J. L. BELL is a Massachusetts writer who specializes in (among other things) the start of the American Revolution in and around Boston. He is particularly interested in the experiences of children in 1765-75. He has published scholarly papers and popular articles for both children and adults. He was consultant for an episode of History Detectives, and contributed to a display at Minute Man National Historic Park.

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Sunday, October 18, 2009

News from the Virginia Gazette (no, the other one)

Folks at Colonial Williamsburg (where this photograph of a journeyman printer comes from) have assembled a newspaper item for each day of the year from the three rival versions of the Virginia Gazette published in the 1770s. The “Learn More” links at the lower right of the page lead to more useful resources on newspapers and printers.

Unlike some “on this date” sites, you don’t need to wait for a particular day to come around; you can look up any date in the year. For example, on my birthday in 1773 Purdie and Dixon’s Gazette featured an editorial from London that lamented:

Profligacy is the Characteristick of this wretched Age.
But I want people to be profligate on that day!

Thanks to Taylor Stoermer at Transatlantic History for the link, via Twitter.

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