List of African-American newspapers in Virginia

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

The True Southerner from February 1866.

George Freeman Bragg, editor of the Virginia Lancet.

Front page of the Richmond Planet from 1902.

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

See also

• 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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Pride, Armistead Scott; Wilson, Clint C. (1997). A History of the Black Press. Howard University Press. ISBN 9780882581927.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• 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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

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. Borgmeyer, John (2003-09-16). "Charlottesville Media: "The Reflector" Dusts Off a 70-year Mission". C-Ville Weekly. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
18. Suggs 1983, p. 381.
19. 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.
20. "About The Reflector. (Charlottesville, Va.) 1933-19??". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
21. "About Charlottesville Tribune. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1950-1951". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
22. "About The Tribune. (Charlottesville, Va.) 1992-current". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
23. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 567, ¶ 5922.
24. Maurer, David (2012-07-29). "Yesteryears: Randolph White David Maurer". Daily Progress. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
25. "About The Monthly advocate. (Claremont, Va.) 1896-18??". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
26. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 186, ¶ 1930.
27. "About Danville news & observer. ([Danville, Va.?) 1974-????". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
28. "About The Voice of Prince Edward County. (Farmville, Va.) 196?-????". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
29. "About The Hampton Roads voice. (Hampton, Va.) 1994-2014". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
30. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 569, ¶ 5942.
31. Suggs 1983, p. 379.
32. "About The true Southerner. (Hampton, Va.) 1865-1866". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
33. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 177, ¶ 1845.
34. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 224, ¶ 2348.
35. "About The Voice of God. (Lynchburg, Va.) 189?-19??". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
36. "About Newport News star. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 192?-1940". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
37. "About The Star. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1901-192?". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
38. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 626, ¶ 6546.
39. "About New journal & guide. [online resource] (Norfolk, Va.) 1991-current". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
40. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 315, ¶ 3312.
41. "About Journal and guide and Newport News star. ([Norfolk, Va.]) 1940-1943". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
42. Suggs 1983, p. 391.
43. "About Afro-American churchman. [volume] (Petersburg, Va.) 1886-1890". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
44. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 163, ¶ 1696.
45. "About The Petersburg herald. (Petersburg, Va.) 1888-1899". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
46. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 331, ¶ 3469.
47. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 393, ¶ 4097.
48. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 486, ¶ 5070.
49. "About The Union Republican. [volume] (Norfolk & Petersburg, Va.) 186?-18??". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-22.
50. "About Black net working. (Portsmouth, Va.) 198?-19??". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
51. "About Richmond Afro-American. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1939-1941". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
52. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 493, ¶ 5143.
53. "About Richmond free press. (Richmond, VA) 1992-current". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
54. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 252, ¶ 2641.
55. "About Legacy. (Richmond, Va.) 2015-current". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
56. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 398, ¶ 4147.
57. "About Richmond planet. [online resource] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
58. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 487, ¶ 5080.
59. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 528, ¶ 5513.
60. "About The Southside voice. (Richmond, Va.) 1987-1987". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
61. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 539, ¶ 5617.
62. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 590, ¶ 6179.
63. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 493, ¶ 5147.
64. "About The Richmond voice. (Richmond, Va.) 1995-current". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
65. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 493, ¶ 5146.
66. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 495, ¶ 5165.
67. "About The Roanoke tribune. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 19??-current". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
68. "About The Tribune. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1951-19??". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
69. "About Roanoke weekly press. (Roanoke, Va.) 1891-1897". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
70. "About Staunton reporter. (Staunton, Va.) 1921-1923". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
71. "About Staunton reporter. (Staunton, Va.) 1915-1918". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
72. "About Staunton tribune. (Staunton, Va.) 1893-1896". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
73. "About The Staunton tribune. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1926-1933". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
74. Danky & Hady 1998, p. 392, ¶ 4090.
75. "About The Answer. (Virginia Beach, Va.) 1982-19??". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
76. "About Peninsula Churchman. (Williamsburg, Va.) 19??-????". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-01-18.