolk	The Standard	1889 [19]	1891 [19]
Petersburg	Afro-American Churchman	1885 [43] or 1886 [44]	1890 [44]	Monthly newspaper [44]	ISSN   2574-6448 LCCN   sn85038628 OCLC   6690589	Successor to The Lancet. [44] Published in Petersburg 1886–1888, and in Norfolk 1889–1890. [44] Published by George Freeman Bragg. [44]
Petersburg	The Colored Virginian	1875? [45]	? [45]	Weekly [45]
Petersburg	The Evening Recorder	1897 [19]		Daily [19]		Founded by Matt Lewis. [19]
Petersburg	The Family Reguel	1880s [19]	1880s [19]	Monthly [19]
Petersburg	The Petersburg Herald	1888 [46]	1899 [46]	Weekly [46]	LCCN   sn96096570 OCLC   34533107	Initially founded by Matt Lewis to promote the successful congressional campaign of John Mercer Langston. [19]
Petersburg	The Lancet / Virginia Lancet	1882 [47]	1886 [47]	Weekly [47]	ISSN   2574-6456 LCCN   sn96094029 OCLC   34433728	Published by George Freeman Bragg. [47]
Petersburg	The National Pilot	1886 [48]	1900 [48]	Weekly [48]	LCCN   2013254330, sn84025813 OCLC   844985842, 10328978, 2753790	Edited by Charles B.W. Gordon. [48]
Petersburg	The Recorder	1893 [49]	1897 [19]	Weekly [49]		Founded by Matt Lewis. [19]
Petersburg	The Southern Tribune	1884 [19]	1884 [19]			Founded to counteract the pro-Readjuster effect of the Petersburg Lancet. [19]
Petersburg	The Star of Zion	1880s [19]	1880s [19]	Weekly [19]
Petersburg	Union Republican	1866 [32]		Triweekly [50]	LCCN   sn94051043 OCLC   30055832	Founded by Joseph T. Wilson after mob violence forced him to leave Norfolk. [32]
Portsmouth	Black Net Working	1980s [51]	1900s [51]		LCCN   sn2001062401 OCLC   46398618	Extant as of 1987. [51] Published by Larry Alexander. [51]
Richmond	Richmond Afro-American	1939 [52]	1941 [52]	Weekly [52]	LCCN   sn84025922 OCLC   10702392
Richmond	Richmond Free Press	1992 [53]	current	Weekly [53]	ISSN   1534-6889 LCCN   sn97066503 OCLC   28510270	Official site Distributed free of charge. [54]
Richmond	The Good News Herald	1986? [55]		Monthly newspaper [55]	OCLC   31281018
Richmond	Industrial Day	1888	1890			Edited by Joseph T. Wilson. [4]
Richmond	Legacy	2015 [56]	current	Weekly [56]	LCCN   2010271361 OCLC   903656001	Official site Issues online
Richmond	The Negro Advocate	1902 [57]	? [57]	Biweekly [57]
Richmond	Richmond Planet	1883 [58]	1938 [58]	Weekly [58]	ISSN   2151-4011 LCCN   2014254304, sn84025841 OCLC   463293523, 10412790	Free online archive
Richmond	The Reformer	1895 [59]	1931 [59]	Weekly [59]	LCCN   sn84025814 OCLC   10328985, 22156119	Official newspaper of the Grand Fountain United Order of True Reformers. [59]
Richmond	The Reporter	1890 [8]	1893 [8]			Politically independent. [8]
Richmond	The Southern News	1892 [60]	1894 [60]	Weekly [60]	LCCN   sn83027098 OCLC   10101960, 2789631
Richmond	The Southside Voice	1987 [61]	1987 [61]	Semimonthly newspaper [61]	LCCN   sn95079007 OCLC   16462032	Free newspaper. [61] Published by Southside Voice, Inc. [61]
Richmond	St. Luke Herald	1902? [62]	? [62]	Weekly [62]	OCLC   34332604
Richmond	The Virginia Star	1877 [63]	1888 [63]	Weekly [63]	LCCN   sn83027093 OCLC   9973874, 278453	"[E]stablished in September 1877 by R.A. Green, a physician, in partnership with black businessmen O.M. Steward and P.H. Woolfolk." [8] Supported the Readjuster Party. [8]
Richmond	Richmond Voice	1987? [64]	2000s	Weekly [64]	LCCN   sn98068059 OCLC   31252008, 32177482	Distributed free of charge. [65] Published by Jack J. Green [65] Followed by Legacy.
Richmond	The Richmond Voice / The Voice	1917? [66] or 1918 [8]	1926 [8]	Weekly [66]		Edited by Benjamin F. Vaughn. [66] Took the place of the Young Men's Voice. [66]
Roanoke	The Roanoke Tribune / The Tribune (1951–)	1939 [67]	current	Weekly [67]	The Roanoke Tribune: LCCN   sn98068354 OCLC   39072181 The Tribune: LCCN   sn98068351 OCLC   39072118	Official site Free online archive Founded by F.E. Alexander. [68] Billed as the "[o]nly negro newspaper published in Southwest Virginia." [69]
Roanoke	Roanoke Weekly Press	1891 [70]	1897 [70]	Weekly [70]	LCCN   sn95079197 OCLC   32801844
Staunton	Staunton Reporter	1921 [71]	1923 [71]	Weekly [71]	LCCN   sn00064478 OCLC   50680817	Published by O.W. Marshall. [71]
Staunton	Staunton Reporter	1915 [72]	1918 [72]	Weekly [72]	LCCN   sn00064479 OCLC   50547001	Relationship to later Staunton Reporter unclear. [72]
Staunton	Staunton Tribune / Southern Tribune [73]	1891 [73]	1896 [73]	Weekly [73]	LCCN   2010027143 OCLC   784152656	Published by Willis M. Carter. [74]
Staunton	The Staunton Tribune	1926 [74]	1933 [74]	Weekly [74]	LCCN   sn94060049 OCLC   30925167
Staunton	The Valley Index	1897 [8]	1905 [8]			Founded by James M. Morris. [8]
Staunton	Virginia Critic	1884 [8]	1888 [8]			Founded by C.L. Smith and D.C. Carter. [8]
Newport News / Tidewater	The National Newport News & Commentator	1986 [75]	1993 [75]	Bimonthly newspaper [75]	OCLC   20869168, 22443372
Virginia Beach	The Answer	1982 [76]	1900s [76]		LCCN   sn2001062403 OCLC   46403226	Billed as "[t]he progressive newspaper for the progressive citizen." [76] Published by E. George Minns [76]
Waverly	Pioneer	1894 [19]	1895 [19]
Williamsburg	Peninsula Churchman	1900s [77]	? [77]		LCCN   sn96094043 OCLC   34784409	Affiliated with the Baptist church. [77] Extant at least in 1904. [77]

See also

• Virginia portal
• Journalism portal

• List of African American newspapers and media outlets
• List of African American newspapers in Kentucky
• List of African American newspapers in Maryland
• List of African American newspapers in North Carolina
• List of African American newspapers in Tennessee
• List of African American newspapers in Washington, D.C.
• List of African American newspapers in West Virginia
• List of newspapers in Virginia

Works cited

• 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.
• Smith, Jessie Carney (2012). Black Firsts: 4,000 Ground-Breaking and Pioneering Historical Events. Visible Ink Press. ISBN   9781578593699.
• Suggs, Henry Lewis (1983). "Virginia". In Suggs, Henry Lewis (ed.). The Black Press in the South, 1865–1979 . ISBN   9780313222443.

References

1. Smith 2012, p. 409.
2. Suggs 1983, p. 424.
3. Suggs 1983.
4. Suggs 1983, p. 380.
5. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 361, ¶ 3771.
6. "About The Metro herald. (Alexandria, Va.) 199?-2018". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
7. "About The people's advocate. [online resource] (Alexandria, Va.) 1876-18??". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
8. Suggs 1983, p. 382.
9. "About The People's journal. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 19??-19??". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
10. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 363, ¶ 3798.
11. "About The Informant. (Buckingham, Va.) 1987-current". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
12. White, Morgan (2017-06-13). "Informant celebrates 30 years" . Retrieved 2020-01-22.
13. "About The Circuit. (Catlett, Va.) 1937-19??". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
14. Moon, Vicky (2019-02-22). "Making 'The Circuit': Fauquier's African-American newspaper hailed from Catlett". Fauquier Times. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
15. "About Charles City times. [volume] (Charles City, Va.) 1966-19??". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
16. "About The African American reflector. (Charlottesville, Va.) 2003-current". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
17. "The African American Reflector". Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
18. Borgmeyer, John (2003-09-16). "Charlottesville Media: "The Reflector" Dusts Off a 70-year Mission". C-Ville Weekly. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
19. Suggs 1983, p. 381.
20. Tucker, T. Nicole. "Individual Profiles of Politically Active African Americans in Charlottesville". White Supremacy & African-American Resistance in Charlottesville 1900-1925. Retrieved 2020-01-22.
21. "About The Reflector. (Charlottesville, Va.) 1933-19??". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
22. "About Charlottesville Tribune. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1950-1951". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
23. "About The Tribune. (Charlottesville, Va.) 1992-current". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
24. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 567, ¶ 5922.
25. Maurer, David (2012-07-29). "Yesteryears: Randolph White David Maurer". Daily Progress. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
26. "About The Monthly advocate. (Claremont, Va.) 1896-18??". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
27. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 186, ¶ 1930.
28. "About Danville news & observer. ([Danville, Va.?) 1974-????". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
29. "About The Voice of Prince Edward County. (Farmville, Va.) 196?-????". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
30. "About The Hampton Roads voice. (Hampton, Va.) 1994-2014". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
31. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 569, ¶ 5942.
32. Suggs 1983, p. 379.
33. "About The true Southerner. (Hampton, Va.) 1865-1866". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
34. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 177, ¶ 1845.
35. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 224, ¶ 2348.
36. "About The Voice of God. (Lynchburg, Va.) 189?-19??". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
37. "About Newport News star. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 192?-1940". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
38. "About The Star. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1901-192?". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
39. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 626, ¶ 6546.
40. "About New journal & guide. [online resource] (Norfolk, Va.) 1991-current". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
41. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 315, ¶ 3312.
42. "About Journal and guide and Newport News star. ([Norfolk, Va.]) 1940-1943". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
43. Suggs 1983, p. 391.
44. "About Afro-American churchman. [volume] (Petersburg, Va.) 1886-1890". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
45. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 163, ¶ 1696.
46. "About The Petersburg herald. (Petersburg, Va.) 1888-1899". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
47. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 331, ¶ 3469.
48. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 393, ¶ 4097.
49. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 486, ¶ 5070.
50. "About The Union Republican. [volume] (Norfolk & Petersburg, Va.) 186?-18??". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-22.
51. "About Black net working. (Portsmouth, Va.) 198?-19??". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
52. "About Richmond Afro-American. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1939-1941". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
53. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 493, ¶ 5143.
54. "About Richmond free press. (Richmond, VA) 1992-current". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
55. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 252, ¶ 2641.
56. "About Legacy. (Richmond, Va.) 2015-current". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
57. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 398, ¶ 4147.
58. "About Richmond planet. [online resource] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
59. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 487, ¶ 5080.
60. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 528, ¶ 5513.
61. "About The Southside voice. (Richmond, Va.) 1987-1987". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
62. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 539, ¶ 5617.
63. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 590, ¶ 6179.
64. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 493, ¶ 5147.
65. "About The Richmond voice. (Richmond, Va.) 1995-current". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
66. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 493, ¶ 5146.
67. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 495, ¶ 5165.
68. "About The Roanoke tribune. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 19??-current". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
69. "About The Tribune. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1951-19??". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
70. "About Roanoke weekly press. (Roanoke, Va.) 1891-1897". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
71. "About Staunton reporter. (Staunton, Va.) 1921-1923". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
72. "About Staunton reporter. (Staunton, Va.) 1915-1918". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
73. "About Staunton tribune. (Staunton, Va.) 1893-1896". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
74. "About The Staunton tribune. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1926-1933". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
75. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 392, ¶ 4090.
76. "About The Answer. (Virginia Beach, Va.) 1982-19??". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
77. "About Peninsula Churchman. (Williamsburg, Va.) 19??-????". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.