One-hit Wonders

The American Antiquarian Society has a large number of periodicals and newspapers of which only a single issue was printed before they folded.  There are a variety of reasons for why this might be.  Sometimes issue no. 1 is really a prospectus trying to generate interest and subscribers, but failing in this mission.  Often it ...

The Acquisitions Table: Aspinwall Courier

Aspinwall Courier.  Aspinwall, Panama. In the 1850s, Aspinwall (today known as Cólon) was founded as one of the end points of the Panama Railroad, which spanned the isthmus for and provided part of the route to and from the California gold rush regions.  This paper was edited by Frederic E. Foster and printed in English for ...

Adopt-a-Book 2013: Romney and Obama, 1844 style

On Friday, April 5th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., the American Antiquarian Society will be hosting our 6th Annual Adopt-A-Book event. This event is an important fundraiser for the curatorial team at the Society, and monies raised will go towards future acquisitions of books, prints, newspapers, manuscripts, and children’s literature. Below are examples of two ...

The Acquisitions Table: The National Pathfinder

The National Pathfinder (Nashville, Tennessee).  Mar. 5, 1860. This appears to be mainly an advertising paper with small bits of news and poetry.  Even some of the news items are really puff pieces for local businesses.  According to a Nashville directory from 1860 it was published in the office of the Nashville Patriot which had a ...

The Acquisitions Table: The Clay Tribune

The Clay Tribune (New York).  May 4 – Nov. 2, 1844. 23 issues. This file combined with the issues already owned by AAS gives us one of three known complete files of this campaign newspaper.  It was published by Horace Greeley as a separate political issue of the daily and weekly Tribune.  Greeley greatly admired Henry ...

The Acquisitions Table: Plea for the Oppressed and Enslaved

Plea for the Oppressed and Enslaved (Austinburg, OH).  Feb. 3, 1847.  Vol. 1, no. 3. This title was mentioned in a county history in 1878, but no copy could be located in any library or historical society.  The content was mostly written by Betsey Mix Cowles and Abby Kelley Foster and was published by Jane Elizabeth ...

The Acquisitions Table: The Iris, or Orleans Evening Post

The Iris, or Orleans Evening Post (New Orleans, LA).  June 27, 1823.  Vol. 1, no. 57. This is an unrecorded daily New Orleans newspaper that appeared on eBay.  It was started by the New Orleans Typographical Association in May 1823.  According to an article in the Salem Gazette (MA) of June 3, 1823, this paper was ...

Rochester Institute of Technology Honors Isaiah Thomas and AAS

Each year, the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) honors a person or an organization with the Isaiah Thomas Award in Publishing in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the industry. This year’s award honors AAS, in honor of the 200th anniversary of our founding by none other than  Isaiah Thomas himself. The award ceremony will take place ...

The Acquisitions Table: Southern Rights

Southern Rights (Jacksonville, FL).  Oct. 4, 1862. When Brigadier General J.M. Brannan took over Jacksonville, FL, his troops found standing type in the newspaper office and pied it.  Later some of them took a proof sheet of the Oct. 4, 1862 copy and added an extra paragraph at the end and printed up some copies “for ...

The Acquisitions Table: The Other Side

The Other Side (Bloomington, IL).  Apr. 14, 1868.  Vol. 1, no. 4. This is a campaign newspaper printed in broadside format.  It was a Republican paper edited by C.F. Merriman, a long-time newspaper editor of this town.  Though stating it was to be published daily, output was irregular, and it claimed a circulation of 2,000.  The ...

Calling all Newsies: NY Paps for Adoption Here!

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Don't let the name fool you -- Adopt-a-Book is for newsies too. AAS's fifth annual Adopt-A-Book event is coming up this Tuesday, April 3, at 6 p.m. Browse the 2012 Adopt-A-Book Catalog to view the 150 items up for adoption.  Here are a few highlights of New York newspapers still available for adoption. ...

The Acquisitions Table: Our Song Birds

Our Song Birds (Chicago, IL). July 1866. George Root was noted as a composer and as one of the largest music publishers in Chicago during the 1860s. This cute little 64-page booklet was written by Root and B.R. Hanby, and published by Root & Cady. It comprises one issue of a juvenile musical quarterly, Our Song ...