INSTITUTION Iowa State Historical Society, Iowa City. ISSN ISSN-0278-0208 PUB DATE 1997-00-00 NOTE 31P

DOCUMENT RESUME

ED 417 096 SO 028 117

AUTHOR Ruth, Amy, Ed. TITLE Newspapers in Iowa History. INSTITUTION Iowa State Historical Society, Iowa City. ISSN ISSN-0278-0208 PUB DATE 1997-00-00 NOTE 31p. AVAILABLE FROM Goldfinch, State Historical Society of Iowa, 402 Iowa Avenue, Iowa City, IA, 52240-1806 (subscription: $10 for four issues). PUB TYPE Collected Works Serials (022) JOURNAL CIT Goldfinch: Iowa History for Young People; v18 n4 Sum 1997 EDRS PRICE MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Childrens Literature; Civil Rights; Elementary Education; Freedom of Information; Journalism; *Local History; News Media; *Newspapers; Printed Materials; Reading Materials; *Social Studies; *State History IDENTIFIERS *Iowa

ABSTRACT This issue of the children's quarterly magazine, "The Goldfinch," focuses on newspapers in Iowa's history. Articles address Iowa's pioneer press, a tiny newspaper published by a pair of Iowa brothers, and handwritten newspapers. Activities, fictional accounts, and nonfictional articles addres:.; the importance of newspapers in Iowa's past and present. One article explains how newspapers were produced with typesetting and Linotype. Other articles discuss the importance of accuracy and reliability in the stories newspapers tell and record for history, the contributions of Iowa's first African-American newspaper, "Colored Advance," in 1882, and subsequent African-American newspapers in Iowa. An article by the winner of the 1997 "Write Women Back into History Contest," Abby Cox, is also included. (EH)

******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ******************************************************************************** IowaGob:Wine, History for Young People Volume 18, Number 4, Summer 1997

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T WwiMr. win PERMISSION TO REPRODUCEANDS IMIGAZE EAGLE G DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY AUGUST 21. 1918. NUM I 00 P. &oRE TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES O INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) *morno.TE, - U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IBUSEED IN THE Office of Educational Researcn any Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION DIURESIS OF TEI CENTER (ERIC) COLORED PEOPLE This document has been reproduced as ci) received from the person or organization originating it. 300..1~111C ION PILICI rim CT Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality.

Points of view or opinions stated in this SectionA Ye' Circulation document do not necessarily represent 6 r,ffictal OEFfl nneitton nr nr.t,... POST Today 411 ------.-- - I am your newspaper... Goldfinch Volume 18, Number 4 Summer 19997 if I bring you every day the current history of the past 24 hours - -in type and pictures. On my pages you will find recorded the Winner of a 1995 Parents' Choice miDF'SLE OS doings of folks of every walk of life. I reflect the views and Imo 001.000 WY. 110.110 Honor Award IOW 0611ValteN0 opinions of all people. I respect these views and opinions. .14.119.MT /.1.110 WI10101

Eliminate me from the daily scheme of things and what would be EDITOR: Amy Ruth PUBLICATIONS DIRECTOR: Don Drake left? How would people be kept Informed? How could people be FICTION EDITOR: Steven Blaski EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS: Lin Ly, Julie Seidler kept informed about merchandise for sale in the stores, without PUBLICATIONS INTERN: Shana Wingert the newspaper? How would a man or woman find a Job without a PROOFREADER: Claire Dixon COVER DESIGN: Kris Atha newspaper, or an employer get suitable help? People do not INSIDE ILLUSTRATION: Mary Moye-Rowley have to be anywhere at any specific time to read me. I am CONSULTING EDITORS: William B. Friedricks, Ph.D., associate professor of history, Simpson available at almost any corner drug store, at railroad and bus College, Indianola; Kevin Knoot, Reference Librarian, SHSI Library, Iowa City; Nancy Kraft, depots, in libraries, schools. I also come delivered to your Preservation Librarian, SHSI, Iowa City; Tom residences." Morain, Ph.D., SHSI Administrator, Des Moines CONTRIBUTORS: Millie K. Frese, Jen Golay, Diane In 1953, the Council Bluffs Non-Panel celebrated National Hill, Linzee Kull McCray, and Brian Thomas EDUCATORS' ADVISORY BOARD: Betty Arndt. Newspaper Week by publishing the article excerpted above. Greenwood Elementary School, Des Moines; Gary Coffelt, Central Decatur Elementary, Leon; Linda The Non-Panel is just one of many Iowa newspapers that share in Vandeventer, Harrison Elementary School, Davenport; Karla Willoughby, Hanawalt the state's strong journalism tradition. This tradition began in 1836 Elementary School, Des Moines when Iowa's first newspaper, the Du Buque Visitor, was published. CHILDREN'S ADVISORY BOARD: Muriel Huckins. Council Bluffs; Jennifer Jirak, Waucoma; Allison Although newspapering in Iowa has experienced many changes in Klaahsen, Little Rock; William Martin, Waterloo; the last 160 years, newspapers continue to provide vital services to Nina Moeller, Iowa City CREDITS: The characters Wild Rosie and Goldie the state by informing and entertaining the readers of Iowa. by SHSI exhibit designer Jerry Brown. The article on page 12 was reprinted from the Summer 1995 To give you the scoop on newspapers in Iowa's history, we issue of The Goldfinch. The article on handwritten newspapers on page 4 was written with the help checked out tons of papers from the state's past. We prepared of research conducted by Roy Alden Atwood and published in The Palimpsest. articles about Iowa's pioneer press, a tiny paper published by a The Goldfinch (ISSN 0278-0208) is published quarterly by the State Historical Society of Iowa. 402 Iowa Avenue, pair of Iowa brothers, and handwritten newspapers. You'll discover Iowa City, Iowa 522401806 (319/335-3916). Second- class postage paid at Iowa City. Iowa. Subscriptions are how newspapers serve their communities. When you need a $10 for four issues. break from reading, make an authentic press operator's hat and Postmaster: Send address changes to: Carol Carey. subscriptions coordinator, The Goldfinch, State Historical Society of Iowa. 402 Iowa Avenue. Iowa City, Iowa 52240- solve our tricky type puzzle. Then hang out with a group of Iowa 1806. State Historical Society of Iowa, 1997. No portion of The Goldfinch may be reproduced without prior students who researched the history of their town by reading old permission except for classroom use. copies of their community's newspaper. The Goldfinch is also available on cassette tape When you're finished reading about newspapers in this issue for the blind, the visually impaired, the physically handicapped, and the learning disabled. For more of The Goldfinch, check out the newspaper that serves YOUR information contact the Iowa Department for the Blind, 1- 800-362 -2587. Or write to the Iowa Department for the community! ZD The Editor Blind Library, 524 4th St., Des Moines 50309. f-1 2 The Goldfinch 3 Saving Iowa's papers Contents The Iowa Newspaper Project

I am Your Newspaper 2 I f you've ever held Goldie's Challenge 3 1 old newspapers in your The Iowa Newspaper Project 3 hands, you know how Iowa's Newspaper History 4 fragile history can be. Putting it Together 6 For more than 100 Newspapers Tell History 8 years, the State Historical Covering the Community 10 Society of Iowa has collected and bound or The Fighting Press 12 microfilmed the state's newspapers to Puzzle: Be a Type Detective 13 preserve them for future use. TheSociety has Working the News 14 more than 35,000 rolls of microfilmed Activity: Make a Press Operator's Hat 16 newspapers and 17,000 bound newspapers. Fiction: Where Are the Pictures? 18 In 1973, the Society was chosen to 20 More than Words participate in a pilot project of the United Something for Everyone 21 States Newspaper Project. At a cost of more 22 What's the Story? than one million dollars, the goal of the Iowa 24 Essay Contest Winner Newspaper Project was to inventory, catalog, Fiction: Emma Makes News 25 28 and microfilm all known existing Iowa History Makers the 30 newspapers from the 19th century to Answers present. Today, more than 1.2 million pages Reader Survey 30 remain to be filmed. Julie Seidler The Roost 31

Atention student editors! This issue of The Goldfinch contains eight errorsthroughout its pages, including typos, misspelled words,punctuation mistakes, and grammatical errors. Can you find them? They canbe anywhere between pages 2 and 30. (Hint, you just read one!)Send us a letter and tell us where the mistakes are, and we'llsend you a free prize! Send your letters to: The Goldfinch Ooops! Contest,State Historical Society of Iowa, 402 Iowa Ave., Iowa City, Iowa52240.

BEST COPY AVAILABLE; The Goldfinch 3 4 KETudwerlten nowepapam Iowa's newspaper history o one knows for certain why by Amy Ruth three men in Washington, Iowa hand wrote newspapers when they Some historians have said that in Iowa, "the press soon could have used a printing followed the plow." Between 1836 and 1860, almost 2,000 press. papers were started nationally; 200 in Iowa. Most newspapers It may have been the high cost of in Iowa history have been small town weeklies. printing equipment that led the In the mid 1800s, as Americans struggled with issues like slavery, editors to publish the handwritten publishers freely admitted to certain views and aligned themselves Quarterly Visitor, Domestic Quarterly with political parties. They often started papers to advocate certain Review, and the Shark in the 1840s. opinions. Newspaper names, such as the Fort Madison Democrat and the Hamilton Freeman gave clues to papers' politics. The editors probably published In the 1850s and 1860s, innovations that reduced the cost of the papers to promote certain printing newspapers had reached Iowa. This era was known as "the political views and to establish penny press." Instead of six cents ($2.40 in today's money), a paper themselves as community leaders. cost a penny (equivalent to 40 cents today). A small town could The content and layout were easily support two or three papers because many residents could similar to printed newspapers and afford to subscribe to at least one. By this time, the telegraph sent information over wires strung along railroad tracks. News now had a included articles, death and wedding faster way of getting from one place to another. announcements, weather reports, After the Civil War (1861-1865), newspaper publishers were more and literary works. A few copies of responsible about reporting the news, instead of just advocating each issue were made and only different viewpoints. This broader coverage attracted readers outside wealthy citizens could afford them. certain political parties and boosted circulation. Newspapers depended less on political funds and more on money from advertisers. The fine penmanship of Samuel Between the 1870s and 1900s, cheaper forms of paper - called James, the editor of Domestic newsprint - were developed and decreased production costs. Quarterly Review, makes theone At the turn of the century, rural delivery brought newspapers surviving copy (see below) fairly directly to homes in rural Iowa. Newspaper circulation increased easy to read. Achl dramatically. By 1907, there were almost 1,000 newspapers published in Iowa; one for every 2,367 Iowans. Handwritten papers were written in ink. The one surviving copy is housed The 1930s saw the decline of small town newspapers. Radio at the State Historical Society of Iowa offered another way to receive the news. Newspapers now had to in Iowa City. compete for advertising revenues with this new form of communication. The Great Depression created economic hardships and towns could no longer support multiple papers. V_J/16,,f1;11K Today, there remain many tales about newspapering in Iowa -6( ir history. Take our tour through some of the more Interesting stories and witness the twists and turns and ups and downs of journalism in the state's past. -00 4 The Goldfinch 5 BEST COPY AVAILABLE . r Iowa's pioneer press Sofillerpliate pages

pioneer editors of the 1830s and 1840s were transient IT' he time-consumingprocess of setting folks, starting newspapers in one town, then moving on U type by hand (seepage 6) was relieved when a paper failed. They set up shop in vacant buildings by preprinted newspaperpages called including log cabins and mills. One publisher boasted he "boilerplates" or "ready-mades." could run his press under a shady tree. Early newspapers A Midwestern entrepreneur introduced were often one-person operations. The publisher worked as boilerplates during the Civil Wan One side of editor, reporter, printer, and business manager. the newspaper was printed with national Newspapering was expensive. For the price of a press news, advertisements, serialized fiction and start-up materials in 1840, a farmer could buy seven stories, and feature articles. The pageswere 160-acre farms. sold to weekly papers across the country. Some citizens paid publishers a lump sum to establish a Editors printed local news on the blank sides. newspaper in their town. The money went for equipment Editors liked ready-mades because they and supplies. thought they impressed readers. Readers In this time period, editors faced many hardships. Paper liked them because they often provided their and other supplies, shipped on steamboats or overland in only source of national and international wagons, were often stranded by bad weather. Newspapers news. sometimes stopped publishing until supplies arrived. In the Iowa's weeklies depended on ready- winter, ink froze overnight. mades between the 1860s and the turn of the Early newspapers had fewer pages than today's papers century. By the 1920s, newspaper production and contained stories and poetry in addition to news about had been simplified and ready-madeswere transportation, politics, agriculture, and frontier opportuni- no longer in high demand. ties. Papers were expensive on the Iowa frontier. Some- Today, the boilerplate product exists in times, the most an average citizen could hope for was to wire stories. Wire articles are written by read a copy of a paper that had been passed around town. reporters who work for wire services, such Slow and uncertain transportation systems meant subscrib- as the Associated Press, then distributed ers sometimes never received their papers, or when the electronically to newspapers worldwide..') papers did finally arrive, the news was months old. Editors suffered financial setbacks when subscribers Ely's Cream Balm lo the best remedy fbr children did not pay their bills. Some editors published names of suffering from delinquent subscribers. Others required payment in COLDInHEAD; SNUFFLES advance or accepted certain goods in place of cash. 01 Many publishers supplemented their income by printing CATARRH Apply Balm Into each nostrit posters, tickets, and other items. ELY BROS. 60 Warren St, N T. Despite hard times, pioneer editors persisted in their journalistic tasks to inform Iowans of local, state, and An add for cold medicine from an 1890s national news.. ready-made page. Note the product must 6 be mail ordered from New York state. Newspaper production Putting it loge by Amy Ruth

prior to the 1880s, every I letter printed in a newspaper was handled individually. The work was done completely by hand and was time consum- ing. At the end of a day, a typesetter's feet, back, and These men are setting type in the 1940s.SHSI (Iowa City) shoulders ached from standing and stooping the mirror image would be worked as typesetters because printed on the page. Hours later, their small, dexterous fingers Setting type by hand a page was completely typeset moved swiftly and efficiently from Typesetters arranged metal with articles and advertisements drawer to galley. letters and punctuation marks, and ready to be inked down and Some editors set type them- called type, into words and placed on the press. selves, composing an article sentences on a long rod called a Once a page was printed, type without first writing it down. composing stick, then placed from the galley was removed, Before central heating, setting the words in a large layout tray, washed, and put back into type type by hand during Iowa's cold called a galley. They arranged drawers, like the one below. winter months was a hardship. the words backwards because Women and children often Many editors published pleas for fuel donations to keep the newspaper office warm during production hours.

Machine-set type In the 1880s, a machine was invented to set type. The Linotype was loud, hot, and dirty and required skilled operators. Large daily newspapers could Type was stored in type drawers, like the afford numerous machines. one pictured above. Illustration by Brian Thomas Among small-town papers, ...t 6 The Goldfinch f however, the technology was slow to catch on because it was so costly. Some small town editors were still setting type by hand into the 1940s and 1950s. In the 1920s and 1930s, Jane and Martha Hinkle ABOVE: This hand press worked on the family newspa- printed one sheet at a time. per. Their grandfather pub- RIGHT: Steam-powered lished the Winfield Beacon presses could print 25,000 between 1881 and 1925, when papers an hour.SHSI (Iowa City) their father took over. "The Beacon was part of our daily life from our earliest In a log cabin in Dubuque in These presses were powered childhood," they wrote in 1981. 1836, press operator William C. by steam, instead of just human "We helped sort type as soon asJones printed the Du Buque strength. Such mechanized we could tell A from Z." Visitor on a Smith hand press. presses printed thousands of The first step in the process waspapers per hour from a long roll Printing processes to put the galley containing the of paper that was fed into one end The earliest presses were type on the press. Next, Jones of the press. hand operated and printed one dampened a piece of paper to In the 1960s, a printing revolu- page at a time. help the ink stick. Then he tion took place when off -set draped the paper over the type printing was introduced. Typeset galley where he had applied the pages were photographed and ink. Finally, he cranked the press the film used to make lightweight to make the image of the type metal plates that could be chemi- appear on the page. Press opera- cally treated to hold the ink. This tors who ran such machines process made printing faster, developed pronounced arm cleaner, and more efficient. Off- muscles from constant cranking. set printing is still used today. By the 1880s, when the Press operators no longer de- Linotype machine set type, pend on muscle power or heavy automatic steam rotary presses metal printing plates to print This boy operates a Linotype, c. 1910.sped up the printing process. newspapers. OD The Goldfinch 7 with other heating products. Newspapers Comparing past and present advertisements also may reveal how long a business tell has been open as well as economic changes, such as moving a business from a larger building to a smaller one to cut costs. History Commercial advertisements relate fashion by Lin Ly styles and other trends and give clues about popular products. Ads for spats (a shoe cover- Thinkof Iowa history as a puzzle.ing) and trimmed hats tell us the kinds of The pieces are the basic parts of a products Iowans once purchased. By reading newspaper, including adver- old newspapers, we also can discover how tisements, articles, editori- 0414far back some products date. Grape als, illustrations, and Nuts cereal, Vicks Vapor photographs. Historic UR ars Rub, and Murine Eye newspapers tell more Drops are products that than just the news of the exist today and are advertised in day. Their parts piece together newspapers and magazines and the story of Iowa's historyits peo-on television. They were also advertised in a ple, places, things, activities, and 1920s Burlington Hawkeye newspaper, and eventsand tell us what life was probably in other papers throughout Iowa. like for Iowans in the past. Advertisements for social events and other Advertisements convey the typeskinds of entertainment reveal popular recreation- of businesses and employment al activities. We can learn how a community's opportunities which existed in the entertainment scene changed as radio, film, and past but may not anymore. For television were introduced into popular culture. instance, Tom Connolly's advertise- Technology not only brought new forms of ment, "manufacturer of carriages, entertainment, but also advancements in buggies and sleighs," in the July 23,transportation and communication. Through 1885 issue of the Dubuque Daily old newspapers, we can experience the novel- Times is one that would not be ty of electricity, the telephone, and the auto- found in today's newspapers. mobile. Today, newspapers report advances Regular advertisements for heat-in e-mail and on the World Wide Web. In 50 ing coal, for example, tell us that or 100 years, Iowans will look to newspapers Iowans once heated their homes published today to understand 1990s life. with this fuel. When these adver- Newspaper articles also convey political tisements disappeared from news- and legislative happenings and Iowans' reac- papers, we know coal was replacedtions to laws and policies. In November 1920, a Burlington reporter interviewed areaments. To avoid printing incorrect women who had been granted the information, newspapers often Constitutional right to vote in a national elec-require contributors to provide their tion, and had voted for the first time. One name and address so information woman said that within 12 years, women can be verified. Reporters also would no longer be interested in voting. attribute certain statements to Another woman said sources in their articles. for When mistakes are printed, Y0 u thfu 1 itGrundamaher, that more women rema i 'Mee mace would run for pub- newspapers often run cor- a ne sok refintnualory. rection notices in order to wrhilitseibt7f lic office. render, 1711.cot ince it Newspapers also keep the public confi- of &autyva du joy include vital records dence. ye... mans, "" about a community's Newspapers are not citizens. Today, historians and genealogists only records of history but also riental (people who study their family's history) mediums for publishing history. !rub.) ea read old newspapers looking for birth, mar- Local history articles began as com- riage, and death notices. memorative features to celebrate Photographs published in old newspapers such events as the show how Iowa communities looked in the anniversary of a past. Pictures of homes, businesses, and othertown's founding. buildings show how styles have evolved. Today, many newspapers Changing architecture and civic improve- devote regular columns ments, like paved roads and traffic lights, indi-to local history. In cate how Iowans adapted to modern lifestyles.Solon, Iowa in the early Just as they do now, illustrations in the 1990s, teenager April Fleck, wrote a past served as forums for political and socialcolumn called "Years Ago." She commentary. For example, early illustrationsstudied back issues of the paper rarely portrayed women beyond a newspa- and wrote about happenings in per's fashion and society pages. Today, Solon's past women are represented in sports, business, For historians and history stu- and financial news and appear throughout dents, newspapers the newspaper. are like gifts that There are several reassurances that infor- keep on giving. In mation in newspapers is accurate and reli- more ways than able. First, the Constitutional protection of one, the newspa- free speech and of the press discourages con-per brings histo- cealment of the truth. Second, certain laws ry right to your restrain the press from printing false state- front door! 10 Art by Mary Moye-Rowley BEST COPY AVAILABLE 11=1114.GU 1111111 1,14.0101 Covering the community

The community newspa- small towns have disappeared connected a town's citizens with per is like glue that from the Iowa landscape and as each other and also with the binds a town together. Iowans' sense of community hasworld outside the community. For more than 150 years, Iowa'sbroadened, that number has Readers looked for published small town weekly papers have dropped to 298. Fewer and steamboat arrivals and depar- provided news and services to fewer of these papers are locallytures, and later train, bus, and subscribers. In 1918, Iowa had owned. plane schedules, to help them 768 weekly and bi-weekly In community papers, citi- plan trips and order supplies for newspapers. Today, as many zens read about business their homes and farms. openings and closings and Newspaper offices of the past local government news. were gathering places. Townsfolk 1-055. Newspapers provide a place assembled there as often as they for local groups to advertisegathered in post offices and their activities, and for general stores. They came to citizens to publicize births, report or hear the news, meet weddings, and deaths. And friends and neighbors, and pay they're a place to learn their subscription bills - often what's on the school lunch with produce or fuel, much to the menu and how the girls' disappointment of publishers who basketball team scored needed cash to buy supplies. against their arch rivals. Often, editors and publishers The opinions of community discouraged people from treat- members are heard in ing their offices as public

ICURE letters to the editor, col- meeting places. In 1859, a FITS/ umns, and editorials. Hampton editor wrote the While newspapers are following rules for visitors to his important today, in Iowa's office: "Enter softly, sit down Newspaperpublishers were powerful pastbefore telephones, quietly, say nothing interesting, community members. Publisher James television and radio news, don't talk to the printers." Throop combined his photo with a pageand the Internetnewspa- Throughout Iowa's history, from his Mount Pleasant newspaper, pers were often the only community newspapers have around 1889. SHSI (Iowa City) source of news. often been family businesses. The local newspaper Family members worked long

10 The Goldfinch BEST COPY AVAILABLE 0 hours to ensure that the paper was published on time. Children During World War II, started out sweeping the office women took over the floor and progressed to typeset- production of local ting or writing. In the town of papers. Dorothy Moeller, Glidden in western Iowa, I.A. left, ran two weekly Nichols and his sister ran the papers in Bremer County weekly Glidden Graphic. "I while her husband, Les, could gather the news, take care was overseas. of the advertising, and do the press work alone," he wrote in his autobiography. "My sister Weekly newspapers still com- by reading ads in the local paper. came into the office and set type."pete today for the income Newspaper publishers and Small towns competed fiercelygenerated by these notices. editors throughout Iowa history for county seat status and railroad Most papers earn their have been powerful community depotsboth would bring in money from two sources: members because they decide money for the community. subscribers and advertisers. which news to print. And because Newspapers participated fully in In Iowa's past, the local they often worked as lawyers or these competitions. Articles and newspaper was often the only in other professions and held editorials bragged about their way businesses could advertise public office, they sometimes town's offerings. goods and services. Newspaper chose to print only news that advertising benefited many smallserved their own interests and Newspaper business towns in Iowa because it attractedthose of people like them. Today, Newspapers are first and shoppers from rural areas. The newspaper editors and publishers foremost businesses. Iowa's small town newspaper also work harder to print information small town papers often started provided a place for national that is important to many differ- in county seats, where laws companies to advertise their ent kinds of people. require that information of goods. Around the turn of the Community newspapers have interest to the public, such as century, when rural delivery important responsibilities. They tax lists or bankruptcy notices, boosted mail-order sales, citizens inform, entertain, and educate: be published in a newspaper. in Iowa's small towns looked they carry news of tragedies and The county government paid forward to reading about goods joy; they tie together townspeople the paper to run these notices, available nationally. and farm families; and they leave giving publishers one certain It's possible to learn a lot aboutpermanent records of Iowa's and steady source of income. what's important to a community communities. 03 The Goldfinch 11 PATRONIZE THOSE PURLOINED IN THIS WHO SEEK YOUR INTEREST OF THB RUDINERN COLORED PEOPLE

VOL ILO NO. at DEB MOINES, IOWA VILIDAY. APRIL IL INV 'PRICE PINE mays Name five things you learn about The Iowa Bystander newspaper from its nameplate, pictured above. The fightingpress

Iowa's first African-American deaths, weddings, and other William edited the paper for a newspaper was the Colored important events not published brief time. The newspaper Advance, published briefly in in white newspapers. stopped publishing in 1987. Corning in 1882 by founder and editor C.S. Baker. Since then, A well-known paper More than news African-American Iowans have Most African-American African-American newspa- produced more than 40 newspa- newspapers in Iowa have not pers provided more than news. pers (mostly weekly publications) survived for more than a few They gave African-American to cover happenings in their years because they lacked Iowans experience as press communities. Newspaper cover- enough financial support from operators, reporters, editors, age stretched across the state subscribers and advertisers. and photographers. Young as far north as Mason City, as far But one newspaper survived people earned money by deliv- west as Sioux City, and as far east despite the odds. One of the ering papers. and south as Keokuk. nation's longest-running Afri- The African-American press can-American newspapers was Moving on was often called the "fighting The Iowa Bystander, established In the 1960s and 1970s, press" because it kept readers in 1894 by a few Des Moines more and more African Ameri- informed about civil rights businessmen. In 1922, Des cans were hired at European- issues and spoke out against Moines lawyer James B. "J.B." American newspapers. African- discrimination. Readers learned Morris, Sr. purchased the weekly American newspapers, like The about the accomplishments of paper and published it for almost Iowa Bystander, lost talented African-American professionals, 50 years. Morris' young grand- employees. Today, African- students, and athletes who were sons, William, Brad, and Robert, American radio stations, maga- ignored by other newspapers often worked at the newspaper zines, and television programs, simply because of their race. office hand-folding copies of the in addition to newspapers, And African-American newspa- paper for distribution across continue the spirit and determi- pers informed readers of births, Iowa. Years later, Robert and nation of the fighting press. Z:2

12 The Goldfinch i 3 Use a mirror to complete this activity! Be a type detective Typesetters once used blocks of type to lay out newspapers. They arranged words backwards and the mirror image appeared on the page. Hold this page up to a mirror to decipher each newspaper vocabulary word below. Write the word in the space given, and check out the definitions. (P.S. Look for these elements in your daily newspaper!)

(Time by which an assignment must be done) (Line that includes date, (Paper's nameplate) paper name, page number)

(Name of person who wrote (List of a paper's staff members, printed in each issue of the newspaper) an article)

(Title of an article) (First paragraph of an (Statement by a person published in the paper) ft article) BEST COPY AVAILABLE U4 The Goldfinch 13 by Millie K. Fret Working the news

When it came to putting out a newspaper in Iowa's past, all hands were needed for the many tasks involved in production and distribution. Young people have held prominent roles in getting out the news. Girls helped with typesetting, while boys served as printer's devils and newsboys.

Printer's devil

midst the confu- until the process was complete. Asion and clutter of The strong odor of the job stuck an early newspaper in the memory of the boys who office, the printer's cleaned the sheepskins between devil did the dirty their feet and the floor. work. Many boys who became Young devils - printer's devils hoped to learn named for their inky the craft of printing or writing. appearance at the end Along with those who worked of a long day - in other industries, printer's mopped floors, picked devils risked developing diseases, up scattered type, such as tuberculosis, from poor cleaned out furnaces, working conditions.On and scrubbed ink rollers and presses. Printer's devils also The young printer's devil did cleaned balls of sheepskin used most of the dirty work in the for inking type. After use, the 19th and early 20th century balls of dried sheepskin were newspaper offices, like the soaked in pails, wrung out by one above.SHSI (Iowa City) hand, then layered with paper on the floor. The devil walked back and forth over the skin until it was clean and dry, A cartoon drawing replacing wet paper with dry of a printer's devil 14 The Goldfinch . - - ' THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.WEEKLY Kid publishers 3: No: X

When William Harold and them a printing press. Edward Chamberlain of In 1908, the first issue Iowa City published their newspa-rolled off the presses. per in the early 1900s, they were William, 8, and the youngest publishers in Iowa. Edward, 12, were in . t, Measuring two by two inches, business. With a crew ..illtsbiook,:rooderod.44: .1gooliNtol III, -woo 11.6 fie.: oot Ri- of neighborhood kids, plop, tole ONC-Friday-.r. ettc* iiiIiiereceire4 :ara-ast we. The Grammar School Weekly was , reapoodod to an enthoshutloakooxi: 0:!reeite7iesee:ef 41844 otoriok t;oabli The doom ou.Nirbt ,o.4 said to be the smallest newspaperthe brothers covered ,fsk 1171i' period vroialiitt.ut :date the& in the world. school and other ship of Prof. Christy. Visiting a newspaper office news. Subscribers Grammar School Weekly is sparked the brothers' interest in were expected to pay in advance. unknown, we do know that the journalism. They convinced their The brothers' careers in brothers left Iowa in their 20s to mother, Irene Chamberlain who journalism grew with them and worked as a bookkeeper at an they both became newspapermen.pursue journalism careers Iowa City printing house, to buy Although the fate of The elsewhere. 40 Newsboys

Newsboys hawked papers onnewsboys paid for the paper. street corners, working hard forThe story faded from public a meager wage. interest before a settlement was In 1898, about 200 newsboys reported. in Des Moines went on strike. Norman Ross, a newspaper Strikers gathered outside the delivery boy in the 1930s, office of the Daily News to keep recalled delivering newspapers other boys from selling papers. in Charles City along the city's At the time, newsboys had to buy longest route. Ross carried a the papers they sold. If they re- heavy load but was often re- and girls under 18 from street sold all the papers, they made a warded with a double dip of occupations, including newspa- profit. If they didn't, they were strawberry ice cream at the per sales. stuck with the papers and no profit drugstore and a slice of goose- Today in Iowa, both boys Isaac "Red" Oransky led berry pie at the principal's house.and girls have paper routes, strikers in their demand for a By 1935, Iowa established delivering the news one paper reduction in the price the laws forbidding boys under 11 at a time. On 1.6 The Goldfinch 15 BEST COPY AVAILABLE 111 Make a press operator's hat ra by Lin Ly Nohistory of Iowa newspapers would be com- When Iowa newspapers moved to offset print- plete without mention of the press operator's hat. ing presses in the 1960s, the printing process Its history, however, is uncertain. became much cleaner and faster. Today's press There is some disagreement in the newspaper operators touch power buttons on computerized publishing industry about why press operators machines rather than inky printing plates. around the turn of the century made these hats. Technology may have swept away the utility Because running a press used to be a dirty job, of the press operator's hat, but it hasn't taken some believe the hats were useful in keeping ink the fun out of making them. After you've read and paper dust out of the operator's hair. Others the history in today's newspaper, follow these speculate that press operators had a lot of time in easy steps to make your own press operator's between printing jobs and making hats was a fun hat and wear history on your head! You'll make a thing to do with material that was readily available. historic fashion statement!

1. Lay a four-page section of the newspaper down horizontally with the fold at the top.

3. Fold the bottom edge of 2. Fold the top left the top sheet to the base 4. Fold the right edge to corner to the center of the triangle and crease. the center line. Do the line. Do the same with Fold up again to form a same with the left side. the right top corner. harrivand.Then turn oven

16 The Goldfinch 8. Fold the top peak 5. Fold lower right and left 6. Fold entire lower 7. Fold top of flap down down to the bottom corners of the flap to the flap above hat band. and tuck into hat band. of the hat band and bottom of the hat band. tuck inside the band.

Frank Foster models a newspaper suit in Cedar Falls, 1905.

9. Pick up the hat. Open wide and flatten 10. Fold down the top into a diamond. and bottom peaks and tuck into hat band

11. Open the hat up and it's ready to wear!

This activity was adapted with permission from the Cedar RapidsGazette.

Art by Mary Moye-Rowley SHSI (Iowa City) 17 BEST COPY AVAILABLE DEMOCRATIC BANNER. A budding young Iowa journalist asks: "Where are the pictures?" by Millie K. Frese It was a typical morning in "Where are the pictures?" Ottumwa, and 12-year-old Thomas asked aloud, not Thomas Granger was really expecting an answer. running late for school. He "My boy, newspapers didn't picked up the morning paper on always have photographs and his way out the door to take a slick graphics!" said a voice quick peek at the headlines, behind him. comics, and the sports page. Thomas whirled around to Thomas planned to be a sports see a man dressed in 19th writer when he grew up. century clothing. But something was terribly "Wh- wh- who are you?" wrong with this newspaper. He Thomas stammered. checked the date and the "I am John King, the pub- Like many early papers, this Davenp( paper's name. May 11, 1836. Thelisher and editor of the paper paper from 1855 carried few, if any, Du Buque Visitor! Where did thisyou hold in your hands." illustrations. come from? Thomas wondered When Thomas didn't reply, the as he studied the columns of man continued. Thomas asked. tiny type. No bold headlines. No "Early newspapers were drab "Matthew Brady was a illustrations or photos. and graycompared to what pioneer photojournalist during you're used to. Paper and the Civil War," the old man quality ink were hard to come continued. "Although a method by back when I was an editor. It for transferring photographs wasn't practical to use illustra- into printwasa decade away, tions, although we occasionally Brady's images were copied by used woodcuts." artists. His pictures were Thomas found his voice. reproduced in newspapers and "Woodcuts?" he asked. told stories that the printed "Detailed drawings were word could not match." printed in newspapers through a "Okay," said Thomas, grow- process of engraving the image ing impatient because he knew by hand on a wooden block." he was late for school, "so when Woodcuts provided illustrations "What about photographs?" do we get to the comics?" for early newspapers. 18 The Goldfinch Spa SO' 13 BEST e:oPv AVAII r "Not until the Industrial "Some of those trusty old pressesall the articles, comics, pictures, Revolution of the late 19th served generations of family and graphics and look at them century. Typesetting machines, printing businesses until they whenever you want!" faster presses, color printing, were no longer needed. Many "Perhaps, young man," the and other advances paved the newspapers changed over to old publisher chuckled. "But way for your comics. By 1893, powerful modern machines after there's something about holding The New York World, in New World War II. Suddenly, there a newspaper in your hands. You York City, had color presses andwere no limits to the visuals a can fold it up and take it with comics. By the early 1900s, newspaper could publish." you. You can read it by candle- Iowa's own Des Moines Register "Today, newspapers flash light when the electricity fails." also was running comics." with color and pictures, but they And with that, the old man "In the late 1890s," he contin-still do what they've been walked away. Thomas rubbed his ued, "methods were perfected designed to do all alongput eyes, not sure if he had just met for directly reproducing photo- news into the hands of the the publisher of Iowa's first paper graphs in newspapers. The people. The modern world is or experienced a powerful artist's world diminished as visually oriented, and today's daydream. Realizing he was very news photographers edged into papersbursting with photos late, he sprinted towards school. their territory." and illustrationsreflect that." What am I going to tell Ms. "Wow! It must have been coolThe old editor sighed. Rodriguez? he worried. to watch all those changes Thomas tried to imagine the Then he stopped and looked happen," Thomas exclaimed. future of newspapers. at the edition of the Du Buque "Cool?" The old man looked "Maybe someday newspapers Visitor sticking out of his math puzzled. "Yes, I suppose it was won't need paper at all!" he book. Smiling, he slowed his cool in the winters. It was very speculated. "Maybe the newspa- pace to a leisurely walk. sad, too, at times." The old per will be delivered to your own Maybe I won't have to explain journalist's voice trailed off. computer so you could download after all. OD

Compare this "Blondie" comic from the 1930s to one in a 1990s Iowa newspaper.

a a The Goldfinch 19 BEST COPY AVAILABLE More than words by Julie Seidler EMMW Iowa journalists, such as photographer Joan Liffring-Zug Bourret and political cartoonist Ding Darling, have used their artistic talents to influence changeand the viewpoints of Iowa readers

M ewspaper N photographs sometimes bring about social change. In Iowa, Joan Liffring-Zug Bourret used her camera to Joan Liffring-Zug Bourret document social inequalities. Liffring-Zug Bourret began her photojournalism career in 1948. In the early 1960s, she began photo- graphing the social conditions of Iowa's minorities. "When Dr. Percy Harris of Cedar Rapids could not find housing outside established ghetto neighborhoods in the early 1960s, my news tips and photographs for the Des Moines Register led to civil rights committees seeking and establishing greater employment and housing opportunities," said Liffring-Zug Bourret. She photographed the Cecil and Evelyn Reed family What is Darling's message in this 1929 of Cedar Rapids to break down stereotypes of African cartoon published in the Register? Americans. When he decided to run for public office. Reed credited Liffring-Zug Bourret for creating more The power of the political cartoon is its ability to opportunities for Iowa's minorities. simplify complex issues. Jay Norwood "Ding" Liffring-Zug Bourret's photographs of Mexican

Darling was a master at this craft. His career spanned migrant workers showed the poor living conditions of . more than 50 years, starting at the Sioux City Journal these laborers. When her photos were published, in 1902 and continuing at the Des Moines Register. At Muscatine agencies worked together to improve the the Register, Darling was free to express his views in quality of life for these workers. his cartoons, although his opinions were often different "Through the images of my camera," Liffring-Zug than those of the paper's publisher and editors. Bourret said of her career, which continues today, "I Throughout his career, Darling's cartoons touched on have been privileged to share in the lives of many state, national, and international issues. OD Iowans." -VAb 20 The Goldfinch 0 ..11. BEST COPY AVAILABLE UR CHILDREN'S' PAGE

The king sttieltia ail royal Something for everyone seal to a dotument. *nthe first issue of the Jefferson Era,published in _Jefferson, Iowa in 1866, editors vowed to"endeavor to CAN YOU TELL WHAT COUNTRIES THESEARE? resent something, in each issue,that will be interesting nd useful to all. Newspapersthroughout the state made imilar promises to attract morereaders. Special pre- Irinted pages for women and children werepopular in the ate 1800s and early 1900s. These pages weremass produced and sold to newspapers acrossthe country. The ;oldfinch checked out kids' pagespublished in the Des Moines Register in the early 1900s. Here'swhat we found. epocps aoue,j PUZZLEDOM A COUNTRY KINN ..- IE/ C., VITCSE'youR, rr r acc"-Ker 140L0 0. 4. . -11 thou art borrowed by afriend, Right welcome shall he be, D1.--1E, lend. 0 -alk To read: to study, not to -411 But to return to me. RYANitT "Not IWO imparted knowledge ,or r -, Doth diminish learning's store. But books, laAnd, if too oftlent. ROG Return to me no more. .I in the country: frequeutly, THE following things are found Cows, Mod slowly; pause Hai, liens. Daley. Gnu. Bird. Trees.up. down Think seriously, returnduly, Brook. Ne.14. DM. Ant. You may nunYou may use qM and slanting. but you must not skip. With the corners of the leaves lb. um. letters more than onto.Now see wlultber Not turned down.' you can find them. :.:t The Goldfinch 21 BEST COPY AVAILABLE 22 What's the story? by A4webekner

Three Iowa newspapers reported differently on the same event in 1905. After reading the article and studying the headlines, answer the discussion questions.

FRED A. HARRIMAN MEETS WEALTHY MAN IS FRED A. HARRIMAN DEATH IN AUTO WRECK. KILLED BY AUTO Was Prominent Lawyer and Capitalist and KILLED BY AUTO His Hampton's Most Progressive Citizen. FRED A. HARLIMAN OF HAMPTON Sudden Demise Casts a Shadow of ()loom VICTIM OF ACCIDENT. Over the Community. Funeral Services VICTIM18 WELL KNOWN IN FORT to he Held at ills Home Thursday After- DODGE, AS HE HAS OFTEN LOST CONTROL OF MACHINE noon at 2:30 O'clock. VISITED HERE.

The Franklin County Recorder, THROWN UNDERNEATH AUTO Al October 4, 1905 BOTTOM OF GULLY. The Des Moines Register and The Fort Dodge Messenger, Leader, September 30, 1905 September 30, 1905

When Fred A. Harriman journalists sometimes have bank they had purchased. "At 9 was killed in a car difficulty getting the story o'clock, having completed their accident near Hamp- straight The journalists gatheredwork, they started on their return ton, Iowa in 1905, he became the and reported conflicting informa- trip to Hampton," the newspaper first Iowan to die in an accident tion about the purpose of the trip, reported. caused by the new horseless the number of passengers, and The Fort Dodge Messenger, carriage. how Harriman died. however, reported that Mr. Reporters gathered facts and The Franklin County Recorder Harriman and two other men quotes and relayed the story to (Harriman's hometown paper) were "enjoying a ride through the their readers. Their articles in thereported that Harriman and four country." The Des Moines paper Franklin County Recorder other officials of the Franklin published an almost identical (Hampton's weekly newspaper), County State Bank left Hampton account the Fort Dodge Messenger, and theat the end of the work day in The descriptions of the acci- Des Moines Register and Leader Harriman's car. The men were dent itself are also different in the (both daily papers) show that headed to Geneva to take over a23papers. The Recorder reported, 22 The Goldfinch BEST COPY AVAILABLE "When coming down the steep strate that newspapers some- happened in the coverage of the Harriman car accident. hill...three miles south of town, times print inconsistent news. the auto speeding along at the For correct information about an rate of probably thirty miles an event in the past or the present, Reporting close to home hour, Mr. Harriman, who was readers must review many When an event such as the steering the machine, evidently sources, then decide for them- Harriman accident happens locally, the community paper will lost control...and it ran off the selves what is true and what is grade." The right front wheel false. allow a lot of space for coverage. struck a bridge which "threw the Readers want to know about auto and its occupants clear Reporting on deadline happenings that affect their across the span." It then turned Time and proximity compli- friends and neighbors. around and landed on its side in acate newsgathering and can lead Harriman's hometown paper six-foot embankment. to inconsistent news articles, published a long article with According to the Recorder such as the ones about the details of the accident as well as article, "It is thought that the Harriman accident. information about Harriman severe concussion following the Reporters working for weekly because he was a prominent striking of the machine against newspapers have time before Hampton citizen. Since he was the bridge was responsible for deadlines to interview multiple less well-known in Fort Dodge this death as no bones were people and check information (over 50 miles away) or Des broken and his body showed lesswith officials. Journalists working Moines (over 80 miles), the bruises than any one of the at daily papers sometimes only stories published in these papers others received." have a few hours to investigate were much shorter. Zo The Messenger and the Registerand report a story. and Leader reported the accident Newsgathering can be like ASK YOURSELF QUESTIONS differently. Both reported that playing the game 'Telephone," O Why did only one newspaper "As they were descending a steepwhere a message is whispered print the date, time, and hill Harriman seemed to have lostfrom one player to the next until location of Harriman's funeral? control of his machine. It struck the message is nothing like the the edge of a bridge at the bottomoriginal. Sometimes journalists 0 Why didn't the Des Moines of the hill and pitched into the play a version of the telephone paper use Harriman's name in its first headline? gully fifteen feet below. . game, relying on information Harriman landed under the provided by people who heard O Why were people in Fort machine and was crushed to the story from someone else, DodgeinterestaEla what death." rather than talking directly to a happenetto-Rentrnati? These brief examples demon- Fitness. This may be what 14 The Goldfinch 23 BEST COPY AVAILABLE Winner of the 1997 "Write Women Back Into History Contest" sponsored by the Iowa Commission on the Status of Women. Sidney, Iowa: Who would have guessed? by Abby Cox, Sidney, Iowa

Asi sit in church and know how to be a farm wife. She listen faithfully. The radio was gaze around, I see a and Robert had four children. the only contact they had with modestly dressed, neat, Robert realized that with other people except for their own and proper lady. Just looking at Evelyn's educational background family members. Evelyn would her, I wouldn't believe all of the and her upbringing as a town share the lives of her own family people's lives she has touched girl, she might be very bored on with the listeners. The listeners and all of her accomplishments. the farm. Just then there was an would write letters asking about Her name is Evelyn Birkby and ad asking for a farm wife to write recipes, housework, and children. she lives in Sidney, Iowa. a column in the Shenandoah Evelyn would answer these letters While interviewing her, she newspaper once a week. She on the air. gave me two quotes that she wrote a letter to the newspaper Evelyn left KMA in 1990. The has tried to keep in mind during and they liked her. So they took very popular homemaker pro- her life. The first one is, "take her! The editor told her there grams went off the air soon after more from life than life takes were many lonely people reading because there were fewer farm from you." The second quote is her column, so make it personal.families to listen. "bloom where you are planted." He also told her to always Evelyn plans to continue During her high school years, include a recipe. He told her thattouching lives. She most defi- Evelyn Corrie met her future is the only thing some people nitely plans to continue to bloom husband, Robert Birkby. After would read. So she started where she is planted. high school, Evelyn went to writing. That was in 1949! As the organ plays and Chicago to be a teacher. Her column only touched the people start filing out of church, On a July day, Evelyn came number of people who read the I see out of the corner of my eye back to Sidney from Chicago and newspaper. Her column was people stopping to talk to Evelyn. became reacquainted with such a success that she was I wouldn't have ever guessed Robert. On July third, at a picnic, noticed by KMA, a radio station. she had written a newspaper Robert proposed. They were They contacted her and wanted column all her life and talked on married November 3, 1946. her to do a homemaker program. the radio for 40 years. I never When she married Robert, She jumped at the opportunity to would have guessed! OD she moved out to his farm. She touch a wider range of people. was raised in town so she didn't People out on the farms would25 24 The Goldfinch Emma makes news

by Jen Go lay "In the meantime, get busy with those chores!" Emma Ai I I is not fair!" Eleven-year-old knew better than to argue when Emma Larson stomped her foot Mama used that tone of voice. on the kitchen's wooden floor. Emma stomped to the chick- "Why doesn't William have to en coop. Her hands moved do his chores? I never get out slowly as she daydreamed. of my housework." "Hurry up, Emma! We'll be 'William is 14 and in high late for school!" Will hollered. school now," Mama explained "I wouldn't be late if I didn't gently. "He needs some extra have to do your chores on top time this morning to prepare for of mine!" Emma yelled back. his history examination." Her She hurried into the house children's learning was impor- where she grabbed her books tant to Mama. When her family and lunch pail. moved from Norway to Decorah, "Bye, Mary," Emma kissed Iowa, she went to work cleaning her baby sister, who was sitting houses to help support her fami- in her high chair smashing her dren, translating it into ly. She had no time for school. breakfast with a spoon. English. Emma knew the Posten was an important news- "I'm sorry, Mama. It just Ai I seems like Will gets to do every- I t's my turn to pick the paper to her people. It remind- thing that I can't" Emma hoped story, Papa," William said as he ed them of their roots. this apology would soften Mama. settled on the braided rug in "Read about Kristine," "Your turn will come, front of the fireplace. pleaded Emma. This month, Emma. You must be patient," "No," Papa said. "It's Emma's the Posten was printing chap- Mama said. She carried the turn to choose. You chose last ters from a book called breakfast dishwater to the door night" It felt good to Emma that Kristine: En fortaelling fra and splashed it on the ground. Papa remembered her. Valdres (Kristine: A Tale from Emma knew that many of the "You know I always like it Valdres). Emma could hardly houses in town had indoor when you read from the Posten, wait to learn Kristine's fate. plumbing. Sometimes Emma Papa," Emma smiled at her When Papa finished read- felt like her family lived in pio- father. Since it was written in ing, Emma felt sleepy and con- neer days instead of the mod- Norwegian, Papa always read tent. The unfairness of the ern year of 1903. parts of the paper to the chil- morning was forgotten. Mama Art by Mary Moye-Rowley 26 The Goldfinch 25 tucked Emma into bed and she "Fire!" she screamed. "Fire! "Oh Will," Mama cried, "I'm fell asleep immediately. The house is on fire!" She so glad you remembered Mary." Emma dreamed of spring- jumped out of bed and jammed time. The sun shone brightly her feet into her shoes. "Mama! on the green hills that hugged Papa! William! Our house is on The Larson's home didnot Decorah in their arms. She fire!" She snatched Mary from burn completely, but the first heard birds singing as she ran her crib and grabbed a blanket floor was severely damaged. through the forest. Suddenly, from the chair to cover the The Larsons went to stay with the sun went dark. Emma kept baby's face. Mary awoke, sur- their neighbors, the Brandts, running. It was hard to prised by Emma's rough han- until the house was repaired. breathe. She fell down cough- dling. Emma heard Will climb Christian Brandt, the eldest ing and panting. Her eyes down from his loft bedroom. son, often reported local news popped open. Her coughing "Here Will," screamed for the Posten. When he heard and panting were no longer Emma. "Take Mary, I want to about the Larson's fire, he part of her dream; they were save my doll. She's on the bed." knew he had an important real. Emma's eyes burned and The children ran down the story to write. she saw a shaky glow in her stairs, out of the house, and away "Tell me everything," doorway. from their burning home. Mama Christian demanded of and Papa stumbled after them. William. Papa and the neighbors "Well," Will began. formed a bucket brigade to put "I was dreaming," Emma out the fire. Mama and the chil- interrupted. dren shivered in the cold "Emma, you're too young," morning air. Christian said impatiently. "I want to hear from Will." "Tell Christian how you carried Mary out of the house, William," Mama said. "You rescued your baby sister?" Christian exclaimed, scribbling furiously. Emma needed to be alone. Suddenly, she no longer cared whether she ever saw the newspaper again. Even the story of Kristine, the girl from Norway, didn't seem to matter anymore.

26 The Goldfinch 27 The next week when the Posten was delivered, Emma didn't even want to look at it. After supper Emma asked Papa to tell the story about when he took the big boat from Norway to America. "But Emma," said Papa, "I think I should read Christian's story about William. Don't you?" "No! I don't want to hear it!" cried Emma as she ran out of the Brandt's kitchen. "What's wrong with Emma?" Mama asked. he pushed open the door to the "Maybe she's still upset about bedroom where the Larsons the fire," said Christian. "It must were staying. have been awfully frightening to Emma sniffed. "I don't feel her. Thank goodness William like talking. And I don't want to got her out of the house." hear the story. Please tell Papa "It's not important," sighed "But it was Emma who to read it without me." Emma. "What matters is that woke me up!" cried Will. "She's "Papa's not reading the story. I we are all safe. Still, no one will the one who carried Mary told them it was wrong," he said. ever know the truth." downstairs." Emma was puzzled. "No, Will," Mama said. "I "I told them you carried For she's a jolly good fel- saw you carrying Mary out of Mary down the stairs. You low!" everyone sang as Emma the house." woke me up. You are the real walked into the schoolroom the "That's because Emma hero," Will said. next day. Emma gasped. handed her to me so she could Emma turned around to "Three cheers for our hero, save her doll." face her brother. "You did?" Emma Larson," someone cried. "William!" exclaimed "Yes. And Christian is angry "Will told us you saved your Christian. "Why didn't you tell with me. He says I ruined his family from the fire. We're so me this before I wrote the story? story. But no one ever asked proud of you. Why didn't you Now my article is inaccurate." me. Everyone just assumed. say something?" "You didn't ask me," Will said. And I admit that it was nice to Emma smiled to herself as "I think I'll go talk to Emma." get the attention." Will looked she thought of William. "No "Emma," said Will softly as at the floor. one asked me!" she said. 28 The Goldfinch 27 BEST COPY AVAILABLE The same, but different and performers. The students To research their town's history, the While doing their included copies of ads on the students investigated historic and research, the students CD-ROM. current newspapers. Some of the noticed differences be- One group researched infOrmation they collected was tween newspapers of communication methods included on their CD-ROM. including newspapers. These yesterday and today. students discovered that their "Today's paper will stay paper was one of the last weeklytogether and the old ones newspapers to be established in fall apart if you even barely Iowa, waiting until 1888 to begintouch it," said Andrea publishing. They also learned McNamara, 11. that the newspaper had once "And today's papers been called The Central City have more photos and News-Letter and had merged pictures," added Lindsey with another paper. Shoop, 12. They incorporated this The students all recog- information into the CD-ROM nized the importance of along with historic photographs saving newspapers. "The of the newspaper office and staff. old copies of the newspa- Some students read old per are important," said newspapers on microfilm at the Nick Booth, 12, "in case Cedar Rapids Library and someone wants to find decided they preferred this research on the town in a method to looking at originals. certain year." Christopher McAtee, 11, and "It's important to know others in his group were nervous the history so you know looking at the original papers how the town has grown," because they were so delicate. added Jaime Heck, 12. The students are glad that Thanks to the hard today's copies of the paper are work of these Central City saved on microfilm. They knew students, the town's his- The Linn News-Letter of the 1990s tory has been preserved for \ will teach future generations future generations to study about Central City's history. and enjoy. 7

28A The Goldfinch 29 Answers 1

Be a type detective (page 13): I I . - s I I . s e 08 O Deadline I I' "I 8 1 1 11^ O Folio I . I .11 .1 O Flag I I 1 e . I e - s O Byline I 11 I - I - . 1 .11 ^ '1 1'4' O Masthead II' 1 O Headline 8' o Lead 4$ O Quote

-Reader survey Iowa's Newspaper History CI Two thumbs up CI Okay0 Major drag Now is your chance Putting it Together 0 Two thumbs up 0 OkayCI Major drag to give use a report Newspapers Tell History CI Two thumbs up El Okay0 Major drag card! Fill out this Covering the Community CI Two thumbs up CI OkayCI Major drag reader survey, telling The Fighting Press 0 Two thumbs upCI OkayCI Major drag what you think of this Be a Type Detective 0 Two thumbs upCI OkayCI Major drag issue, and send it to: Working the News CI Two thumbs up 0 OkayCI Major drag Reader Survey, The Make a Press Operator's HatCI Two thumbs up CI Okay0 Major drag Goldfinch, 402 Iowa Where are the Pictures? El Two thumbs up 0 Okay0 Major drag Ave., Iowa City More Than Words 0 Two thumbs up0 Okay 52240. Then we'll 0 Major drag Something for Everyone send you a free prize! El Two thumbs up CI OkayCI Major drag Remember to include What's the Story? 0 Two thumbs up0 Okay0 Major drag your name, age, and Emma Makes News 0 Two thumbs up0 OkayCI Major drag address. History Makers 0 Two thumbs up CI Okay0 Major drag

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Second-class postage paid Goldfinch at Iowa City, Iowa US ISSN 0278-0208 State Historical Society of Iowa 402 Iowa Avenue Iowa City, Iowa 52240-1806

SOCIAL STUDIES DEV CENTER CIAL ATTN JANE E HENSON 2805 E 10TH ST SUITE 120 BLOOMINGTON IN 47408-2698 31. a.,

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