How do amateur newspapers document the experiences of young people during the Progressive Era?
Young people writing and printing their own newspapers became popular in the late 1860s and 70s. This was a time of significant industrialization in the United States. With the invention of a small, hobby printing press, young people could make and share news via their own newspapers and grow communities by printing and swapping them.
Let's take a look
Questions to consider
Why were young people interested in starting their own newspapers in the 1860s? What was happening at that time?
What tool or technology was needed for amateur newspapers to take off?
What were some of the challenges with amateur journalism and newspaper printing during the 1860s and 1870s?
Meet the historians
Get to know the historians. Each historian in this episode has a card with information about that historian.
There are 4 cards to read.
Nick Hoffman
Museum and Historic Sites Director
I get to share our fascinating history and culture with the world!
Jessica Isaac
Amateur Journalism Expert
I love learning about how young people in the past made an impact on their world through writing!
Cat Phan
Digital and Media Archivist
I take care of photos and videos and sound recordings so they last for a long time into the future!
David Pavelich
Director of Special Collections/Archives
I love libraries, archives, and museums because they support curiosity, exploration, and learning for everyone!
Quote from a historian
“It's really interesting because the amateur newspapers of the 1870s were really focused. It was young people making a space for themselves to be together.”
Jessica Isaac
Episode credits
Producer
David Boffa
Coordinating Producer
Mia Forslund
Hosts
Cat Phan
Nick Hoffman
Special Guests
Jessica Isaac
David Pavelich
Research and Writing
David Boffa
Jessica Isaac
Director of Photography
Ryan Hendricks
Videography
Ryan Hendricks
Ian Glodich
David Boffa
Editing
David Boffa
Ian Glodich
Captioning
Catie Pfeifer
Translation Services
Rev
Educator Support Materials
David Boffa
Mia Forslund
Kate Melberg
Web Design
Charles Barrows
Erika Kachama-Nkoy
Web Development
John Vieth
Graphic and Motion Design
Charles Barrows
Ian Glodich
Danielle Riseley
Additional Production Support
Philip Ashby
Al Barcheski
John Dachik
Angie Hause
Kurt Kaspar
Andy LaValley
Doug May
Will Salzmann
Executive Producer
Director of Education
Megan Monday
Director of Television
Jon Miskowski
Project Partners
Rebecca M. Blank Center for Campus History
University of Wisconsin–Madison Libraries
Wisconsin Historical Society
Educator advisors
Debbie Burmeister
Neenah, WI
Peoria, AZ
Erin Ermis
Neenah Joint School District
Neenah, WI
Toni Heinowski
Muskego, WI
Tanya Schmidt
Oshkosh Area School District
Oshkosh, WI
Barb Shaver
Kettle Moraine School District
Wales, WI
Funding provided by
Timothy William Trout Education Fund
a gift of Monroe and Sandra Trout
Eleanor and Thomas Wildrick Family
Focus Fund for Education
Friends of PBS Wisconsin