New Library online resources explore the African American press and African studies

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The Library has added two exciting new resources to its A-Z Database list! African American Newspapers, Series I and II, and Africa-Wide Information are now available to scholars researching African American History and African Studies.

The African American Press, Series I and II

Part of the Readex collection of America’s Historical Newspapers, “African American Newspapers, Series I-II, 1827-1998” draws from extensive archives in more than 35 states, the American Antiquarian Society, Center for Research Libraries, the Library of Congress, and New York Public Library to bring you history as it unfolded in the pages of 335 U.S. newspaper titles, beginning with “Freedom’s Journal” (NY) — the first African American newspaper published in the United States. Other titles include “The Colored Citizen” (KS), “Arkansas State Press,” “Rights of All” (NY), “Wisconsin Afro-American,” “New York Age,” “L’Union” (LA), “Northern Star and Freeman’s Advocate” (NY), “Richmond Planet,” “Cleveland Gazette,” “The Appeal” (MN), and hundreds more.

Selections were guided by James Danky, editor of the monumental “African-American Newspapers and Periodicals: A National Bibliography.” They offer insights into cultural, literary, and social history; ethnic studies; and much more:

  • Enslavement and the spread of abolitionism.
  • Growth of the Black church.
  • Emancipation Proclamation.
  • Jim Crow Era.
  • Migration to northern cities, to the West and Midwest.
  • Rise of the NAACP.
  • Harlem Renaissance.
  • Civil Rights movement.
  • Political and economic empowerment.
  • Contemporary perspectives on historic figures such as Frederick Douglass and Martin Luther King, Jr.
  • Obituaries, advertisements, editorials, illustrations.

Africa-Wide Information

Africa-Wide Information takes you to the EBSCO search screen where you can find source information on literature about the African continent from 4 million records, many with full text, compiled by the National Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC) from 50 databases in Africa, Europe, and North America, covering literature from the 16th century to the present.

Africa-Wide Information documents comprehensive, multidisciplinary research by Africans about Africa — articles, books, reports, theses, and grey literature published outside the usual publishing channels. Records include abstracts and some full-text articles with keyword indexing to enhance relevant retrieval. “Africa-Wide Information” is an essential resource for scholars interested in African research and publications, no matter the subject field, from all 56 African countries and surrounding islands.

Topics include:

  • Agriculture
  • Art
  • Biodiversity
  • Cultural history and heritage
  • Development
  • Drama
  • Economics
  • Health
  • Industry
  • Legal systems
  • Literature
  • Music
  • Natural resources
  • Politics
  • Religion
  • Sport, and more.

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