Pittsburgh Courier
Encyclopedia
The Pittsburgh Courier was an American newspaper published in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
, which was published from 1907 to 1965. Once the country's most widely circulated Black newspaper, the legacy and influence of the Pittsburgh Courier is unparalleled.
A pillar of the Black Press, it rose alongside the civil rights movement and was among its most forceful voices.
At its peak, the paper boasted a national circulation of almost 200,000 with over 400 employees in 14 cities. Widely read, the Pittsburgh Courier set the tone on major issues impacting the African-American community and people paid attention. In the 1930s, the Courier urged Black voters to "turn Lincoln
's picture to the wall" and vote Democrat
, creating a political alliance that endures to this day.
Some famous contributors to the Courier were Joel Augustus Rogers
, who worked as a journalist for the Courier in the 1920s, and Sam Milai
, editorial cartoonist for the Courier for 33 years. The Courier was the first to spot the talent of a young William Gardner Smith
, who was hired by the Courier while still in high school. This was in 1943, some years before he gained fame as an expatriate
novelist and journalist living in France.
In 1965, the Courier went into bankruptcy and ceased publishing.
, who re-opened it as the New Pittsburgh Courier, intended to carry on in the tradition of the original Courier.
As of 2011, the New Pittsburgh Courier's publisher is Rod Doss, Assistant to the Publisher is Stephan Broadus, and its Managing Editor is Ulish Carter.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, which was published from 1907 to 1965. Once the country's most widely circulated Black newspaper, the legacy and influence of the Pittsburgh Courier is unparalleled.
A pillar of the Black Press, it rose alongside the civil rights movement and was among its most forceful voices.
At its peak, the paper boasted a national circulation of almost 200,000 with over 400 employees in 14 cities. Widely read, the Pittsburgh Courier set the tone on major issues impacting the African-American community and people paid attention. In the 1930s, the Courier urged Black voters to "turn Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
's picture to the wall" and vote Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, creating a political alliance that endures to this day.
Some famous contributors to the Courier were Joel Augustus Rogers
Joel Augustus Rogers
Joel Augustus Rogers was a Jamaican-American author, journalist, and historian who contributed to the history of Africa and the African diaspora, especially the history of African Americans in the United States. His research spanned the academic fields of history, sociology and anthropology...
, who worked as a journalist for the Courier in the 1920s, and Sam Milai
Sam Milai
Ahmed Samuel Milai , better known as Sam Milai, was an American editorial cartoonist who drew for the Pittsburgh Courier.- External links :* http://cartoons.osu.edu/?q=exhibits/sam-milai-pittsburgh-courier...
, editorial cartoonist for the Courier for 33 years. The Courier was the first to spot the talent of a young William Gardner Smith
William Gardner Smith
William Gardner Smith was an American journalist, novelist, and editor. Smith is linked to the black social protest novel tradition of the 1940s and the 1950s, a movement that became synonymous with writers such as Richard Wright, Ralph Ellison, Willard Motley, and Ann Petry...
, who was hired by the Courier while still in high school. This was in 1943, some years before he gained fame as an expatriate
Expatriate
An expatriate is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing...
novelist and journalist living in France.
In 1965, the Courier went into bankruptcy and ceased publishing.
New Pittsburgh Courier
Following the closure of the original Pittsburgh Courier, its assets were acquired in 1966 by John H. SengstackeJohn H. Sengstacke
John Herman Henry Sengstacke was an African American newspaper publisher. He worked with President Franklin D. Roosevelt to have African American reporters in the White House and to create jobs in the United States Postal Service for African Americans. One of John’s biggest objectives was to...
, who re-opened it as the New Pittsburgh Courier, intended to carry on in the tradition of the original Courier.
As of 2011, the New Pittsburgh Courier's publisher is Rod Doss, Assistant to the Publisher is Stephan Broadus, and its Managing Editor is Ulish Carter.
External links
- New Pittsburgh Courier Online
- Finding aid to the Percival L. Prattis Papers, executive editor of the Pittsburgh Courier, at the Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh
- Finding aid to the Frank E. Bolden Papers, reporter and city editor of the Pittsburgh Courier, the Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh