As we welcome in the brand new decade, we are delighted to welcome 195,968 new pages to The Archive. This includes an incredible 13 brand new titles, which cater to a plethora of different interests – from specialist religious, political and sporting titles, to regional publications. Covering over one hundred years, and spanning the countries of England, Ireland and Scotland, settle in and enjoy your guide to this eclectic smorgasbord of historical newspapers.

Truth

Heading up our new arrivals this week is seminal periodical Truth. Founded by politician and writer Henry Labouchère in 1877, with its first edition appearing on 4th January 1877, it was renowned for its exposure of frauds as well as being at the centre of several scandals itself.

Truth | 11 February 1904

Perhaps one of the most famous articles by Truth was a piece published in 1890. The periodical at this point had a circulation of one million, and it was to this audience that a piece appeared during Christmas 1890 called ‘The Kaiser’s Dream.’ The Kaiser’s dream involves his attacking Russia, which results in the fall of all the monarchies of Europe – a startling prophecy of events over twenty years later.

Kaiser Wilhelm and Tsar Nicholas II | The Sphere | 19 June 1909

Moving into the twentieth century, Truth was dogged by political scandal. After leaving its liberal roots the periodical became associated with the Conservative Party; but during the Second World War it was accused of being pro-Nazi. These allegations were rebutted, and after the war Truth returned to its more liberal stance before ceasing publication in 1957.

Liberty

Following Truth this week is Liberty – ‘A Journal of Anarchist Communism.’ Founded by Scottish tailor James Tochatti and poet Louisa Sarah Bevington in 1894, it sought to promote the interests of anarchism in Great Britain. The publication itself describes how ‘Anarchist-Communism is the union of the two fundamental tendencies of our society, a tendency towards economic equality and a tendency towards political liberty.’

Indeed, Liberty addresses head-on the negative connotations that anarchism held in the Victorian period, for as renowned French geographer and writer Elisée Reclus writes in a piece called ‘An Anarchist on Anarchy’ – ‘to most Englishmen the Word Anarchy is so evil-sounding that ordinary readers…will probably turn from these pages with aversion, wondering how anybody could have the audacity to write them.’

Liberty | 1 June 1895

‘Past praying for’ with ‘every conceivable crime laid to our charge,’ Reclus comments how many see anarchy as ‘but another name for wickedness and chaos.’ On the side of the working man, and of course pitting itself against government, Liberty faced an uphill battle, but survives as remarkable manifesto of extreme Victorian politics.

Although Liberty itself was short lived, it attracted some famous contributors, including William Morris and George Bernard Shaw.

Smethwick Telephone

With its memorably quirky name, the Smethwick Telephone reported on the local news from the West Midlands. The use of the word ‘telephone’ helps to underline its use for communication – just as the much more commonly used ‘telegraph’ does, for example. And the weekly publication saw great success in such communication; in the 1960s the Smethwick Telephone had an impressive circulation of 20,000 in a town consisting of 55,000 people. Sadly now defunct, the Smethwick Telephone is remembered fondly for its memorable name and its impressive local journalism.

Western Evening Herald

The Western Evening Herald was launched on 22nd April 1895 as Plymouth’s first ever evening newspaper. It was published by the owners of the Western Daily Mercury, and in 1921 it was bought by Sir Leicester Harmsworth. A daily publication, it was renamed the Evening Herald and Western Evening News on the 17th September 1923.

Warrington Titles

We have added five brand new titles for the Cheshire town of Warrington. Some of these titles were rather short-lived, including the Warrington Times for which we hold the year 1859. We have also added the Warrington Evening Post, which ran for three years between 1877 and 1880. Another short-lived Warrington title was the Warrington Standard and Lancashire and Cheshire Advertiser, which ran from 5th June 1858 to 28 May 1859.

Bridge over the Mersey at Warrington | Illustrated London News | 3 February 1883

Some Warrington titles did fare better, however, including the Warrington Advertiser, a weekly publication for which we hold the years 1865 to 1889. Rounding off our new Warrington additions is the Warrington Daily Guardian. Established in 1853 by 1859 it had become the town’s main local newspaper, publishing pictures of the town’s changing industrial landscape. In 1856 it was bought by Alexander Mackie, who was responsible for establishing other notable Cheshire ‘Guardian’ titles for the towns of Northwich, Altrincham, Crewe and Chester.

Sport (Dublin)

Irish sports newspaper Sport (Dublin) joins us also this week. Published weekly in Dublin, its mission was to print the ‘leading features of the week’s sporting and theatrical events.’ With pages spanning the late nineteenth century to the 1930s, the newspaper concentrated on a range of different sports including Gaelic football, handball, racing, athletics, and rugby.

Sport (Dublin) | 13 February 1897

A notable feature included the ‘Celebrity of the Week’ piece, and in the 1920s the newspaper began to print photographs on its front page.

Other Titles

Rounding off our new titles this week are the Aberdeen Weekly News, the Christian News and the Newtownards Chronicle & Co. Down Observer. The Aberdeen Weekly News was first printed on the 7th August 1860, and it changed its name to the Weekly News for Aberdeen in April 1883.

Another Scottish title, the Christian News was published in Edinburgh. The newspaper included sermons, and news on religious matters from across the country. Weekly publication the Newtownards Chronicle & Co. Down Observer completes our collection of new titles for the New Year.

We have not neglected our existing titles this week, either. We have added new pages to Abertillery publication the South Wales Gazette, as well as new pages to the Newcastle Evening Chronicle. Finally, we have added new pages to two Edinburgh-based titles, namely the Daily Review (Edinburgh) and Witness (Edinburgh).

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New Titles

Updated Titles

This week we have updated four of our existing titles.

You can learn more about each of the titles we add to every week by clicking on their names. On each paper’s title page, you can read a FREE sample issue, learn more about our current holdings, and our plans for digitisation.

You can keep up to date with all the latest additions by visiting the recently added page.  You can even look ahead to see what we’re going to add tomorrow.