African American Newspapers

The Society's newspaper collection contains thirty African American publications. The St. Louis Advance perhaps established as early as 1881, is one of the earliest known black newspapers published in Missouri. Most of the state's African American newspapers have been published in Kansas City and St. Louis, but Caruthersville, Charleston, Hannibal, Jefferson City, Joplin, Sedalia and Sikeston have also serves as the home of African American newspapers.

Researchers can find in these papers national and local news of interest to the African American community and prominently feature ads for black businesses. The Kansas City Call, established in 1919, is one of several black newspapers currently being published. At a time when many local papers printed few items of interest to the black community or omitted such coverage altogether, The Call tried to fill the gap. News about small black Missouri communities often found a place in the pages of The Call. Today its coverage is more local, highlighting Kansas city and the surrounding area.

African American newspapers among the Society's holdings directed toward a specific readership include The Western Messenger, later known as the Baptist Record, first published in Jefferson City, then in St. Louis and finally in Kansas City. The Western Christian Recorder established in 1891 as the official organ of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, was published in Kansas City. Sedalia was the home of The Searchlight, published for the members of the United Brothers of Friendship and Sisters of Mysterious Ten Lodge.

African American Newspapers on Microfilm

Boone County

Columbia

• Blackout

  Nov 20, 1969 (microfiche)

• Professional World

  Nov 1, 1901-Dec 25, 1903

Cole County

Jefferson City

• Western Messenger (Baptist)

  Jan 9, 1914-Dec 1, 1916 (moved to St. Louis)

Jackson County

Kansas City

• American

  Jun 21, 1928-Jan 12, 1933

• Baptist Record

  Jan 27-Feb 17, 1921 (on roll with Kansas City Western Messenger)

• Call

  Nov 1, 1919; Jan 7, 1922-present

• Globe

  Jan 31, 1986; Jly 24, Aug 14, Oct 2, Nov 13, 27, Dec 25, 1992; Jan 1, Mar 19-Apr 9, 23, 1993-Feb 25, May 6, 1994-present

• Inter-State Herald

  Aug 1, 1903-Apr 2, 1904

• Liberator

  Jan 2-Dec 24, 1903

• Missouri State Post

  May 21, Jun 4, Dec 31, 1987; Jan 14, May 5, 19, Jly 21, 28-Aug 18, 1988; Oct 18, 1990; Oct 3, 1991-May 7, 1992

• Rising Son

  Jan 16, 1903-Dec 28, 1907

• Son

  Dec 7, 1912

• Sun

  Jan 10, 1914-Jun 7, 1924

• Western Christian Recorder (AME Church)

  Oct 26, 1911-Sep 16, 1915

• Western Messenger (Baptist)

  Aug 2-Oct 11, Nov 1, 8, Dec 6, 1918; Jan 2-Dec 19, 1919; Jan 2-Feb 27, Mar 12, 26-May 20, Jun 4, 9, 18-Aug 27, Sep 24-Oct 8, 1920

Marion County

Hannibal

• Home Protective Record

  May 14, Aug 20, Oct 8, Dec 31, 1914

Mississippi County

Charleston

• Spokesman

  Aug 18-31, 1934 (on roll with Sikeston Southeast Missouri World)

Pettis County

Sedalia

• Weekly Conservator

  May 8, 1903-Dec 23, 1905; Jan 6-17, Feb 17-Mar 10, 24, Jly 21, Aug 4, Dec 24, 1906; Jan 7-28, Feb 11-Mar 4, 18-May 13, 25-Jly 15, 29-Aug 5, 26, Dec 9-23, 1907; Jan 6, 20, 27, Feb 10-Mar 9, 23, Apr 5-26, May 11-Jun 15, 29-Aug 31, Sep 14, 21, 1908

• Times

  Aug 31, 1901-Dec 29, 1903; Jan 21-Feb 4, 1905

St. Louis – Independent City

• American

  Jly 14, Sep 8, 1949-present

• Argus

  Jan 1, 1915-Dec 13, 1918; Feb 21, 1919-Oct 17, 1969; Mar 6, 1970-Dec 28, 1972; Mar 8, 1973-Dec 23, 1982; Jun 28-Aug 23, Nov 1, 15, Dec 6, 1984; Jun 26, 1986 (many missing issues)

• Palladium

  Jan 10, 1903-Oct 5, 1907

• Sentinel

  Mar 16, 1968-present

• Western Messenger (Baptist)

  Dec 16, 1916-Nov 24, 1917

Scott County

Sikeston

• Southeast Missouri World

  Nov 25, 1939

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Last updatedDecember 19, 2007->