The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1921-06-03
is old NEWSPAPER
Baltimore Americans Long and
EvsRtiuI History.
First Issued in 1873, the Newspaper
Has Continued without a Brosk
Until the Present Day.

Many people find n fascination In
old newspapers. They like TO read
that such and such a paper Is the old
est In the country, or the first one
published lp such and such q city.
And when newspaper changes own
ers, says writer in the Christian
Science Monitor, II ls always sure OF
finding interested readers for the
scraps OF it's own history which II
prints along with the announcement
Of the change. Thus when Frank A.
Nunseys New York Herald, in An.
neunclng recently Mr.. Hunseys pur-
chase Of the Baltimore American, re-
ferred to the American ~ colder than
the government OF the United States
Itself" and az the second Oldest news
paper in America" many who saw the
item found their thoughts turning
bach 70 the days when newspapers
were far less common than they are
today. But presumably none were
misled into taking that statement 10
indicate that the American was the
second newspaper established in the
United States. OF course. there were
many before IL. The Baltimore Amer
lean was first issued on August 20,
1873 Its founder was that William
Goddard who was at the time editor
OF the Pennsylvania Chronicle Of Phil
adelphis. and who. CD the occasion OF
q visit to Baltimore, was urged 10 I'M
dertske publication there. The Bal
timore American was moi specifically
the paper which Goddard founded In
Baltimore. His first issue there APP
pesred under the title OF the Maryland
Journal and Baltimore Advertiser, and |
continued under that utle until an
other Philadelphia went to Baltimore
and. purchasing the newspapers,
changed It's name 10 the Baltimore
American and Commercial Intelll- |
gencer Thus the name Baltimore
American first served as the heading |
FOR the newspaper in 1895.
But william Goddard was already a /
newspaper man Of demonstrated en- !
terprise and ability. even before his /
experience with the Pennsylvania |
Chronicle. Apparently he had served
as an editor in New York and Ger.
talnly ne had had newspaper expert
ence in Providence. X. l., where he
established the Providence Gazette and .
journal IN 1862 Thus Goddard him
self appears 10 have had some connec-
ton with at least three newspapers
before he ever thought OF the one
which eventually became the Balti.
more American. And journalistic his.
tory brings mp "a number of newspaper
titles which were antecedent 10 his
Baltimore foundation There was the
New England group of which the
Boston Newsletter first appeared on
April -. l7O4. and early found rivals
in the Boston Gazette. initiated De.
cember y. 1Tl9. and the New England
COurant. appearing on August I, 1921.
The first newspaper in the middle colo.
MES me American Mercury of Phila-
deluh.a. hogan publication on Deem
her -. 171H. The Pennsylvania Ga
zette. with which BENJAMIN Franklin'S
name was associated. appeared ON De
cemher a. j72S Ahead ~ Goddard
in May and William Parks who had
beer mude public printer there. es-
tGbliShed The Maryland Gazette az
ANNAPOLIS uu September 49, 1921. But
the Baltimore American gained It's
temporary precedence over newspapers
now 100 existence and claims It's title
A. ,h' second oldest .n America. for