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Colonial American Newspapers ~ South Carolina Newspapers 

 

South Carolina Newspapers, 1732-1742
South Carolina Newspapers, 1743-1751
South Carolina Newspapers, 1752-1757
South Carolina Newspapers, 1758-1764
South Carolina Newspapers, 1764-1770
South Carolina Newspapers, 1769-1773
South Carolina Newspapers, 1769-1775
South Carolina Newspapers, 1770-1774
South Carolina Newspapers, 1773-1775 
South Carolina Newspapers, 1774-1775
South Carolina Newspapers, 1776-1782
South Carolina Newspapers, 1781-1782

                  Compiled by History Intern Zack Alexander/Spring 2002.

South Carolina Newspapers, 1732-1742: 

The South Carolina Gazette.

    Established in 1732, this weekly publication provided the province of South Carolina, specifically Charleston, with news and views of the day. Under the mission statement of "Advices Concerning Matters Foreign and Domestic", the paper reflected its statement. From its early printings, 1732-35, the front page of the edition serves as an attention getter for a "feature story" worth top-level coverage. The earliest additions reflect the opinions, rather than in-depth and factually based news, of correspondents and editorial style writers. The subjects of religion, manners, education, farming, and politics are taken up in the page-length or longer essays.

    Also in the earlier printings, local events, foreign affairs, and advertising run together in no particular line of importance. The events, both foreign and domestic, as well as the advertising, relate deep roots of the early to mid-eighteenth century period in which they were done. The era of Colonial American history is shown in small but particularly insightful detail. The foreign affairs area is dedicated in main part to the capitals of Europe and is written in a concise and to the point manner. The advertising proves generic in form and reflects mainly the selling of slaves, plots of land, the readings of legal documents, and the occasional local business advertisement marketing varied products of interest.

    The later editions of the paper, from 1736-1742, show some change to the weekly editions. The significance of the era represented remains strong, however, the paper takes on a more modern feel by more and more leading with news stories over insightful opinion on the front page. Such matters as important military conferences, political dealings, agricultural problems, and foreign affair stories regularly serve as the lead object of attention to readers. Additionally the advertising takes a more colorful and eye-catching form. The use of bolder lettering and crude illustrations of such objects as animals and slaves available for sale are used to attract the reader to particular advertisements. The modernization of the editions reflects both a gradual change toward the modern day newspaper format, while at the same time, showing a specific picture of the times at hand in Colonial America and South Carolina. 

 

South Carolina Newspapers, 1743-1751:

The South Carolina Gazette.

    The weekly publication relates, as with earlier editions, the time it was published in. The primary news stories deal with European affairs, particularly English affairs, regarding diplomacy, military conflict, and newly implemented laws. The features of the paper itself undergo some fairly noticeable changes during this era of publication however.

    The main page of the paper now features a chronological timeline and dateline style of reporting as opposed to the feature driven main page headlines of the 1732-1742 era of publication. There are still feature style stories mixed in, done so in sometimes confusing fashion with dateline articles and reports, however, the main front page stories are dateline events dealing with important affairs of a foreign and domestic nature. The occasional lone front page feature story setup has a bit of a modern feel though with things being run by well-known authors and from bigger and more widely read publications as front page worthy material for the Gazette reader to consume. The occasional feature such as these normally deals with best selling works, thus having several editions with selected excerpts from religious books; the accounts taken from other popular works reflect the events in a place being reported from the pages of a bigger publication, and these usually go more in-depth than do The Gazette’s own correspondents and/or self-published reports on events and news of foreign and domestic matters.

    The advertising takes on a more modern form during this era of publication. Readers of the microfilm will notice the rural nature to the ads does not change and slaves, indentured servants, and animals are the main order of the day in a rural driven advertising community. However, the advertisements take up a growing amount of space and are lined up in paragraphical and patterned off order somewhat crudely similar to modern advertising sections.

 

South Carolina Newspapers, 1752-1757:

The South Carolina Gazette.

    The Gazette is, as always, a source for news and advertising, but undergoes some important changes from 1752-1757. The news side remains about the same in format and content. The front page worthy material continues to be either dateline stories from the capitals of Europe, feature stories taken from larger publications in such places as London and Philadelphia, or an occasional essay on a subject of interest that had been, according to the publisher of the paper, requested heavily.

    The main changes regarding the paper deal with the outlining of advertising and business news and developments in the areas of content and the amount of space devoted to both. The mercantilist principles being enforced by England upon the colonies during this era steadily become a greater part of the weekly content in The Gazette. There is a very noticeable addition in content that addresses ships leaving Charlestown (Charleston), ships arriving there, the goods that are most abundant on the recent voyages, and the prices of goods coming into port. The ships are named and the operators are as well. This gives a concise list of out going and incoming ships to the port city. It also reflects in blunt detail the importance placed upon mercantilist principles during the time of 1752-1757 in Colonial America.

    The paper’s advertising changes steadily as well throughout this time frame. First of all, it is noticeable that the publisher simply devotes more space to it. Additionally, the ads are more descriptive in nature and, while some include crude illustrations of slaves or ships, most are descriptive rather than illustrative in their primary content. Secondly, there are, usually one to two per edition, more noticeable feature ads. These ads tend to take up at least half a page and almost always deal with a ship coming into port run by one trading company or another and listing in precise detail what the items for sale on board will be, when the sale is expected, and an assurance of reasonable prices for interested buyers.

 

South Carolina Newspapers, 1758-1764:

The South Carolina Gazette.

    The Gazette undergoes some interesting changes in the period of time from 1758-1764. The most important change in content is, historically, the most important change overall in the publication. The paper gives detailed stories of British expeditions, battles, and maneuvers during the historically significant Seven Years War (1756-1763).

    The accounts are well written and full of intriguing detail. However, they would likely best be used as a supplement to other materials unless specifics are known about subjects covered in the accounts. Additionally though, the stories that detail the various goings on of the era of war are full of information that is historically pertinent to the time such as troop movements, local American-Indian quarrels and conflicts, expedition information, and diplomatic issues. Thus, these articles are very suitable to supplement any project on the colonial French-Indian War or the overall Seven Years War itself.

    Another intriguing change in the paper at this time has to do with the layout for the advertising section. The ads are separated in a much more modern form with barriers outlining each individual advertisement. Additionally, a wider variety of ads are seen and local stores are more frequent to advertise as opposed to just sellers of export and import goods by the local port in Charlestown. However, the main advertisers are still, at this time the previously mentioned import and export merchants in regards to the trade of goods.

 

South Carolina Newspapers, 1764-1770:

The South Carolina Gazette.

    The paper undergoes some confusing, and historically speaking, negative changes during this time. The lead items from a paper, that up to this point shows a grand flare for mixing in correspondent news reports with lengthy, well written, and intriguing feature stories, becomes mass advertising during the era ranging from 1764-1770. However, the advertising does give a nice looking glass into the further development of advertising in the medium of newspapers.

    The ads that The Gazette runs during this era are increasingly more varied in nature and more modern in their attempts to catch the reader’s eye. For example, the increase of local merchants advertising gradually increases. Also, the emphasis on illustrations as selling points gives a foundation for photographical driven advertising of the modern day. The previous drawings of slaves for sale, cattle for auction, strayed horses, or ships coming into or going out of port are shown progressing to a more advanced and appealing level for a possible consumer to see. For example, the sale of a plantation, a small farm, or a tract of undeveloped land is illustrated and written about in cohesive and smoothly appealing form. The drawings depict an artistic beauty and variety that directly corresponds with the wording of the ad and the content of the item for sale.

    On the negative side of things, historically speaking, the paper becomes far less organized content wise during this period of time. The leading items of advertising begin to far outweigh the regular news correspondence and feature stories that had been commonplace in the issues of decades earlier. The stories that are listed become varied, and extremely unorganized, news dispatches under the headings of either "British Intelligence" or "American Intelligence" depending on whether the story took place in Europe or the colonies.

 

South Carolina Newspapers, 1769-1773:

The South Carolina Gazette and Country Journal.

    The competitor to The South Carolina Gazette takes a similar turn toward the importance of advertising from 1769-1773. The ads reflect the times in which they are written and the area as well. Advertisements list such things as slaves for sale, large tracts of undeveloped land for sale, average size farms and massive plantations for sale, missing and available for sale cattle and horses, and a number of ads announcing the sales of various goods at port or by local storeowners.

    The content and structure of the ads is similar in nature as well. The ads show a more modern form of advertising by way of descriptive wording and illustrations. Additionally, the use of borders separates the ads and gives a feeling of distinction to each individual advertisement. However, they are not as appealing as the competition’s in regards to writing style and illustration. They do, however, provide additional visual and written information for the history of newspaper advertising.

    The content of the news stories related in the publication is a mix between features and correspondent reports. Additionally, there is a fairly heavy emphasis on the use of reports and stories from other publications around Europe and America. There is at best marginal historical value in the news area of the paper during this era. The real interest could the paper’s business news section. The section, which primarily deals with agricultural production under the heading of "Carolina Produce", proves to be a decently detailed and interesting study into early agricultural and business reports done through the venue of a newspaper.

 

South Carolina Newspapers, 1769-1775:

The General Gazette.

    This publication, based in Charlestown, leaves much to be desired historically speaking. The biggest disappointment regards the lack of coverage, and thus resources available for historical research, on the beginnings of the American Revolutionary War. The other papers of the era (see earlier listings) offer very insightful views into the historically significant nature of the time that brought forward the American Revolution in the 1770`s. The General Gazette was apparently behind the times on big stories at the time though and is not recommended for American Revolution Era research.

    The publication does add some further insight into the development of the history of newspaper advertising and business news. Like its Charlestown contemporaries, The General Gazette brings along both in a fairly well-written form that could be useful for certain areas of historical or other disciplines of research. If nothing else, the similarity in a number of regards to this publication and its Charlestown contemporaries would be useful as added supplementary materials for a number of historical research projects.

South Carolina Newspapers, 1770-1774:

The South Carolina Gazette.

    The Gazette does not have a great run content wise during this era in time. The publication steadily becomes little more than a sheet full of new and old goods for sale and rent. However, the culture of advertising and its appeal to a willing public of consumers is seen in an extremely clear fashion.

    The most significant historical value can certainly be gained from the studying of the massive advertising in the papers of this era. The now, by far, majority level of space occupied by advertising in the paper gives a spy hole into the culture and nature of modern day media. The Gazette, by this period in time, has molded and refined its methods of advertising to the point of being readable and enjoyable. The ads are almost as well written, in a number of cases, as the past decades feature and correspondence reports were. The importance put on, effort put into, and space devoted to advertising shows the obvious want of the publisher to make a monetary profit. However, it also shows how the spirit of more being better can overshadow an object’s main purpose. In this case, it is the transformation of a once exceptionally intelligent and engrossing publication into a cleverly designed consumer trap for the goods and services available for sale.

    There are still reports of news and events of the era in The Gazette during this time frame. However, the historical significance of the possible material is likely to be marginal at best and would not be of high quality for extensive research of a historical nature.

 

South Carolina Newspapers, 1773-1775:

The Charlestown Gazette, 1758-1764.
The South Carolina Weekly Gazette, 1764-1769.
The South Carolina Gazette and Country Journal, 1778-1780.

    The primary historical benefits from this roll of microfilm concerns historical data on the subject of the American Revolution. Two of the publications in particular, The South Carolina Gazette and Country Journal and The Charleston Gazette, give some interesting historical insight into the era.

    The November 15th, 22nd, and 29th editions of The South Carolina Gazette and Country Journal break down in full detail the activities of The First Continental Congress. The three-edition format allows for a very in-depth view into all aspects of the Congress regarding grievances, resolutions, wanted legal rights, and messages of political idealism. The format for the excerpts is done in a low key but heavily informative structure. Unlike the coverage of the same events in the October issues of the competing South Carolina Gazette, The Journal’s coverage is more specific on details and less so on propaganda. While both are historically viable and informative, The Journal’s three-edition format is superior in overall detail regarding Congressional activities.

    The November of 1779 editions of The Charleston Gazette give an inside look into the ongoing American Revolutionary War and actions of the time by the Congress. The pieces are extremely well written and thoroughly detailed. They would be of great use as supplementary materials on any number of American Revolutionary areas of research regarding either the era’s government and/or military characteristics.

 

South Carolina Newspapers, 1774-1775:

The Gazette of The State of South Carolina, 1765-1768.
The South Carolina Gazette and Country Journal, 1765-1768.
The South Carolina Gazette, 1777-1780.

    The work in these papers ranges from the historically exciting to simple imitations. The historically significant and useful though is great in volume in The South Carolina Gazette and The Gazette of The State of South Carolina publications. The primary bulk of the useful material comes from articles and correspondence concerning the American Revolutionary War.

    The first pages of this roll list, in a grand and detailed fashion, cite, and describe the activities of The First Continental Congress on September 5th, 1774. Activities of the body and the full membership of the group are listed in the first few reels of the October, 1774 editions of The South Carolina Gazette. That publication, along with its revived successor The Gazette of The State of South Carolina, gives anyone in need of American Revolution Era information a vast and varied treasure trove of historical data. Some examples include: Propaganda from the era, battle accounts through 1780 in war correspondence styling, detailed letters by statesmen such as John Hancock and Thomas Paine espousing the virtues of the American cause, and letters and other significant documents from and about George Washington. Additionally, there is an advertisement that, in leading with a very eye catching headline, offers the entire minutes of The September 5th, 1774 meeting of The First Continental Congress in a volumized set. This information is of great historical value and quite plentiful in volume.

    The 1765-1768 editions of The South Carolina Gazette and Country Journal prove to be very similar in nature to the 1764-1770 editions of The South Carolina Gazette cited earlier in this bibliography. The paper was a competitor in Charlestown with The South Carolina Gazette and left no sign during this period of time as being neither any more a source of great historical knowledge nor any more a source of advertisement evolution. In fact, the classified sections, while reader friendly, were noticeably inferior in style and substance to The South Carolina Gazette during the same period of time.

 

South Carolina Newspapers, 1776-1782:

The South Carolina and American General Gazette, 1780-1782.
The Royal Gazette.

    The papers on this roll, both of them, provide great insight into the American Revolution. The historical information is both interesting and extremely valuable. Both sides of the war effort are reported and done so in an in-depth and intriguing style. These are both superb sources for any historical project related to the war and the offshoot circumstances it led to for each side.

    The South Carolina and American General Gazette vastly improves its American Revolution coverage in 1776 and as the war goes forward. The reports represent an excellent view into the American side of things and the politics and propaganda that view produced. Additionally, the news coverage of battle reports and wartime political actions are simply magnificent in their depth and wealth of useful material. From detailed battle reports to legislative actions to great writings of statesmen of the era the information covers all bases for American Revolution Era history. The battle reports and writing in particular bring a feeling of magic to the information and make it not only great research material but interesting to follow and digest.

    The Royal Gazette is the British side of the war effort in full and living print. The editions on this roll provide sharply written commentary about the politics of the era from the British point of view. The propaganda and fact based writings provide a great feel for the emotion and passion of the overall war cause itself. Additionally, the actual battle reports and legislative action reports are extremely useful and in-depth in nature. Both areas provide a vast wealth of American Revolution information from the British perspective. The main twist on this excellently done coverage is the factual and propaganda based American Intelligence reports the Royal Gazette offers. They are great insights into both fact based and emotion-based experiences from the time period, and the British perspective on the war effort and its development.

 

South Carolina Newspapers, 1781-1782:

The Royal Gazette.

    The Royal Gazette provides some more valuable information on the end of the war effort and the British perspective on things. The information is as plentiful as one could hope for, and the writing is very in-depth and intriguing in nature. The contents of this particular roll is, on a number of levels, a highly valuable asset to research on the war effort and the late period of the American Revolution in general from the British perspective.

    The paper continues to provide a variety of great research material through detailed battle reports, troop movements, intelligence, legislative actions, and the sharply written counter-intelligence reports. The overall nature of the editions and their wealth of information gives a researcher the ability to tie a number of things together for a comprehensive project or pick and choose certain areas from which draw.  The layout of the information is extremely easy to research and easy to follow for the amateur researcher, but well developed enough for the more experienced historian to use and gain insight and information from. Although only covering two years or so in length, this roll can be very useful as a stand-alone source for research or an addition to earlier or similar research.

Alexander, Zackr 01-02