The Gary American (Gary, Ind.) 1928-Current
Historic newspapers carry the language, views and graphic reporting of their time, including racist content. They are shown to teen and adult profiles.
1,492 issues from 1928 to 1963, published in Gary, Indiana, digitised for Chronicling America.
In 1927, Arthur B. Whitlock, David E. Taylor, and Chauncey Townsend headed the formation of the Gary American Publishing Company in Gary, Indiana. On November 10th, 1927, the Gary Colored American, a weekly African American paper, published its first issue with Townsend as editor and Whitlock as manager.
The Gary Colored American led reporting on the 1927 Emerson School Walkout, when white students and parents protested the integration of six African American students into the school. In response, Colored American reporters advocated for the construction of Roosevelt High School to serve Gary’s African American children in. In 1928, the Gary Colored American changed its name to the Gary American, becoming one of Gary’s most prominent African American newspapers. While initial circulation numbers are unavailable, the American claimed in 1928 a readership of nearly 2,000 readers. In 1929, its masthead asserted that the American was an “independent paper” devoted to African American interests in Northern Indiana. In the 1920s and 1930s, its reporters highlighted the increase of lynchings across the U.S., the struggle of integrating Marquette Beach, and labor concerns regarding the United Steel Workers at Gary Steel.
From 1934-1936, Black attorney Fritz Alexander served as editor until Arthur B. Whitlock regained control. Whitlock’s politics leaned towards the Republican party, and the American advocated for Republican candidates while under his management. Whitlock left the…
- Genres
- News
- Published in
- Gary, Indiana, United States
- Language
- English
- Collection
- Chronicling America
- Licence or status
- None stated by the archive
- Rights
- The Library of Congress believes that the newspapers in Chronicling America are in the public domain or have no known copyright restrictions. Newspapers published in the United States more than 95 years ago are in the public domain in their entirety.
- Credit
- Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers, Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities
- Who can read it
- Teens profiles and older (placed by Invisible Network from what the archive says; archives give no ratings)
- Archive
- Library of Congress