The press has played an important role in both constructing and communicating what and who is important in communities. That was never more evident that in rural America where there was often a single newspaper with a limited number of subscribers to sustain it. Given a numerically small population of persons of color and the fact that those persons often occupied positions of “lesser status” within those towns, the mainstream newspapers didn’t often contain news about racial and ethnic minorities. Yet, these minority populations maintained active social lives, usually in parallel public spheres due to the dictates of the customs and conventions that encouraged and perpetuated segregation. On occasion, the affairs of the Black community found their way into print when residents managed to get news of import to them carried in the local newspaper. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the race of persons mentioned in stories was usually included as a matter of course. These archives contain newspaper articles that pertain to Knox County African Americans or businesses and organizations operated by them. Items were selected when the race of the subjects were disclosed in the text or the subjects were known to have been members of the local Black community. Relatively short in length, the full text of each article is transcribed in each record. Where legible, an image of the article appears as well.

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Submissions from 1947

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Mt. Vernon By Ann Rouse

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Mt. Vernon By Ann Rouse

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Mt. Vernon By Ann Rouse

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Mt. Vernon By Ann Rouse

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Mt. Vernon By Ann Rouse

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Mt. Vernon By Ann Rouse

Submissions from 1946

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Mt. Vernon By Ann Rouse

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Mt. Vernon, O. By Miss Ann Rouse

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Mt. Vernon, O. By Miss Ann Rouse

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Mt. Vernon, O. By Miss Ann Rouse

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Mt. Vernon, O. By Miss Ann Rouse

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Mt. Vernon, O. By Miss Ann Rouse

Submissions from 1944

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Down Our Way

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Down Our Way

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Down Our Way

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Down Our Way

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Down Our Way

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Down Our Way

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Down Our Way

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Down Our Way

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Down Our Way

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Down Our Way

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Down Our Way

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Down Our Way

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Down Our Way

Submissions from 1939

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To Revisit Mount Vernon Monday

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To Revisit Mount Vernon Monday

Submissions from 1924

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11 Innings Necessary To Win From Hogan's Runts Sunday Popejoy Scoring on Maison's Timely Hit Porter star of Spectacular Fielding Play Grabbing Fly Over Shoulder And Saving Game A Pitcher's Battle Demonstrated Superiority Of Bowden

Submissions from 1922

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Colored Dance

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Colubus Champs Are Real Wild Men

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Colubus Champs Are Real Wild Men

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Coming Events

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Lawn Party

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Local News

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Meetings

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Meetings

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Mr. and Mrs. Frank Turner in Social Pages

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Mrs. Frank Turner in Social Pages

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Mrs. J. Frank Turner in Social Pages

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The Democratic Banner: Chicken Dinner March 18, 1922, The Democratic Banner

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The Democratic Banner: Dinner at Calvary Baptist Church March 11, 1922, The Democratic Banner

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The Democratic Banner: Dinner on July 29, 1922, The Democratic Banner

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The Democratic Banner: Food Sale, Bazaar and Chicken Dinner, The Democratic Banner

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The Democratic Banner: Twentieth Century club Meeting on West Gambier Street, The Democratic Banner

Submissions from 1921

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20th Century Club

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20th Century Club

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Appointment Made

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Arrest of a Colored Boy in City of Cleveland Wanted Here for Defrauding an Inn-Keeper

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Banner Story Cause of Much Comment

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Dismiss Case Against A Man Held For Rape

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Dismiss Case Against A Man Held For Rape

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Entertains With Dinner

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Frank Turner et al attend funeral, notice in Social Pages

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Harry Simmons social

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Harry Simmons social

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"In India," Operetta by Paul Biles

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Meetings

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Meetings

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Meetings

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Meter Explodes; Man Is Injured

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Mrs. Frank Turner Society Page

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National Guard Colored Foreign Deaths

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National Guard Colored Foreign Deaths

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National Guard Colored Foreign Deaths

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Society News

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Suit for Divorce

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Turner Will Quit Restaurant Business

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The Democratic Banner: Chamber of Commerce, The Democratic Banner

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The Democratic Banner: Japanese Fan Drill by Twentieth Century Club, The Democratic Banner

Submissions from 1920

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Attended Picnic

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Colored Children To Be Entertained

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Colored Dance

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Colored Dance

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Frank Turner Restaurant Closes

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Join Woolson's Amateur Gardening Club

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Marriage Licenses

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Meetings

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Meetings

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Chamber of Commerce Meeting: February 17, 1920, The Democratic Banner

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The Democratic Banner: 20th Century and Booker T. Washington Club Host Party for Children, The Democratic Banner

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The Democratic Banner: Chamber of Commerce Luncheon with Speaker Ralph D. Cole, The Democratic Banner

Submissions from 1919

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Colored Dance

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Colored Soliers Will Be Welcomed

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Committees Named For Celebration Colored People To Welcome Their Returned Veterans Here On Sept. 22

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Ralls Trio Danville

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Ralls Trio K. of P. Hall

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Ralls Trio K. of P. Hall

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Second Division Starts

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Society Notes

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Chamber of Commerce Luncheon: November 18, 1919, The Democratic Banner

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The Democratic banner: Clarence McKinney Funeral, The Democratic Banner

Submissions from 1918

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1 Lone Registrant Goes Monday Evening

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5 Colored Men Go To Camp On July 18 Call Is Issued For Volunteers To Use Trades With Engineers Corps

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Calls for 303 Men Issued for July 16th

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Casualty List

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Clubs Contribute Twenty-Five Dollars Each to The Cause

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Colored Man Annoys: Is Warned by Mayor

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Colored Man In Trouble Joseph Bradfield Seized By Men At Local Shops Rescued By Sheriff Men Claim Bradfield Made Unpatriotic Remarks to Workmen

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Colored Men Called

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Colored Selects Entrain For Camp Thirteen Leave; Report At Draft Board For Instructions