Early American Newspapers: Series 13, 1803-1916

Daily Alta California (San Francisco, California; 1850-1876)

• The first daily newspaper in California, the Daily Alta California chronicled the rise of San Francisco from a provincial port-town to a major Western city. It was printed on the first steam-driven press in the West, and its excellent journalism soon made it the leading paper of the state.

Era (New Orleans, Louisiana; 1863-1864)

• The Era chronicled New Orleans during its rise to become the largest city in the American South. This run of the paper includes its reporting of the Civil War era, during which New Orleans fell under the control of the Union Army.

Minnesota Pioneer (St. Paul, Minnesota; 1856-1865)

• This run of the Minnesota Pioneer covers St. Paul during an era that saw Minnesota achieve statehood and economic prosperity. During this decade, the more than 1,000 steamboats that were in service in St. Paul made it the gateway for settlers to the Minnesota frontier and Dakota Territory.

Daily Missouri Republican (St. Louis, Missouri; 1849-1876)

• During the era covered here, the Daily Missouri Republican described the rise of St. Louis as a major gateway to the West. It also covered the national and local effects of the Civil War, with especially detailed reporting on the many Missourians who played key roles in the conflict.

Omaha Daily Republican (Omaha, Nebraska; 1866-1880)

• The Omaha Daily Republican chronicled the city’s explosive growth following the Civil War and the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad, the construction of which commenced in Omaha in 1866.

Las Vegas Daily Optic (Las Vegas, New Mexico; 1880-1890)

• Published when Las Vegas was still part of Mexico, this run of the Las Vegas Daily Optic covers the city when it was one of the largest towns in the region. The arrival of the railroad in 1879 brought Las Vegas increased prosperity and many new residents, including a number of notorious outlaws such as Billy the Kid, Wyatt Earp, and Jesse James. As Ralph E. Twitchell—a former mayor of Santa Fe—once wrote: “Without exception there was no town which harbored a more disreputable gang of desperadoes and outlaws than did Las Vegas.”

Denver Tribune (Denver, Colorado; 1876-1883)

• This run of the Denver Tribune chronicled the explosive growth of the city and the region following the arrival of the Denver Pacific Railway and the Colorado Silver boom. Its pages contain detailed descriptions of Denver’s transformation from a frontier boomtown to a major Western city, including the opening of the Tabor Grand Opera house, which was said to be the most opulent building between Chicago and San Francisco at it opening in 1881.

Daily Iowa State Record (Des Moines, Iowa; 1864-1876)

• The Daily Iowa State Record here chronicles the economic boom that resulted from the arrival its first railroad link in 1866 and from the success of coal mining in the region. During this era Des Moines grew to be the largest city in Iowa.

Houston Telegraph (Houston, Texas; 1863-1876)

• This run of the Houston Telegraph covers Houston and Southern Texas during the era when Houston emerged as a shipping and railroad hub for the export of cotton. Coverage also includes the Civil War years and Houston’s dramatic growth after the War, when it became established as the railroad center of Texas.

Helena Journal (Helena, Montana; 1888-1889)

• This run of the Helena Journal begins in 1888, when Helena, Montana, counted some fifty millionaires among its citizens—making it the world’s richest city per capita. Helena’s wealth stemmed from the hugely successful gold mines of Last Chance Gulch, and the Helena Journal’s articles bring into vivid detail the colorful history that resulted from this fortune.

Leavenworth Daily Commercial (Leavenworth, Kansas; 1867-1876)

• This run of the Daily Commercial covers Leavenworth during the post-Civil War years in which thousands of African-Americans moved to Leavenworth. Among them was Charles Henry Langston, an important African-American civil rights activist who campaigned for black suffrage and the right of African-American children to attend normal school. The Leavenworth Daily Commercial covered in detail the local debates that ensued.

The Globe (Washington, DC; 1830-1841) and other Washington, D.C. titles

• Early American Newspapers, Series 13, focuses on newspaper published West of the Mississippi River, but to put those papers into a wider national context Readex has also included several newspapers from Washington, D.C., that contained extensive coast-to-coast reporting. In addition to the Globe, these include the Madisonian (1838-1845) and the Daily Morning Chronicle (1862-1873).