History

Charlotte Messenger

company

Also known as Black press; Messenger

Charlotte Messenger — media, appearing in the Charlotte record across 3 documented year(s).

In the record (5)

  1. 1882

    The Charlotte Messenger's salutatory statement of purpose described its mission as promoting 'the moral, intellectual and material standing of our people,' positioning itself as an exponent of the rights of the colored people and defending Republican party principles in the Piedmont Carolinas during the post-Reconstruction period.

    Unverified — sourced but not confirmed against a primary record.

    Source · checked 2026-08-13

  2. 1882 · 1882-06-17

    The earliest known issue of the Charlotte Messenger, Charlotte's first secular Black newspaper, is dated June 17, 1882; the paper was founded, published, and edited by William C. ('W.C.') Smith, who had earlier founded and edited the short-lived Fayetteville Educator beginning in 1874.

    Charlotte ObserverMiners' & Farmers' JournalJane Berry Smith

    Source · checked 2026-08-13

  3. 1883 · 1883-02-03

    In its February 3, 1883 issue, the Charlotte Messenger protested racial discrimination at Charlotte's Opera House, where Black patrons were relegated to back seats and the gallery, writing that the Black community 'only want good accomodatios apart from noisy, bad boys and bad women' — direct evidence of the paper's advocacy role for Charlotte's Black residents.

    Source · checked 2026-08-13

  4. 1883 · 1883-02-03

    The February 3, 1883 issue of the Charlotte Messenger carried the masthead 'THE MESSENGER. PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY —AT— CHARLOTTE, N.C. —BY— WILLIAM C. SMITH,' with corresponding editors George W. Clinton of Chester, S.C. and R.L. Thornton of Washington, D.C. listed alongside Smith.

    Jane Berry SmithKing GeorgeGeorge W. ClintonR.L. Thornton

    Source · checked 2026-08-13

  5. 1889 · 1889-01-05

    The surviving microfilmed run of the Charlotte Messenger spans from its earliest known issue on June 17, 1882 through at least January 5, 1889, with 152 digitized issues now available on DigitalNC and original copies preserved at the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts + Culture in Charlotte; other sources indicate the paper may have continued publishing into 1891.

    Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + CultureHarvey B. Gantt CenterObserver Printing HouseHarvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts + Culture

    Source · checked 2026-08-13