Black Americana
Black Americana
A "Copperhead" newspaper: a wealth of war-related content...
Item #699991
March 20, 1865
THE CRISIS, Columbus, Ohio, March 20, 1865
* Final weeks of the Civil War
* Robert E. Lee and more
* Copperhead Democrats publication
Described as "The Hottest Rebel Sheet to be found in the North or the South", this newspaper opposed the war and attracted the hatred of the Republicans and the Lincoln administration. It insisted that slavery could not be prohibited by law. So obn... See More
Trouble with the Mormons in Illinois... Slave ships...
Item #685118
April 13, 1844
NILES' NATIONAL REGISTER, Baltimore, April 13, 1844
* Mormons - Mormonism
* Nauvoo, Illinois
An inside page has a brief item discussed in the federal Congress with a small heading: "Mormons" noting: "Mr. Semple presented a memorial from the mayor & aldermen of Nauvoo, that a separate territorial government may be extended to that city; also from 3,419 citizens ... See More
Fascinating slave case...
Item #698335
April 09, 1856
NEW YORK TRIBUNE, April 9, 1856 Page 5 has: "An Interesting Slave Case" concerning: "...a young colored woman & her children claimed as slaves..." and what follows are the details of a very fascinating case.
Eight pages, very nice condition.
The New York Stock Exchange... Golfing...
Item #177152
April 26, 1902
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, April 26, 1902 Frontpage illustration "The Right of Way" by Mears; fullpage photos The President at the Charleston Exposition; fullpage photos The Coronation of the King of Spain; fullpage illustration "The New Home of the Stock Exchange" by Meeker; A Girl's Adventures in Cloudland with photos; The Drama of the Circus with photos; Openin... See More
A centerfold view of Fredericksburg... Charles Dickens...
Item #172634
December 20, 1862
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, December 20, 1862 The full front page shows: "Identification of Indian Murderers in Minnesota by a Boy Survivor of the Massacre". Other prints inside include: "Belle Plains, on the Potomac--Burnside's Principal Commissary Depot" showing a long wagon train. Fullpg. has three prints: "Seminary at La Grange, Tennessee, Now Used as a Pr... See More
Colonel Mosby hangs six prisoners....
Item #177340
December 09, 1911
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, December 9, 1911 (our last issue)
The front page of this issue is a photo of "The American Who May Cause War."
This issue is has an article with some illustrations of "Sizing Up the Presidential Timber" by McKee Barclay. There is a double page illustration of "Mosby's Death Raffle" by Sidney w. Riesenberg and there is a full pa... See More
A racist newspaper on the trial of the Lincoln conspirators...
Item #716346
June 24, 1865
NEW YORK WEEKLY DAY-BOOK CAUCASIAN, June 24, 1865
* Lincoln assassins trial
* Rare pro-white title
* Reconstruction era
A decidedly racist newspaper which began well before the Civil War & lasted a few years after. As such their reporting on war events provide a contrasting perspective beyond most other Northern newspapers.
Among the reports: "The Assassination Trial&... See More
First African American to serve as governor of the United States Virgin Islands, as a federal judge, and as a federal appellate judge...
Item #673733
July 20, 1950
NEW YORK TIMES, July 20, 1950 Page 50 has a small and somewhat inconspicuous article headed: "NEGRO JUDGE CONFIRMED" "Senate Unanimously Approves Hastie for Appeals Bench". William Henry Hastie was the first African American to serve as governor of the United States Virgin Islands, as a federal judge, and as a federal appellate judge.
I suspect this is one of the few pub... See More
Early Flight...
Item #177637
November 05, 1910
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, November 5, 1910 Full front page photo: "Aviation Meet at Belmont Park, Long Island", with a crowd of spectators. Fullpg. inside has nine photos from the Aviation Meet. Other photos and illustrations with text throughout this 32 page issue.
First World Series to include African American comes to close...
New York Yankees Win World Series...
Item #601852
October 07, 1947
THE BETHLEHEM GLOBE-TIMES, Pennsylvania, October 7, 1947
* New York Yankees Win World Series
* First World Series to include an African American
* Jackie Robinson - Brooklyn Dodgers
The sport's section (page 14) has a six column headline:
"N.Y. Pitching, Hitting, Deciding Factor"
with subheads, related photo and box scores. This was the first World Series to incl... See More
Kit Carson fights the Navajo Indians... Lincoln's famous rally-letter endorsed...
Item #689176
September 04, 1863
NEW YORK TIMES, Sept. 4, 1863
* Kit Carson
* Abraham Lincoln
Although much of the front page is taken up with reports from the Civil War, perhaps the most interesting item is the brief page 5 item headed: "Victory of Kit Carson Over the Indians", reading in part: "...had a fight with the Navajoe Indians beyond Fort Canby. The Indians were defeated with the loss of 13 ki... See More
W.A. Rogers print...
Hemp Industry of the Philippines... .
Item #177055
September 01, 1900
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, September 1, 1900 "He Drove His Wedge Too Far", by W.A. Rogers; "On The Beach At Narragansett Pier" by Smedley; U.S. Forces in China; Hemp Industry of the Philippines; The Visiting English Tennis-Players; and other news of the day. See photos for full details.
Dr. Joseph Priestley... France eliminates knighthood...
Item #686807
September 28, 1791
COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, Sept. 28, 1791 A page 3 report says: "A subscription was opened in London, before Capt. Scott sailed, for the purpose of building a large and elegant Chapel for the Rev. Dr. Priestley." Joseph Priestley is credited with the discovery of oxygen.
There is much concerning the French Revolution including a page 2 item: "National Assembly - Abolition Of... See More
Many Civil War prints, and a rare account of Sojourner Truth...
Item #172856
February 04, 1865
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, Feb. 4, 1865 Prints found in this issue include a front page image of: "General Alfred H. Terry" and also on the ftpg. is: "Landing of Soldiers and Sailors Above Fort Fisher".
Inside pages include a full page: "The Army of the Potomac Receiving the News of the Capture of Fort Fisher"; two quarter page images of: "The Late Lie... See More
Destruction of Lawrence, Kansas...
Item #172708
September 05, 1863
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, September 5, 1863 The full front page shows: "Moseby's Guerrillas Destroying Sutlers' Train". Inside prints include a dramatic fullpg: "The Destruction of the City of Lawrence, Kansas and the Massacre of its Inhabitants by the Rebel Guerrillas"; a full page with 4 prints: "Morris Island Sketches"; a three-quarter page map s... See More
Military scenes in Florida: preparing for the Civil War...
Item #172456
April 06, 1861
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, April 6, 1861 The full front page is a print of: "Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary Of State" taken from a Brady photograph. Inside includes a two-thirds page vertical print of: "The United States Gun-boat 'Wyandotte' Firing a Salute on Washington's Birthday in Pensacola Harbor", plus a nearly half page of: "The Flag-Staff B... See More
Boat-Racing on the Hudson....
Item #177465
October 12, 1907
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, October 12, 1907 There is a front page illustration, "Blood-Curdling Nightmare in the Canebrake" by W. A. Rogers. There are photos of "Training Bluejackets for the Battle-Ship Cruise to the Pacific" and a comic portrayal of John D. Rockefeller and Mark Twain. There is a double page illustration of "Music" by James Mon... See More
Abraham Lincoln's position... Fugitive slave case...
Item #705316
January 30, 1861
NEW YORK TIMES, Jan. 30, 1861
* Abraham Lincoln about to change America
Near the top of the front page is: "Important From Springfield" "The Position Of the President Elect" noting in part: "...stating that Mr. Lincoln had written to his Congressional friends recommending conciliatory measures...country may rest assured that in Abraham Lincoln they have a... See More
Details on the capture of a slave ship...
Item #704911
May 18, 1860
NEW YORK HERALD, May 18, 1860
* Famous slaver "Wildfire" capture
* African slavery trade print fame
Page 2 begins with: "The Slave Trade" "Additional Particulars in Regard to the Bark Wildfire and Her Cargo" with the report taking over half a column.
The text begins: "The bark Wildfire, with a cargo of over 500 Africans on board, was cap... See More
Great Salt Lake... Capture of a slave ship...
Item #687004
June 16, 1849
DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., June 16, 1849 Page 3 has half a column taken up with: "Expedition To the Great Salt Lake" which is very descriptive of their findings.
Page 3 also has a small article: "Capture Of A Slaver" noting the capture of the slave schooner Zenobia: "...with 500 slaves on board...Great suffering had been experienced by the unfor... See More
Flatiron Building...
Item #177211
July 18, 1903
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, July 18, 1903
One of the less common 18th century titles...
Item #705984
June 14, 1797
PORCUPINE'S GAZETTE, Philadelphia, June 14, 1797 The entire front page is taken up with ads including a a detailed ad for a runaway slave ad under: "Fifty Dollars Reward".
Another can be found on the back page.
Four pages, never-trimmed margins, nice condition.
War is on the horizon... Election results by Pony Express...
Item #692521
December 20, 1860
NEW YORK TRIBUNE, Dec. 20, 1860
* Pony Express re. Abraham Lincoln's election win
* Pre Civil War Southern tensions - secession ?
Considerable reporting on national events that would soon lead to the Civil War.
Inside page reports include one beginning: "The Pony Express passed Fort Kearney early on Tuesday...with later California news. The official result of the Presidentia... See More
Scenes from the Dakota Territory...
Item #689135
November 30, 1867
FRANK LESLIE'S ILLUSTRATED, New York, Nov. 30, 1867 Most of the front page is a print captioned: "Preparing For a Quiet Sunday Under the Operation of the Excise Law".
The tipped-in (no binding holes) doublepage centerfold is a great montage of 8 prints: "The Operation of the Registration Laws & Negro Suffrage in the South".
Among other prints within: "The D... See More
Assassination of Ormond Chase... The John Brown Excitement...
Item #172316
December 03, 1859
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, December 3, 1859 Ftpg. shows: 'Assassination of Ormond Chase by the Mexicans at Tepic', showing him hanging from a tree. A 1/4 page illustration of "John W. Forney, Esq., of Philadelphia". Also a 1/3 page illustration "Scene in a Fashionable Church at Lima". A dramatic fullpage showing the 'Loss of the 'Royal Charger... See More
Tuscaloosa AL negro lynchings...
Item #569866
August 14, 1933
THE NEW YORK TIMES, New York, August 14, 1933 This 30 page newspaper has one column headlines on the front page: "ALABAMA MOB KILLS 2 INDICTED NEGROES" "A Third Is Carried Off by Armed Men, Who Waylay Sheriff and Deputies" and more. (see)
Tells of the lynching of Negroes Dan Pippen & A.T. Hardin in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Other news of the day throughout. Light bro... See More
Harry T. Moore assassination....
Item #570072
December 27, 1951
THE TIMES PICAYUNE, New Orleans, Louisiana, December 27, 1951 This 36 page newspaper has one column headlines on the front page: "BLAST TAKES LIFE OF NEGRO LEADER" "NAACP Official Killed as Explosion Rips Home".
This tells of the assassination plot on Civil Rights leader Harry T. Moore in Mims, Florida.
Other news of the day throughout. Light browning, otherwise goo... See More
Integration within 1963 Alabama high schools...
Item #721597
September 11, 1963
THE DETROIT FREE PRESS, Sept. 11, 1963
* Alabama high schools integration
* Negroes - student enter for classes
* Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham
The front page has a six column heading: "Alabama Schools Integrated" with subheads and two related photos. (see images) More inside.
Complete with 30+ pages, small library stamp near the top of the front page, some sma... See More
Massacre at Fort Pillow... Ringgold, Georgia...
Item #172776
April 30, 1864
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, April 30, 1864 The front page shows a group of officers making a toast, along with a poem concerning the third anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War. Prints within include: "In The Fair" "Admiral Porter's Flotilla" "the Steam Ram 'Switzerland". Some articles include: "Sketches of the Red River Expedition" ... See More
Capture of Fort Pillow... The Chenango disaster... Paducah, Kentucky...
Item #678319
April 17, 1864
THE NEW YORK HERALD, New York City, April 17, 1864.
* The capture of Fort Pillow and negro slaughter
* USS Chenango boiler explosion
* Paducah, Kentucky
This Genuine newspaper has a Wealth of Civil War reporting from during Abraham Lincoln's administration. Among the one column headlines on the Civil War are: "THE CHENANGO DISASTER" "Additional Details of the Shocking C... See More
1961 Albany, Georgia movement... MLK...
Item #696674
December 13, 1961
THE NEW YORK TIMES, Dec. 13, 1961
* Albany Movement - Georgia
* Desegregation & voters' rights
* Freedom Riders trial protests - arrests
The top of page 51 has a one column heading: "ALBANY, GA., JAILS 267 NEGRO YOUTHS" with subhead. (see images) Though not mentioned in this report, Martin Luther King, Jr. was one of main leaders in this civil rights movement.
Complete w... See More
Item #177471
November 23, 1907
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, November 23, 1907
Chicago Fire... William Wiberforce...
Item #580293
November 18, 1871
THE ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS, London, England, November 18, 1871 The frontpage of the issue features a fullpage illustrations "'Divine Service,' by H. Ochmichen". Within the issue are three pages of illustrations from Chicago referring to the Chicago Fire. Fullpage illustrations "'The Gate of Victory,' Cairo", "Scene in a Cabaret in the North of France", "Th... See More
Black feminist Michelle Wallace in 1974...
Item #715465
July 28, 1975
THE VILLAGE VOICE (weekly), Greenwich Village, New York City, July 28, 1975
* African American Michelle Wallace editorial
* Black feminist author - cultural critic
Pages 6 & 7 has a editorial written by Michelle Wallace with two related photos. See images for portion of the text.
wikipedia notes: From 1974 to 1975, Wallace worked at Newsweek as a book review researcher. During this pe... See More
Wisner LA negro lynching...
Item #570667
November 21, 1932
THE NEW YORK TIMES, New York, November 21, 1932
* William House negro lynching
* Wisner, Louisiana
This 38 page newspaper has one column headlines on page 12: "NEGRO IN LOUISIANA SEIZED AND LYNCHED" "Mob Takes Prisoner From Marshal and Body Is Found Later--Woman Charged Insults"
Tells of the lynching of Negro William House in Wisner, Louisiana.
... See More
1933 Ringgold, Louisiana Negro lynching...
Item #715463
February 20, 1933
CHICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE, February 20, 1933
* Nelson Nash, Negro lynching - hanging
* Ringgold, Bienville Parish, Louisiana
The top of page 2 has a one column heading: "LOUISIANA MOB LYNCHES NEGRO AFTER SLAYING" with subhead. (see images) First report coverage on the lynching of Nelson Nash in Ringgold, Louisiana.
Complete with 27 pages, rag edition in very nice conditi... See More
Much on 'Bleeding Kansas'... Letter from P. T. Barnum...
Item #700057
May 13, 1856
NEW YORK TRIBUNE, May 13, 1856
* Bleeding Kansas
* Missouri border invasion
* War on slavery
* P.T. Barnum
Pages 4 & 5 contain a wealth of reporting concerning the slavery vs. anti-slavery factions as Kansas worked toward achieving statehood.
Page 4 has a nearly half-column article relating to this, and page 5 has column heads: "IMPORTANT FROM KANSAS" "Gov. Robi... See More
New Blackwells Island Bridge.....
Item #177440
April 13, 1907
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, April 13, 1907
Althea Gibson... 1st Negro Wimbledon champ...
Item #581308
July 08, 1956
SPRINGFIELD REPUBLICAN, Massachusetts, July 8, 1956
* Althea Gibson - tennis star
* 1st Negro Wimbledon win (historic)
This 50+ page newspaper has a banner headline on the front page of the sport's section (inside): "SHIRLEY FRY CAPTURES WIMBLEDON TITLE" with subheads (see photos).
Of course Fry's win dominated the headlines here because of it being the singles ti... See More
Barack Obama becomes America's first African-American president...
Item #718799
November 05, 2008
(2) NEW YORK TIMES, Nov. 5, 2008 and Jan. 21, 2009 A great pair of issues reporting both the election and inauguration of the first African-American president to occupy the White House.
The banner headline of the 5th is a simple: "OBAMA" beneath which is: "Racial Barrier Falls In Decisive Victory". The banner headline of the 21st announces: "OBAMA TAKES OATH, A... See More
Archie Williams wins gold at the Berlin Olympics...
Item #662475
August 08, 1936
SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE, August 8, 1936
* Archie Williams wins gold medal
* African American 400m victory
* Olympics games in Berlin Germany
The front page of the sport's section has a nice banner headline: "WILLIAMS WINS 400 METER RUN" with subheads and wire photo. (see)
A sidebar to the Olympic games was Adolph Hitler's refusal to acknowledge the achievements of ... See More
Dillinger's aid, Herbert Youngblood, killed...
Item #687162
March 17, 1934
THE NEW YORK TIMES, March 17, 1934
* The hunt for John Dillinger
* Negro Herbert Youngblood Shot Dead
* Crown Point, Indiana escape partner
* re. famous wooden gun jail break
The front page has a one column heading: "AIDE, SHOT, REVEALS DILLINGER'S TRAIL" with subheads. (see)
Complete with 32 pages, light toning at the margins, small library stamp within the masthead, gen... See More
Harriet Tubman's gravesite erected...
Item #688316
July 25, 1937
SECTION 2 ONLY of the New York Times, July 25, 1937
* Harriet Tubman - African American abolitionist
* Gravesite gravestone marker erection
* Auburn, Cayuga County, New York
Page 4 of this section has a small one column heading: "Mark Ex-Slave's Grave" with subhead: "Women at Auburn Honor 'Aunt Harriet' of 'Underground Railroad'" (see) First report ... See More
1987 "Bob Dylan & Grateful Dead" at Giants Stadium...
Item #718795
June 02, 1987
THE VILLAGE VOICE (weekly), Greenwich Village, New York City, June 2, 1987
* Bob Dylan w/ the Grateful Dead
* Giants Stadium concert advertisement
* Iconic rock music collaboration
Page 66 has a nice full page advertisement for a upcoming performance by "BOB DYLAN w/ The Grateful Dead " at Giants Stadium in east Rutherford, New Jersey. (see images)
AI notes: ... See More
Thomas Nast creates a displayable New Year's Day centerfold...
Item #172742
January 02, 1864
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, January 2, 1864 Part of front page is a cross section: 'Diagram of Monitor 'Weehawken' Sunk in Charleston Harbor'. Also on the ftpg. are prints of: "Frederick VII, Late King of Denmark" and "Christian IX, Present King of Denmark".
Inside has full page prints captioned: "The Army of the Cumberland--General Baird's Di... See More
Gordonsville, Virginia, negroes killed...
Item #718925
May 16, 1936
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, May 16, 1936
* Negroes - William & Cora Wells
* Racial violence - mob lynching ?
* Gordonsville, Orange County, Virginia
The top of page 3 has a one column heading: "NEGRO, HIS SISTER SHOT AND BURNED; HE KILLED SHERIFF" with subheads and related photo. (see images)
Complete with 20 pages, light toning and some wear at the margins, mainly along the sp... See More
Porgy and Bess opera... George Gershwin...
Item #721434
October 10, 1935
THE NEW YORK TIMES, October 10, 1935
* Porgy and Bess folk-opera
* Composer George Gershwin
* Opening day in Manhattan - NYC
The top of page 30 under "NEWS OF THE STAGE" is a two column heading: "'Gershwin's Folk Opera, 'Porgy and Bess', Opens Tonight..." The same page has a small advertisement for the opera on it's opening night. (see images)
I su... See More
Mayor Gaynor Shot.....
Item #177573
August 13, 1910
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York City, August 13, 1910 This issue includes two front pages, something that is very unusual. The second front page was probably added after the newspapers were printed for the week when Mayor Gaynor was shot. The first front page of this issue is a photo of "Getting on at Panama" and the second one is of "The Attempted Assassination of Mayor Gayn
... See More
Death by duel for naval hero Stephen Decatur...
Item #701485
March 23, 1820
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., March 23, 1820
* Stephen Decatur Killed
* United States Navy commodore
* Duel vs. James Barron
The front page has a report of a slave insurrection in Cuba. Page 3 has a broadside-like announcement, in larger than normal type & black-bordered, announcing the death of naval hero Stephen Decatur, mentioning his death as a result of a duel.
... See More
Susan B. Anthony...
Item #173736
July 05, 1873
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, July 5, 1873 The front page illustration is entitled "Prepared for the Campaign - a Reverie of the Coming Summer." Inside is a small, one column illustration of "Susan B. Anthony" plus an article headed: "Susan B. Anthony's Vote", talking of her being arrested for voting in Rochester. Rare to find prints of her.
An article ent... See More
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