Historic Newspapers: Elections & Inaugurations

THE VIRGINIA GAZETTE (with Supplement), Williamsburg, Mar. 17, 1775 

* Very rare Colonial Virginia publication
* Election of Patrick Henry

 This newspaper was published by Alexander Purdie, a… more

THE PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST, Philadelphia, April 18, 1776  

* Great year to have (1776)
* American Revolutionary War
* Rare mention of Button Gwinnett
* Birth of the American Postal System

A front page… more

Pamphlet titled: "A SERMON, preached before His Excellency JOHN HANCOCK, Esq; governor; His Honor THOMAS CUSHING, Esq; lieutenant-governor; the Honorable the Council, and the Honorable the SENATE,… more

THE INDEPENDENT GAZETTEER; OR THE CHRONICLE OF FREEDOM, Philadelphia, May 26, 1787  

* Constitutional Convention begins
* George Washington elected president 

An exceedingly historic issue as this… more

THE COLUMBIAN MAGAZINE, Philadelphia, April, 1789 

* President George Washington
* Election victory & inauguration

 Certainly the most notable content is found in "The Chronicle" section near… more

THE MASSACHUSETTS CENTINEL, Boston, April 4, 1789

* General George Washington
* New York City prepares welcome
* First Inauguration as U.S. president 

 Page 3 notes preparations are being… more

THE HERALD OF FREEDOM & THE FEDERAL ADVERTISER, Boston, April 10, 1789  

* George Washington presidential election win

This is a very historically significant issue, reporting the official results of… more

GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, England, May, 1789  Certainly the most significant---and very historic--report in this issue is the account under the heading "America" of George Washington being… more

GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, England, May, 1789

* George Washington elected 1st president of U.S.
* From the enemy just after the Revolutionary War

  Certainly the most significant---and… more

THE MASSACHUSETTS MAGAZINE OR MONTHLY MUSEUM, Boston, May, 1789  

* President George Washington
* Inauguration - inaugural address
* A detailed eyewitness account 
* In a American publication (rare)

Rarel… more

THE PENNSYLVANIA PACKET & DAILY ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, May 4, 1789  

* President George Washington
* 1st Inauguration - inaugural address

Most of page 3 is taken up with reports on the: "Proceedings… more

WALKER'S HIBERNIAN MAGAZINE, (Dublin, Ireland), July, 1789  Bill Reese noted in one of his catalogs: "This important Irish monthly was founded in 1771 and continued until 1811, the later years under… more

THE LONDON CHRONICLE, England, July 16, 1789  

* President George Washington
* First inauguration (historic)

Certainly one of the more desirable events to have in a period newspaper is the first… more

THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, February, 1793

* George Washington re-election
* Botany Bay - Australia

There are several items of interest, one of which is several pages on the: "Minutes… more

NATIONAL GAZETTE, Philadelphia, Feb. 20, 1793

* President George Washington
* Historic 2nd election victory

By far the most significant item in this issue is the page 3 report announcing the… more

"A Sermon Preached Before His Honor Samuel Adams, Esq. Lieutenant Governor; the Honorable the Council, Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, May 28tyh, 1794.… more

COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, May 11, 1796  

* Samuel Adams, Massachusetts governor
* 18th century American original

Page 2 has a very brief report: "His Excellency Samuel Adams is re-elected… more

THOMAS'S MASSACHUSETTS SPY OR WORCESTER GAZETTE, Nov. 9, 1796  The front page is taken up with various reports from Europe, with further reports on pages 2 & 3. Page 3 also has reports headed:… more

THOMAS'S MASSACHUSETTS SPY OR WORCESTER GAZETTE, Feb. 22, 1797  

* John Adams presidential election
* Thomas Jefferson as vice president

Page 2 has a report from the "Proceedings of the Columbian… more

THE HERALD; A GAZETTE FOR THE COUNTRY, New York, March 8, 1797  

* John Adams inauguration
* V.P. Thomas Jefferson

The front page has an address: "To George Washington" from the Penna.… more

THE WEEKLY MUSEUM, New York, June 2, 1798  Page 3 has results of the: "Election" for Governor, showing a majority for Livingstone over John Jay. Also: "An Act More Effectually to Protect the… more

JENKS' PORTLAND GAZETTE, Maine (still part of Mass. at this time), March 2, 1801  

* Thomas Jefferson finally wins
* Controversial election of 1800

The election of 1800 was a very contentious… more

THOMAS'S MASSACHUSETTS SPY OR WORCESTER GAZETTE, March 11, 1801  Page 3 has, under: "President Elect" a report: "The Committee instructed on the 18th instant to wait the President Elect and notify… more

MIDDLESEX GAZETTE, Middletown, Connecticut, March 13, 1801 

* Thomas Jefferson finally wins
* Controversial election of 1800

Page 2 has a notable report on the election of Jefferson,… more

COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, March 14, 1801  Near the top of page 2, beneath an introductory paragraph, is Thomas Jefferson's last message to the Senate as the President pro tempore before he would… more

NEWBURYPORT HERALD & COUNTRY GAZETTE, Massachusetts, March 17, 1801  

* Thomas Jefferson's first inauguration
* President of the United States of America

Page 2 contains Thomas Jefferson's first… more

THOMAS'S MASSACHUSETTS SPY OR WORCESTER GAZETTE, July 1, 1801  

* re. Thomas Jefferson's presidential election victory

Page 3 has an address by the legislature of Rhode Island to the President,… more

BOSTON GAZETTE, March 14, 1805 

* President Thomas Jefferson
* Inauguration - inaugural address

Page 2 has the lengthy: "President Jefferson's Speech" which is his inaugural address, introduced with:… more

NILES' WEEKLY REGISTER, Baltimore, Feb. 15, 1817  Featured is a chart showing that James Monroe is in the lead for Presidency of the United States. Another report has much detail on: "Cleopatra's… more

NEW YORK SPECTATOR, Feb. 19, 1817  The top of the front page as an announcing: "According to the provisions of the constitution the votes...for President and Vice President were yesterday… more

NILES' WEEKLY REGISTER, Baltimore, Dec. 16, 1820  

* President Monroe is re-elected
* Rare mention of Daniel Boone
* Frigate Constitution is being re-fitted

The back page has a report with a… more

NILES' WEEKLY REGISTER, Baltimore, March 10, 1821  Beginning at the bottom of the front page is: "Inaugural Speech", which has a prefacing paragraph which includes: "On Monday last, the 5th of… more

NILES' WEEKLY REGISTER, Baltimore, Nov. 27, 1824  The front page features a chart headed: "Presidential Election - Returns so far as they are known" showing votes for Adams, Clay, Crawford, and… more

NILES' WEEKLY REGISTER, Baltimore, Dec. 4, 1824  Among the articles are: "Presidential Election" which has a chart showing states and votes for each, plus another report of the Alabama votes for… more

BOSTON RECORDER & TELEGRAPH, Boston, Massachusetts, September 15, 1826

* Florida Territory elections for 1st time

Page 3 has a historic report reading, in full:

* An election is to be… more

THE WEEKLY REGISTER, Baltimore, Oct. 14, 1826 

* First Jews elected in Maryland
* Judaica - Jewish
* Andrew Jackson

One of the reports within has a small head: "The Jews" with the text… more

UNITED STATES' TELEGRAPH--EXTRA, Washington, July 26, 1828  This was a campaign journal "...devoted exclusively to the Presidential election..." as stated in the masthead. It was published by Duff… more

UNITED STATES' TELEGRAPH--EXTRA, Washington, Aug. 2, 1828  

* Rare campaign periodical
* General Andrew Jackson

This was a campaign journal "...devoted exclusively to the Presidential… more

NILES' WEEKLY REGISTER, Baltimore, Nov. 22, 1828  One of the front page reports has a small head: "The Election" which begins: "The most anxious & ardent, as well as the most rude & ruthless… more

NILES' WEEKLY REGISTER, Baltimore, March 7, 1829  

* President Andrew Jackson
* Inauguration - inaugural address

An inside page has a nice article headed: "The Inauguration" which begins with… more

EXTRA GLOBE, Washington, D.C., Oct. 8, 1832  

* President Andrew Jackson presidential campaign 

This was a short-lived campaign newspaper that existed to promote the re-election of Andrew Jackson for… more

NILES' WEEKLY REGISTER, Baltimore, Nov. 17, 1832  The front page has a lengthy editorial which begins: "The presidential election has so far proceeded as to render the result certain, that "Andrew… more

NILES' WEEKLY REGISTER, Baltimore, Nov. 17, 1832  The front page has a lengthy editorial which begins:
"The presidential election has so far proceeded as to render the result certain, that "Andrew… more

NILES' WEEKLY REGISTER, Baltimore, March 9, 1833 

* General & President Andrew Jackson
* Inauguration - inaugural address

Certainly the best content in this issue is the inside page account… more

NILES' WEEKLY REGISTER, Baltimore, Oct. 1, 1836  Inside has a report: "Texas" mentioning Santa Ana, and that: "...The election for president took place on the 5th instant. General Samuel Houston was… more

HANOVER HERALD, Hanover, Pennsylvania, November 22, 1836. Page 3 features the Official Returns for President and Vice President for Pennsylvania along with the Electoral Election results.  The front… more

NILES' WEEKLY REGISTER, Baltimore, Feb. 11, 1837  Near the back is a report from Congress which includes, in part, a report of the formal election of Martin Van Buren as President, evidenced by a… more

NEW YORK OBSERVER, March 11, 1837

* Martin Van Buren inauguration
* Andrew Jackson farewell address

 Pages 2 and 3 contain the lengthy: "Farewell Address of Andrew Jackson" signed by him in… more

VERMONT CHRONICLE, Windsor, March 16, 1837  

* Martin Van Buren inauguration
* Andrew Jackson farewell address

Half of page 2 and most of page 3 are taken up with the: "Farewell Address Of… more

THE GLOBE, New Bedford, Massachusetts, Oct. 23, 1840 

* Election fraud proclaimed
* William Henry Harrison vs. Martin Van Buren
* First October surprise?

Page 3 has a 1.5 column article on… more