A guest post by Hannah Nichols, a Librarian in the Serial and Government Publications Division
Thousands of historic newspaper issues — from the perspectives of colonial thinkers, printers, and citizens — that reportedly document the early days of America are included in The Library of Congress collections.
America’s 250th birthday celebration of historic newspaper issues reflecting this moment in time will be on display.
Some of our favorites can be either glimpsed or read to learn how you can see them in person!
Colonial newspaper publishers took up the cause for independence in the lead-up to the Revolutionary War, with great fervor, and many did not hesitate from political coverage.
American newspapers were prevalent with protest when the British Stamp Act was passed in 1765.
A single issue of a rebellious newspaper was published by William Goddard, the well-known publisher of the Pennsylvania Chronicle under the pseudonym Andrew Marvel. The newspaper, The Constitutional Courant which contained unsigned articles protested the Stamp Act and prominently featured Benjamin Franklin’s “Join or Die” snake cartoon in its masthead.
To bolster Patriots’ morale during the war particularly at moments when hopes for independence from Great Britain were low, newspapers printed articles.
“The American Crisis,” Thomas Paine’s revolutionary pamphlet series with passionate message and concise writing was published and reprinted serially in newspapers throughout the war helped to make complex ideas about the cause for independence resonate with the American colonists.
The first in the series begins with the famous words: “These are the times that try men’s souls” and was printed in this 1777 issue of the Virginia Gazette. “The American Crisis” series was published under the pen name “Common Sense,” also the title of Paine’s most well-known work.
Americans have observed since 1776, the anniversary of our gained independence on the fourth of July reserving the biggest celebrations for major anniversaries, like the semiquincentennial that we observe this year.
The Chicago Sunday Tribune with a full-color reproduction of Archibald Willard’s iconic painting “The Spirit of ’76” marked the nation’s 150th anniversary one hundred years ago.
Capturing the enduring spirit of American independence, the image—three Revolutionary soldiers marching with fife and drums—first displayed at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition.
These newspapers and more are viewable throughout the month of June, in the Mezzanine Display Cases in the Jefferson Building’s Great Hall.
Our next blog post highlights featured newspapers at Our History in the Headlines: America’s Story in Newspapers at Live! at the Library on Thursday, June 25, 2026.
Additional Resources
Find more newspaper articles about celebrating America’s independence in the Chronicling America historic newspapers online collection, which is a product of the National Digital Newspaper Program and jointly sponsored by the Library and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Humphrey, C.S., (2013). The American Revolution and the Press. Medill School of Journalism/Northwestern University Press.
Mott, F.L., (1962). American Journalism: A History, 1690-1960. Macmillan.
Thomas, I., (c. 1970). The History of Printing in America: With a Biography of Printers & an Account of Newspapers. Weathervane Books
