Black Americana
Black Americana
From during George Washington's administration...
Item #716171
March 24, 1794
GENERAL ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, March 24, 1794 The capital of the United States was in Philadelphia at this time while the District of Columbia was under construction.
The front page has 3 runaway slave ads and three shipping ads. Other news of the day is found throughout,
Four pages, tiny binding holes along the spine, untrimmed, great condition.
Jesse Owens beats horse in 1936...
Item #701915
December 27, 1936
SECTION 2 (sports) only of the Chicago Sunday Tribune, December 27, 1936
* Jesse Owens vs. Julio McCaw
* Track speedster beats Cuban horse
* Olympic star sprinter
The front page of this section has a one column heading: "Jesse Owens Wins Again--This Time He Outruns Horse" (see image) Page 3 has a pictorial of the 1936 sport's stars for the year including Owens and the New Yo... See More
Civil War map of a naval battle near Fort Pillow...
Item #719305
May 18, 1862
NEW YORK HERALD, May 18, 1862
* U.S. naval operations near Fort Pillow
* Mississippi River - Andrew H. Foote
Among the front page column heads on the Civil War are: "Important From South Carolina" "Effects of the Abolition Edict of General Hunter" "The Contrabands Eschew a military Life" "Heroism Of Nine Colored Seamen" (with a mention of Robert Small... See More
Account of an 1812-1813 expedition from Louisiana through Texas...
Item #709685
August 28, 1819
SUPPLEMENT TO VOLUME THE SIXTEENTH OF THE WEEKLY REGISTER, Baltimore, (1819).
Page 42 begins: "Province of Texas" which includes a "...brief history of an expedition in 1812 and 1813, from Louisiana into the Texas..." and "...The expedition carried on against the government of Spain in the Provine of Texas, which commenced in 1812, by a body of Americans, sided by malcontents in the count... See More
Martin Luther King Jr.'s mother slain...
Item #596678
July 01, 1974
THE NEW YORK TIMES, July 1, 1974
* Alberta Williams King killed
* Martin Luther King Jr. mother
* Mikhail Nikolaevich Baryshnikov defects
The front page has a four column headline: "Mother of Dr. King Is Killed in Church; Atlanta Deacon Slain; Gunman Seized" with subhead and two related photos. Much more on page 20. Loads of text here. 1st report coverage ... See More
1988 Bob Dylan & Metallica "...And Justice for All" album...
Item #718539
October 11, 1988
THE VILLAGE VOICE (weekly), Greenwich Village, New York City, Oct. 11, 1988
* Bob Dylan performances at Radio City Music Hall advertisement
* Metallica heavy metal band advertisement
* "...And Justice for All" album release
* James Hetfield - Jason Newsted - Kirk Hammett - Lars Ulrich
Page 85 has a nice full page advertisement for upcoming concerts by "BOB DYLAN... See More
1956 Montgomery, Alabama civil rights movement...
Item #725130
March 04, 1956
THE WORKER, New York, March 4, 1956
* Montgomery, Alabama bus boycott
* Civil Rights movement leaders arrested
* Martin Luther King Jr. - African Americans
This publication, The Worker, represents the official voice and ideological "mouthpiece" of the Communist Party USA (CPUSA) during one of the most volatile periods of the Cold War.
The front page has a photo with headin... See More
The Lowry War in North Carolina...
Item #700084
December 28, 1872
THE NEW YORK HERALD, Dec. 28, 1872
* Andrew Strong killed
* Lowry's War - gang
* Pembroke, North Carolina
* Scuffletown
Page three has an article on the Lowery (Lowry, Lowrie) War in North Carolina.
The Lowry War is a notable event in North Carolina history. Led by Henry Berry Lowry, whose father and brother were murdered by men of the Confederate Home Guard, a band of American... See More
1986 Howard Beach racial attack & murder ?...
Item #718289
February 17, 1987
THE VILLAGE VOICE (weekly), Greenwich Village, New York City, Feb. 17, 1987
* Howard Beach racial attack - Queens
* African American Michael Griffith killed
* New York City police racial tensions
* Editorial by Jack Newfield on murder charges
The front page has a photo of Charles J. Hynes with heading: "N.Y. LAW" and more. And beginning on page 19 is an editori... See More
1977 interview w/ rascist Amiri Baraka...
Item #715676
August 01, 1977
THE VILLAGE VOICE (weekly), Greenwich Village, New York City, Aug. 1, 1977
* Amiri Baraka - LeRoi Jones
* African American culture writer
* Interview of racist with photos
The front page has a heading: "AMIRI BARAKA'S LONG MARCH" with photo. And beginning on page 12 is a interview with him which includes some related photo. See images for small portion of the text.
I suspe... See More
1965 Lorraine Hansberry death... Greenwich Village...
Item #703887
January 14, 1965
THE VILLAGE VOICE (weekly), Greenwich Village, New York City, Jan. 14, 1965
* Lorraine Hansberry death w/ photo
* African American playwright & writer
* "A Raisin in the Sun" play fame
* Best publication to be had
The bottom of the front page has a photo of Lorraine Hansberry with text. (see image) Great to have in the publication as she was living on Bl
... See More
* African American playwright & writer
* "A Raisin in the Sun" play fame
* Best publication to be had
The bottom of the front page has a photo of Lorraine Hansberry with text. (see image) Great to have in the publication as she was living on Bl
"The Blacks" Off-Broadway play opening day ad & review...
Item #701744
May 11, 1961
THE VILLAGE VOICE, Greenwich Village, New York, May 11, 1961
* "The Blacks" Off-Broadway play
* Opening day advertisement & review
* Theater director Gene Frankel
Page 10 has a advertisement for the opening week for "The Blacks" Off-Broadway play. Page 11 has it's opening day review which continues on other inside pages.
wikipedia notes: Gene Frankel's di... See More
Bird's-eye-view of Savannah, Georgia...
Item #174822
November 17, 1883
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, November 17, 1883 Front page print: "The Modern David--A Good Work Well Begun". Half page print: "The Labor of Sentenced Prisoners". Nice fullpg: "Sketches in Puget Sound" with 3 scenes. Very nice fullpg: "The City and Harbor of Savannah, Georgia" is a nice overview of the city. 2/3 page print: "The New Building of t... See More
1967 death of Mississippi John Hurt...
Item #703385
January 19, 1967
THE VILLAGE VOICE, Greenwich Village, New York, Jan. 19, 1967
* Guitarist Mississippi John Hurt death editorial
* African American blues singer & songwriter
The top of page 7 has a heading: "Mississippi John Hurt: Death of a quiet Legend" (see images)
I suspect this to be an extremely rare item because there was really no reason to save it at the time.
It is worth noting th... See More
1984 NYC Subway shootings... black teenagers...
Item #725092
December 24, 1984
USA TODAY, Dec. 24-25, 1984
* New York City Subway shooting
* Bernhard Goetz vigilante shootings
* 4 African American - black teenagers
* Self-defense or racism arguments ?
Page 3 has a one column heading:"NYC subway adds police after shootings" (see images) Not known at the time, Goetz would turn himself in nine days later.
Complete with all sections (28 page... See More
1968 Martin Luther King Jr. benefit concert at MSG...
Item #703828
June 27, 1968
THE VILLAGE VOICE (weekly), Greenwich Village, New York, June 27, 1968
* Martin Luther king Jr. benefit concert
* Madison Square Garden advertisement
* Aretha Franklin - Sonny & Cher and more
* "Mr. Bojangles" song release - Jerry Jeff Walker
The back page has a 6 x 4 inch advertisement for "Soul Together" benefit concert for Martin Luther King Jr.'s memorial f... See More
1963 Birmingham campaign... MLK...
Item #695982
May 21, 1963
THE DETROIT NEWS, May 21, 1963
* Birmingham campaign movement - Alabama
* Martin Luther King Jr. & Negro students protest
The front page has a one column heading: "Schools Bar 1,000 Negroes" with subhead: "Dr. King Plans Court Appeal in Birmingham" (see)
Complete with 40+ pages, light toning at the margins, small binding holes along the spine, generally in good cond... See More
The Albany Movement... Georgia civil rights...
Item #704537
October 04, 1962
THE VILLAGE VOICE (weekly), Greenwich Village, New York, Oct. 4, 1962
* The Albany Movement - Georgia
* Shiloh Baptist Church gathering
* Negroes - civil rights movement
* Martin Luther King Jr. speech
The front page has a heading: "In Albany Jails" with lead-in: "The Press of Freedom" and related photo. (see images) Lengthy text continues on multiple inside pages.
s... See More
Martin Luther King Jr. is arrested...
Item #696862
July 28, 1962
FITCHBURG SENTINEL, Mass., July 28, 1962
* Albany Georgia civil rights rally - prayer
* Martin Luther King Jr. arrest and put in jail (day of)
Page 6 has a two column heading: "Negro Strategists Map Plans In Racial Assault" (see) King and his associates would be arrested shortly after this publication was released.
Complete with 12 pages, light toning at the mar... See More
Thomas Nast prints... A.B. Frost print... "The Centennial" prints...
Item #174080
October 21, 1876
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, October 21, 1876 Full front page Thomas Nast: 'The Solid South--Gaunt & Hungry'.; Full page illustration A.B. Frost: 'Of Course He Wants to Vote the Democratic Ticket' shows a black man with 2 guns to his head.; Three fullpage prints on The Centennial.;
Full page Thomas Nast illustration: 'Struck - At Sea'; Hal... See More
Editorial commentary on Seward's "irrepressible conflict" speech...
Item #683708
October 28, 1858
NEW YORK HERALD, Oct. 28, 1858
* William H. Seward on slavery
* re. Irrepressible Conflict speech
Page 4 contains a lengthy editorial on Seward's "irrepressible conflict" speech given just 3 days prior at Rochester. In his speech Seward took the opportunity to characterize the United States as divided between two opposing political systems, one based on slavery and the ... See More
On the Fugitive Slave Act... Fillmore's state-of-the-union address...
Item #689777
December 05, 1850
NEW HAMPSHIRE PATRIOT & STATE GAZETTE, Concord, Dec. 5, 1850 The front page has 2 1/2 columns taken up with a length report concerning; "The Fugitive Slave Law--Is it Constitutional? Shall we Obey it? Or Shall We Disobey it & Become Rebels & Traitors to the Constitution and the Union?"
Much of pages 2 & 3 are taken up with the: "President's Message" w... See More
Negro girl being whipped... Sheridan's ride...
Item #173128
September 14, 1867
HARPER'S WEEKLY, Sept. 14, 1867 Most of ftpg: 'Whipping A Negro Girl in N.C. by Unconstructed Johnsonians' with text as well. 3/4 pg: 'Sheridan's Ride'. Nice fullpg: 'The Last Shot' shows a soldier off his horse, shooting an Indian with a tomahawk about to kill him.
Complete in sixteen pages.
Fort Pickens and Charleston...
Item #172532
December 28, 1861
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, December 28, 1861 The full front page is taken up with: "Union Refugees From Western Missouri Coming Into St. Louis". Other prints inside include: "Entrance to Fort Pickens, Facing Fort Barancas, After Two Days' Bombardment" "Northern Row of Guns at Fort Pickens..." "Bird's-Eye View of Fort Pickens During the Bombardme... See More
Second Battle of Bull Run...
Item #172606
September 13, 1862
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, September 13, 1862 The front page is taken up with a nearly full-figure print of "Major-General John Pope, Commanding the Army of Virginia" along with a biography of him.
Inside includes a full page with 2 prints of: "Manassas Junction...Scene of Several Recent Fights" which is the Second Battle of Bull Run; a full page with 3 prints of: &q... See More
The Battle of Jackson, Mississippi...
Item #172686
June 20, 1863
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, June 20, 1863 Most of the front page is taken up with 2 prints: "The Iron-Clad Gunboat 'Cincinnati', Sunk at Vicksburg." and "The Monster Tent Erected at Chicago for the Canal Convention." Among the prints inside are a full page: "Triumphal Entry of the Army of Major-General Banks Into Alexandria, Louisiana" and a fullpg: &... See More
James T. Scales lynching... Pikeville, TN...
Item #713899
November 24, 1944
THE SPRINGFIELD UNION, Mass. November 24, 1944
* James T. Scales, Pikeville, Tennessee lynching
* Great World War II coverage vs. Japanese
The front page has one column heading: "NEGRO TRUSTEE SLAIN BY MOB" with subhead. (see images) First report coverage on the lynching of Negro teen James T. Scales in Pikeville, Tennessee.
Complete with 16 pages, light toning and s... See More
United Negro College Fund is founded....
Item #682683
May 01, 1944
NEW YORK TIMES, May 1, 1944
* UNCF founded - starts
* United Negro College Fund
Page 17 has a brief, discrete but very notable article with one column headings: "Drive To Open Wednesday" "United Negro College Fund Seeks to Raise $1,500,000".
Complete in 34 pages, this is the "rag edition" printed on very high quality newsprint meant for institutional hol... See More
Marianna, Florida Negro lynching... Claude Neal...
Item #670707
October 27, 1934
CHICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE, October 27, 1934
* Claude Neal Negro lynching
* Marianna, Jackson County, Florida
The front page has a one column heading: "Lynch Negro In Florida as Girl's Slayer" (see) First report coverage on the lynching of Claude Neal at Marianna, Florida
Complete with all 30 pages, rag edition in great condition. A few small binding holes along the spine.
... See More
Scottsboro Boys rape case ends in 1937...
Item #721815
July 25, 1937
THE NEW YORK TIMES, July 25, 1937
* Scottsboro Boys case ends w/ release
* African American teenagers - Negroes
The top of the front page has a one column heading: "SCOTTSBORO CASE ENDS AS 4 GO FREE; 2 MORE GET PRISON" with subheads. (see images)
Complete 1st section only with 28 pages, light toning and some wear at the margins, generally good.
background: On July 24, 1937, i... See More
1919 Chicago Race Riot... Red Summer...
Item #711332
July 30, 1919
THE NEW YORK TIMES, July 30, 1919
* Chicago, Illinois race riots
* Negroes vs. white citizens
* The Red Summer of 1919
The top of the front page has a one column heading: "28 DEAD, 500 HURT IN THREE-DAY RACE RIOTS IN CHICAGO" with subheads. (see images)
Complete in 22 pages, light toning at the margins, a little irregular along the spine, generally very nice.
wiki... See More
1933 Princess Anne, Maryland Negro lynching...
Item #688519
October 20, 1933
THE SCRANTON TIMES, Pennsylvania, October 20, 1933.
* George Armwood Negro lynched
* Princess Anne, Maryland
* Last lynching in the state
Page 2 has a two column photo with heading: "Victim Of Maryland Lynching" See images for brief coverage on the lynching of Negro George Armwood in Princess Anne, Maryland.
Complete with 36 pages, light toning and minor wear at the margins, ge... See More
Abbeville, Alabama Negro lynching...
Item #687819
February 05, 1937
THE NEW YORK TIMES, February 5, 1937
* Wesley Johnson Negro lynching
* Abbeville, Henry County, Alabama
The top of the front page has a small one column heading: "Acts to Impeach Sheriff After Alabama Lynching" (see) First report coverage on the lynching of Negro Wes Johnson at Abbeville, Alabama.
Other news, sports and advertisements of the day. Complete in 40... See More
Fire at Baltimore... Auto Races at Ormond Beach...
Item #177239
February 13, 1904
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, February 13, 1904
Jewish... Football...
Item #177333
December 02, 1905
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, December 2, 1905
Automobile Show at Madison Square Garden....
Item #177375
January 20, 1906
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, January 20, 1906
H.G. Wells...
A Fourth of July crash, and a Train disaster in England....
Item #177401
July 21, 1906
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, July 21, 1906
Cars of 1907....
Item #177436
March 16, 1907
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, March 16, 1907
Alfred Vanderbilt weds... William H Lewis being ousted out the American Bar Association...
Item #589685
March 05, 1912
VALLEY SENTINEL, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, March 5, 1912 The front page features a large photo of Mrs. Alfred G. Vanderbilt, whom he had just recently married. Just slightly more than three years later, Mr. Vanderbilt would be among the victims in the sinking of the Lusitania.
Another article within the issue is "Fights for Lewis" which was Attorney General Wickersham stating that... See More
Ernest Thomas lynching...
Item #570136
July 27, 1949
THE NEW YORK TIMES, New York, July 27, 1949
* Ernest Thomas, Perry, Florida lynching
This 48 page newspaper has one column headlines on the back page (Pg. 48): "POSSE KILLS NEGRO FLORIDA FUGITIVE" and "He Was Hunted in Groveland Rape Case--Alabama Will Reopen Terror Inquiry". Tells of the lynching of negro Ernest Thomas in Perry, Florida.
Other news of the day througho... See More
Great news from the Mexican War... Four slave-related ads from this leading slave import city...
Item #695246
August 12, 1847
THE CHARLESTON COURIER, South Carolina, Aug. 12, 1847 In 14 years this city would be the hotbed for secession from the Union, not surprising given it was the largest American point of disembarkation for the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
Page 2 has a great wealth of reporting from the Mexican War, including historic reports on General Scott having come to the gates of Mexico City, one of th
... See More
Cartersville GA lynching...
Item #569821
October 02, 1930
THE NEW YORK TIMES, New York, October 2, 1930 This 52 page newspaper has one column headlines on page 13 that include: "MOB COMES BACK AND LYNCHES NEGRO" "Takes Victim From Georgia Jail as Trial Nears, Troops Having Once Saved Him
* KEEPER'S KEYS ARE SEIZED" and more. (see)
This tells of the lynching of Negro John Will Clark in Cartersville, Georgia.
Other news of ... See More
Capture of a slave ship...
Item #698110
January 12, 1854
DAILY OHIO STATESMAN, Columbus, Jan. 12, 1854
* H.N. Ganbrill schooner
* Slaver - slave ship captured
* USS Constitution's last prize
Page 3 has: "The Slaver Gambrill--The Recent Seizure of a Slaver on the Coast of Africa" which includes: "...it was found that the slave deck had all been laid...a large quantity of water & slave provisions, sufficient to s... See More
1859 Pike's Peak Gold Mining as a marketing ploy...
Item #698426
March 22, 1859
THE NORWALK EXPERIMENT, Huron County, Ohio, March 22, 1859
* Pike's Peak Gold Mining as an advertising hook
* Who should go to Pike's Peak
* Easier for negros in Massachusetts than foreigners (?)
The back page has a bold ad which appears to be seeking workers for the Pike Peak Gold Mines, but upon further inspection, the ad is actually for A. H. ROSE & CO's Store. However, ... See More
Cleve McDowell admmited at Old Miss...
Item #696429
May 29, 1963
THE DETROIT FREE PRESS, May 29, 1963
* Cleve McDowell - civil rights pioneer
* 1st black to attend Ole Miss school of law
The top of page 18 has a six column heading: "Ole Miss Is Ordered to Admit Second Negro Student" (see images)
Complete with 48 pages, library stamp within the masthead, light toning at the margins, small binding holes along the spine, generally nice.... See More
1935 Berlin Anti-Jewish riots... Negro lynchings...
Item #695664
July 16, 1935
CHICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE, July 16, 1935
* Anti-Semitic riots - Berlin, Germany
* Pre Kristallnacht - Jewish holocaust - Jews
* Dooley Morgan & Bert Moore Negroes lynchings
* Columbus, Lowndes County, Mississippi
The front page has a one column heading: "Nazi Rioters Attack Jews in Berlin Cafes" (see)
The top of page 9 has a one column heading: "2 ARE LYNCHED IN MISSISSIP... See More
Tiger Flowers 1st Negro middleweight champ...
Item #723972
February 27, 1926
FITCHBURG SENTINEL, Mass., February 27, 1926
* Tiger Flowers vs. Harry Greb
* 1st African-American middleweight champ
* Boxing - boxers - "The Georgia Deacon"
The sport's section (page 8) has a two column heading: "Tiger Flowers, Victim of Many Knockouts, Becomes a Champion". (see images)
Complete with 12 pages, light toning and very minor wear at the margins, gene... See More
Patterson v. Alabama... Scottsboro Boys....
Item #712552
April 02, 1935
CHICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE, April 2, 1935
* Patterson v. Alabama decision
* United States Supreme Court case
* Scottsboro Boys rape case
* Jury of African-Americans
The front page has a one column heading: "2D SCOTTSBORO DEATH PENALTY UPSET BY COURT" with subhead. (see images) Coverage continues on page 14 with photo of Haywood Patterson.
Complete with 34 pages, rag edition in nice... See More
1904 Lynching of Paul Reed & Will Cato...
Item #693216
August 16, 1904
THE EVENING TRIBUNE, San Diego, Aug. 16, 1904
* Lynching of Paul Reed and Will Cato - Negroes
* Statesboro & Savannah - Georgia race war
The top of the front page has a one column heading: "A RACE RIOT IS NOW IMMINENT" with subhead. (see) Surprisingly this issue is in good condition being from the "wood pulp" era. Very hard to find issues that are not totally fragile... See More
General Halleck leads the army in Missouri...
Item #172524
November 30, 1861
HARPER'S WEEKLY, New York, November 30, 1861 The entire front page is taken up with a print captioned: "Major-General Halleck, U.S.A., Commanding Our Army In Missouri". Inside has a small map of: "Fernandina, Florida"; a full page with two prints of: "Headquarters of General Wright at Fort Walker, Hilton Head, South Carolina, formerly Those of General Drayton of ... See More
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