Timelines

Explore histories of migration, citizenship and belonging in Germany and the U.S. over the centuries.

1900

Immigrant Press Booms

In 1900, more than 1,000 foreign-language and ethnic newspapers were in circulation. During this period of mass immigration, the boom in “ethnic press” reflected significant cultural, religious, and linguistic diversity. Immigrants, often underrepresented in mainstream press, turned toward alternative journalism and published their own newspapers. It also allowed immigrants to stay connected with news from their home countries as well access information in their native language. Migrant newspapers and ethnic press created a space for greater participation, dialogue, and representation in the media.

Prior to this 20th century ethnic press boom, Benjamin Franklin helped start one of the first well-circulated German daily newspapers in Philadelphia in 1794. From 1794 to 1798, the Courrier Français, a French newspaper, was published in Philadelphia. Spanish newspapers appeared in New Orleans and Texas in the early nineteenth century. The first Native American press, The Cherokee Phoenix, was created in Georgia in 1828. Beginning in the 1830s, penny papers, or more affordable newspapers, also catered to immigrants in cities and spurred political inclusion and knowledge.

Migrant newspapers and ethnic press created a space for greater participation, dialogue, and representation in the media.

United States

Sources

Sally M. Miller. The Ethnic Press in the United States: A Historical Analysis and Handbook. New York: Greenwood Press, 1987.
History. The Jewish Daily Forward. Forward. Date accessed: August 31, 2015.
The Ethnic Press. Universities Libraries Guide. University of Maryland, August 4, 2015. Date accessed: August 31, 2015.
Mitchell Stephens. History of Newspapers. History of Newspapers – Mitchell Stephens. New York University. Date accessed: August 31, 2015.
Jewish Daily Forward (American Newspaper). Encyclopaedia Britannica. 2015. Date accessed: August 31, 2015.
Abraham Cahan. Jewish Virtual Library. Date accessed: August 31, 2015.
Immigrant Press. Harvard University Library Open Collections Program. Date accessed: August 31, 2015.

Additional Resources