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Gary American
The Gary American was a newspaper that operated from the 1920s to the 1990s in Gary, Indiana, serving the African American community of that city. It was known for its strong stance in favor of civil rights, and its strong support of the Democratic Party.
Founded in 1927 as the Gary Colored American, for its first three decades the American was owned and operated by the Whitlock family. The American was a weekly for most of its history, became a biweekly in the 1980s and ceased publication in the late 20th century.
At the outset, the American covered only national and local Gary news. In the 1940s, however, it widened its geographic scope to incorporate a regular column on the African-American community in neighboring East Chicago.
In 1927, Arthur B. Whitlock, David E. Taylor, and Chauncey Townsend headed the formation of the Gary American Publishing Company in Gary, Indiana. A.B. Whitlock, who in 1921 had become the first African-American member of the Gary City Council, published the first issue of the Gary Colored American on November 10, with Townsend as editor and Whitlock acting as manager.
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 to 1936, Black attorney Fritz Alexander served as editor until Arthur B. Whitlock regained control, and he left the company once again in 1938. Attorney F. Louis Sperling was elected editor and acting manager. Between November 1938 and February 1939, Wallace L. Johnson served as editor before being charged with embezzling the institution's funds, leading to A. B. Whitlock to regain control over the Gary American Publishing Company.
The Gary American stayed within the Whitlock family for the next seventeen years, with Henry O. Whitlock becoming manager in 1944 and his wife, Edwina, becoming editor in 1947. Henry Oliver Whitlock died of a heart attack on May 5, 1960, and Edwina Whitlock operated the paper for a year thereafter.
In 1961, Edwina Whitlock sold the American to a group of three purchasers, including James T. Harris Jr. and Fred Harris, both of whom would serve in turn as managers of the paper. Under their leadership, the American expanded its circulation to East Chicago, reaching approximately 9,000 readers.
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Gary American
The Gary American was a newspaper that operated from the 1920s to the 1990s in Gary, Indiana, serving the African American community of that city. It was known for its strong stance in favor of civil rights, and its strong support of the Democratic Party.
Founded in 1927 as the Gary Colored American, for its first three decades the American was owned and operated by the Whitlock family. The American was a weekly for most of its history, became a biweekly in the 1980s and ceased publication in the late 20th century.
At the outset, the American covered only national and local Gary news. In the 1940s, however, it widened its geographic scope to incorporate a regular column on the African-American community in neighboring East Chicago.
In 1927, Arthur B. Whitlock, David E. Taylor, and Chauncey Townsend headed the formation of the Gary American Publishing Company in Gary, Indiana. A.B. Whitlock, who in 1921 had become the first African-American member of the Gary City Council, published the first issue of the Gary Colored American on November 10, with Townsend as editor and Whitlock acting as manager.
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 to 1936, Black attorney Fritz Alexander served as editor until Arthur B. Whitlock regained control, and he left the company once again in 1938. Attorney F. Louis Sperling was elected editor and acting manager. Between November 1938 and February 1939, Wallace L. Johnson served as editor before being charged with embezzling the institution's funds, leading to A. B. Whitlock to regain control over the Gary American Publishing Company.
The Gary American stayed within the Whitlock family for the next seventeen years, with Henry O. Whitlock becoming manager in 1944 and his wife, Edwina, becoming editor in 1947. Henry Oliver Whitlock died of a heart attack on May 5, 1960, and Edwina Whitlock operated the paper for a year thereafter.
In 1961, Edwina Whitlock sold the American to a group of three purchasers, including James T. Harris Jr. and Fred Harris, both of whom would serve in turn as managers of the paper. Under their leadership, the American expanded its circulation to East Chicago, reaching approximately 9,000 readers.