[Layout Image: No Content]
Gallaudet Univeristy
Decorative Graphic: No content.
GU Home > Library > Deaf Research Help > Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) > Publications > Little Paper Family

FAQ: Little Paper Family

This page displays better using IE (Internet Explorer).

Properly speaking, the "Little Paper Family" (LPF) was an association of the editors of the newspapers and magazines published by the various state residential schools for the deaf, which in 1893 set up the LPF Editorial Association. The Association, however, was a very loose one and seems to have died an unnoticed death during the middle or late 1970s. (Source: Murphy, Fred R. "Little Paper Family-An Unique Organization", Deaf American, v.25 n.8, April 1973, p.11-12.)

More generally, the LPF is usually defined as the group of those newspapers and magazines published by the various state residential schools for the deaf and written and edited mostly or entirely by deaf persons. Although not formally part of the LPF Editorial Association, some national or regional deaf periodicals not affiliated with a school, such as the Deaf-Mutes' Journal or the original Silent Worker, are also usually considered part of the LPF.

The LPF began with the first residential school periodical that appeared in 1849, and went through a "golden age" during the rest of the 19th Century and into the first part of the 20th Century, up through about World War II. The LPF is important as a historical record of deaf people and deaf culture during that period. Periodicals that started after World War II are not considered part of the traditional LPF, though descendents of some LPF publications are still being published today.

Because the LPF Editorial Association lost its original membership roster over a century ago, and never collected dues or did other activities requiring any kind of registration, there is no "official" list of LPF members. The following list of LPF publications has been constructed by surveying Gallaudet University's collection of deaf periodicals, by copying titles that came up in various articles about the LPF in the American Annals of the Deaf, and by noting LPF references to each other (for example, they commonly copied articles from each other, giving credit to the original source).

There are not really as many LPF periodicals as this list makes it appear-most are entered in this list multiple times, once under each title variation, and each entry includes a list of the other title variations, so the real number is less than one-fourth as much as it appears to be.

There is no index to any of these LPF publications. No one ever bothered to make an index. The only way to find articles in them is to search them, page by page.

Please note, too, that this is not a complete list of all deaf school periodicals. There are a number of other deaf school periodicals that do not fall into the scope of this list-for example, newsletters for parents and alumni bulletins, as well as periodicals that began publication after World War II.

The following article is a history of the Little Paper Family:

  • Reed, Richard D. "The Little Paper Family: A Rich Heritage and a Promising Future", in Turk, Frank R., ed., A Kaleidoscope of Deaf America, Silver Spring, MD, National Association of the Deaf, 1989, p.48-53.

Alabama Banner, 1949-1957 [Alabama School for Negro Deaf]
Alabama Messenger, 1889-1981 [Alabama School for the Deaf]

became The Messenger, 1885-1889
formerly The Messenger, 1885-1889

The American Era, 1935- [American School for the Deaf]

formerly New Era, 1914-1935

Arizona Cactus, 1926- [Arizona State School for the Deaf and the Blind]
Arkansas Mite, 1886-1891 [Arkansas Deaf-Mute Institute]
became The Optic, 1891-1896
Arkansas Optic, 1896- [Arkansas School for the Deaf]
formerly The Deaf-Mute Optic, 1881-1891
formerly The Optic, 1891-1896
The Banner, 1946- [North Dakota School for the Deaf]
formerly North Dakota Banner, 1891-1946
California News, 1895- [California School for the Deaf]
formerly The Daily News, 1885-1889
formerly The Weekly News, 1889-1894
The Canadian, 1913- [Ontario School for the Deaf / Sir James Whitney School for the Deaf]
formerly The Canadian Mute, 1892-1913
The Canadian Mute, 1892-1913 [[Ontario] Institute for the Deaf and Dumb]
became The Canadian, 1913-
Colorado Index, 1889?- [Colorado School for the Deaf]
formerly The Deaf Mute Index, 1874-1889?
The Companion, 1887- [Minnesota School for the Deaf / Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf]
formerly The Gopher, 1876-1878
formerly Mute's Companion, 1878-1887
The Daily News, 1885-1889 [[California] Institute for the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind]
became The Weekly News, 1889-1894
became The California News, 1895-
Daily Paper for Our Little People, 1895-1903 [Western New York Institution for Deaf-Mutes]
formerly Rochester Daily Paper for Our Little People, 1879-1895
became Rochester Daily Advocate of English and Speech for the Deaf and Dumb, 1903-1912
became Rochester Advocate of English and Speech for the Deaf and Dumb, 1912-1943
became Rochester Advocate, 1943-
The Dakota Advocate, 1886-1895? [Dakota School for Deaf Mutes]
became The South Dakota Advocate, 1905?-1940
became The Rushmore Beacon, 1940-
Deaf Carolinian, 1903-1930 [North Carolina School for the Deaf, Morganton]
formerly Kelly Messenger, 1895-1903
became North Carolinian, 1930-
Deaf Hawkeye, 1892-1919 [Iowa School for the Deaf]
formerly The Deaf-Mute Hawkeye, 1881-1892
became The Hawkeye, 1919-1920
became Iowa Hawkeye, 1920-
Deaf Mississippian, 1918-1946 [Mississippi School for the Deaf]
formerly Deaf-Mute Voice, 1882-1910
formerly Mississippi Bulletin, 1915-1918
became Mississippian, 1946-1989
became Deaf Mississippian, 1989-
The Deaf-Mute Advance, 1870-1897 [Illinois Inst. for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb]
became New Era, 1898-1903
became Illinois Advance, 1903-
The Deaf-Mute Hawkeye, 1881-1892 [Iowa School for the Deaf and Dumb]
became Deaf Hawkeye, 1892-1919
became The Hawkeye, 1919-1920
became Iowa Hawkeye, 1920-
The Deaf Mute Index, 1874-1889? [Colorado State Deaf Mute Institute]
became Colorado Index, 1889?-
Deaf-Mute Mirror, 1873-1894 [Michigan Institute for the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind]
alternate title Michigan Deaf-Mute Mirror, 1873-1894
became Michigan Mirror, 1894-
The Deaf-Mute Optic, 1881-1891 [Arkansas Deaf-Mute Institute]
became The Optic, 1891-1896
became Arkansas Optic, 1896-
The Deaf-Mute Pelican, 1877-1894 [Louisiana Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind]
became The Louisiana Pelican, 1894-1900
became The Pelican, 1900-
The Deaf-Mute Press, 1878-1880 [Wisconsin Institution for the Deaf and Dumb]
became Modern Times, 1880-1883
became Wisconsin Deaf-Mute Times, 1883-1887
became The Wisconsin Times, 1887-
Deaf-Mute Times, 1888 [independent]
became The Silent Worker, 1888-1929
Deaf-Mute Voice, 1882-1910 [Mississippi Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb]
became Mississippi Voice, 1911-1915
became Mississippi Bulletin, 1915-1918
became Deaf Mississippian, 1918-1946
became Mississippian, 1946-1989
became Deaf Mississippian, 1989-
Deaf-Mute's Advocate, 1893-1895 [Northern New York School for Deaf-Mutes]
became The Mentor, 1895-1933
Deaf Mutes' Journal, 1874-1938 [independent]
formerly Mexico Independent and Deaf Mutes' Journal, 1861?-1874
became New York Journal of the Deaf, 1939-1951
Deaf Oklahoman, 1909- [Oklahoma School for the Deaf]
The Deseret Eagle, 1889-1897 [University of Deseret, Deaf Mute Department]
became The Utah Eagle, 1897-
The Echo, 1914-1927 [Manitoba School for the Deaf]
formerly Silent Echo, 1892-1914
became Manitoba Echo, 1927-
Fanwood Journal, 1932- [New York School for the Deaf, White Plains]
Florida School Herald, 1900-1986
formerly The Institute Herald, 1891-1900 [Florida Institute for the Deaf and Blind]
became The Herald, 1987-
The Frat, 1904- [independent]
Gallaudet Guide and Deaf Mute's Companion, 1860?-1862 [independent]
The Gazette, 1891-1893 [Western Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf and Dumb]
formerly The Holiday Gazette, 1890-1891
became The Western Pennsylvanian, 1893-
Goodson Gazette, 1874-1908 [Virginia Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind]
became Virginia Guide, 1908-
The Gopher, 1876-1878
became Mute's Companion, 1878-1887
became The Companion, 1887-
The Hawkeye, 1919-1920 [Iowa School for the Deaf]
formerly The Deaf-Mute Hawkeye, 1881-1892
formerly Deaf Hawkeye, 1892-1919
became Iowa Hawkeye, 1920-
The Herald, 1987- [Florida Institute for the Deaf and Blind]
formerly The Institute Herald, 1891-1900
formerly Florida School Herald, 1900-1986
The Holiday Gazette, 1890-1891 [Western Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf and Dumb]
became The Gazette, 1891-1893
became The Western Pennsylvanian, 1893-
The Hoosier, 1936- [Indiana State School for the Deaf]
formerly The Indiana Deaf-Mute Journal, 1887-1889
formerly Silent Hoosier, 1889-1935
formerly Indiana Hoosier, 1935-1936
Illinois Advance, 1903- [Illinois School for the Deaf]
formerly The Deaf-Mute Advance, 1870-1897
formerly New Era, 1898-1903
The Indiana Deaf-Mute Journal, 1887-1889 [Indiana Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb]
became Silent Hoosier, 1889-1935
became Indiana Hoosier, 1935-1936
became The Hoosier, 1936-
Indiana Hoosier, 1935-1936 [Indiana School for the Deaf]
formerly The Indiana Deaf-Mute Journal, 1887-1889
formerly Silent Hoosier, 1889-1935
became The Hoosier, 1936-
The Institute Herald, 1891-1900 [Florida Institute for the Deaf and Blind]
became Florida School Herald, 1900-1986
became The Herald, 1987-
The Institute News, 1898-1914 [Halifax Institution for the Deaf]
became The School News, 1915-1961
became New Scotian, 1962-1977
became The Maritimer, 1977-
Iowa Hawkeye, 1920-
formerly The Deaf-Mute Hawkeye, 1881-1892
formerly Deaf Hawkeye, 1892-1919
formerly The Hawkeye, 1919-1920
Jersey School News, 1927-1979 [New Jersey School for the Deaf]
became Katzenbach School News, 1980-
Just Once a Month, 1921-1957 [Kendall School for the Deaf]
became Kendall Courier, 1957-1964
Juvenile Ranger, 1887-1893 [Texas Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb]
merged with Texas Mute Ranger to become The Lone Star Weekly, 1893-1902
became The Lone Star, 1902-
Kansas Star, 1878- [Kansas School for the Deaf]
Katzenbach School News, 1980- [Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf]
formerly Jersey School News, 1927-1979
Kelly Messenger, 1895-1903 [North Carolina School for the Deaf and Dumb]
became Deaf Carolinian, 1903-1930 [North Carolina School for the Deaf, Morganton]
became North Carolinian, 1930-
Kendall Courier¸ 1957-1964
formerly Just Once a Month, 1921-1957
Kentucky Deaf-Mute, 1873-1895 [Kentucky Institution for the Deaf and Dumb]
became Kentucky Standard, 1896-
Kentucky Standard, 1896- [Kentucky School for the Deaf]
formerly Kentucky Deaf-Mute, 1873-1895
Lexington Leader, 1925-1935 [Institution for the Improved Education of Deaf-Mutes]
became Lexington Newsette, 1936-1942
Lexington Newsette, 1936-1942
formerly Lexington Leader, 1925-1935
The Lone Star, 1902- [Texas School for the Deaf]
formerly Texas Mute Ranger, 1878-1893
formerly Juvenile Ranger, 1887-1893
formerly The Lone Star Weekly, 1893-1902
The Lone Star Weekly, 1893-1902 [Texas School for the Deaf]
formerly Texas Mute Ranger, 1878-1893
formerly Juvenile Ranger, 1887-1893
became The Lone Star, 1902-
The Louisiana Pelican, 1894-1900 [Louisiana Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind]
formerly The Deaf-Mute Pelican, 1877-1894
became The Pelican, 1900-
Manitoba Echo, 1927- [Manitoba School for the Deaf]
formerly Silent Echo, 1892-1914
formerly The Echo, 1914-1927
The Maritimer, 1977- [Interprovincial School for the Education of the Deaf]
formerly The Institute News, 1898-1914
formerly The School News, 1915-1961
formerly New Scotian, 1962-1977
Maryland Bulletin, 1884- [Maryland School for the Deaf]
formerly Maryland Deaf-Mute Bulletin, 1881-1883
Maryland Deaf-Mute Bulletin [Maryland School for the Deaf and Dumb]
became Maryland Bulletin, 1884-
The Mentor, 1895-1933 [Northern New York School for the Deaf]
formerly Deaf-Mute's Advocate, 1893-1895
The Messenger, 1895-1899 [Alabama School for the Deaf]
became Alabama Messenger, 1899-1981
Mexico Independent and Deaf Mutes' Journal, 1861?-1874 [independent]
became Deaf Mutes' Journal, 1874-1938
became New York Journal of the Deaf, 1939-1951
Michigan Deaf-Mute Mirror, 1873-1894 [Mich. Institute for the Deaf & Dumb and the Blind]
alternate title Deaf-Mute Mirror, 1873-1894
became Michigan Mirror, 1894-
Michigan Mirror, 1894-
formerly Deaf-Mute Mirror, 1873-1894
formerly Michigan Deaf-Mute Mirror, 1873-1894
Mississippi Bulletin, 1915-1918 [Mississippi School for the Deaf]
formerly Deaf-Mute Voice, 1882-1910
formerly Mississippi Voice, 1911-1915
became Deaf Mississippian, 1918-1946
became Mississippian, 1946-1989
became Deaf Mississippian, 1989-
Mississippi Voice, 1911-1915 [Mississippi School for the Deaf]
formerly Deaf-Mute Voice, 1882-1910
became Mississippi Bulletin, 1915-1918
became Deaf Mississippian, 1918-1946
became Mississippian, 1946-1989
became Deaf Mississippian, 1989-
Mississippian, 1946-1989 [Mississippi School for the Deaf]
formerly Deaf-Mute Voice, 1882-1910
formerly Mississippi Voice, 1911-1915
formerly Mississippi Bulletin, 1915-1918
formerly Deaf Mississippian, 1918-1946
became Deaf Mississippian, 1989-
Missouri Deaf-Mute Record, 1879-1892 [Missouri Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb]
became Missouri Record, 1892-
Missouri Record, 1892- [Missouri School for the Deaf]
formerly Missouri Deaf-Mute Record, 1879-1892
Modern Times, 1880-1883 [Wisconsin Institution for the Deaf and Dumb]
formerly The Deaf-Mute Press, 1878-1880
became Wisconsin Deaf-Mute Times, 1883-1887
became The Wisconsin Times, 1887-
Mt. Airy World, 1895-1985 [Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf and Dumb / Pennsylvania School for the Deaf]
formerly Silent World, 1887-1895
became PSD World, 1985-
Mute Journal of Nebraska, 1874-1879 [Nebraska School for the Deaf]
became Nebraska Mute Journal, 1879-1907
became Nebraska Journal, 1907-1998
Mute's Chronicle, 1868-1880 [Ohio Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb]
became Vis-à-vis, 1882-1886
became Mute's Chronicle, 1886-1894
became Ohio Chronicle, 1894-
Mute's Companion, 1878-1887 [Minnesota Institution for the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind]
formerly The Gopher, 1876-1878
became The Companion, 1887-
Nebraska Journal, 1907-1998 [Nebraska School for the Deaf]
formerly Mute Journal of Nebraska, 1874-1879
formerly Nebraska Mute Journal, 1879-1907
Nebraska Mute Journal, 1879-1907
formerly Mute Journal of Nebraska, 1874-1879
became Nebraska Journal, 1907-1998
New Era, 1898-1903 [Jacksonville, IL: Illinois Institution for the Deaf and Dumb]
formerly The Deaf-Mute Advance, 1870-1897
became Illinois Advance, 1903-
New Era, 1914-1935 [Hartford, CT: American School for the Deaf]
became The American Era, 1935-
New Scotian, 1962-1977 [Interprovincial School for the Education of the Deaf]
formerly The Institute News, 1898-1914
formerly The School News, 1915-1961
became The Maritimer, 1977-
New York Journal of the Deaf, 1939-1951 [New York School for the Deaf, White Plains]
formerly Mexico Independent and Deaf Mutes' Journal, 1861?-1874
formerly Deaf Mutes' Journal, 1874-1938
The Newscaster, 1936?-1955 [West Virginia Schools for Colored Deaf and Blind]
North Carolinian, 1930- [North Carolina School for the Deaf, Morganton]
formerly Kelly Messenger, 1895-1903
formerly Deaf Carolinian, 1903-1930
North Dakota Banner, 1891-1946 [North Dakota School for the Deaf]
became The Banner, 1946-
Ohio Chronicle, 1894- [Ohio School for the Deaf]
formerly Mute's Chronicle, 1868-1880
formerly Vis-à-vis, 1882-1886
formerly Mute's Chronicle, 1886-1894
The Optic, 1891-1896 [Arkansas Deaf-Mute Institute]
formerly Deaf-Mute Optic, 1881-1891
became Arkansas Optic, 1896-
The Oregon Gazetteer, 1889?-1903 [Oregon School for the Deaf and Dumb]
became The Web-Foot, 1903-1906
became The Oregon Outlook, 1906-
The Oregon Outlook, 1906- [Oregon State School for the Deaf]
became The Oregon Gazetteer, 1889?-1903
became The Web-Foot, 1903-1906
Palmetto Leaf, 1885?- [South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind]
The Pelican, 1900- [Louisiana State School for the Deaf]
formerly The Deaf-Mute Pelican, 1877-1894
formerly The Louisiana Pelican, 1894-1900
PSD World, 1985- [Pennsylvania School for the Deaf]
formerly Silent World, 1887-1895
formerly Mt. Airy World, 1895-1985
Rochester Advocate, 1943- [Rochester School for the Deaf]
formerly Rochester Daily Paper for Our Little People, 1879-1895
formerly Daily Paper for Our Little People, 1895-1903
formerly Rochester Daily Advocate of English and Speech for the Deaf and Dumb, 1903-1912
formerly Rochester Advocate of English and Speech for the Deaf and Dumb, 1912-1943
Rochester Advocate of English and Speech for the Deaf and Dumb, 1912-1943 [Western New York Institution for the Deaf]
formerly Rochester Daily Paper for Our Little People, 1879-1895
formerly Daily Paper for Our Little People, 1895-1903
formerly Rochester Daily Advocate of English and Speech for the Deaf and Dumb, 1903-1912
became Rochester Advocate, 1943-
Rochester Daily Advocate of English and Speech for the Deaf and Dumb, 1903-1912 [Western New York Institution for Deaf-Mutes]
formerly Rochester Daily Paper for Our Little People, 1879-1895
formerly Daily Paper for Our Little People, 1895-1903
became Rochester Advocate of English and Speech for the Deaf and Dumb, 1912-1943
became Rochester Advocate, 1943-
Rochester Daily Paper for Our Little People, 1879-1895 [Western New York Institution for Deaf-Mutes]
became Daily Paper for Our Little People, 1895-1903
became Rochester Daily Advocate of English and Speech for the Deaf and Dumb, 1903-1912
became Rochester Advocate of English and Speech for the Deaf and Dumb, 1912-1943
became Rochester Advocate, 1943-
The Rocky Mountain Leader, 1901- [Montana School for the Deaf and the Blind]
The Rushmore Beacon, 1940- [Dakota School for Deaf Mutes]
formerly The Dakota Advocate, 1886-1895?
formerly The South Dakota Advocate, 1905?-1940
The School Helper, 1899- [Georgia School for the Deaf]
The School News, 1915-1961 [Halifax School for the Deaf]
formerly The Institute News, 1898-1914
became New Scotian, 1962-1977
became The Maritimer, 1977-
Silent Echo, 1892-1914 [Manitoba Institution for the Deaf and Dumb]
became The Echo, 1914-1927
became Manitoba Echo, 1927-
Silent Hoosier, 1889-1935 [Indiana State School for the Deaf]
formerly The Indiana Deaf-Mute Journal, 1887-1889
became Indiana Hoosier, 1935-1936
became The Hoosier, 1936-
Silent Observer, 1875-1950 [Tennessee Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb]
became Tennessee Observer, 1950-
Silent World, 1887-1895 [Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf and Dumb]
became Mt. Airy World, 1895-1985
became PSD World, 1985-
Silent Worker, 1888-1929 [independent] [do not confuse this with the later 1948-1963 periodical of the same title]
formerly The Deaf Mute Times, 1888
The South Dakota Advocate, 1905?-1940 [South Dakota School for the Deaf]
formerly The Dakota Advocate, 1886-1895?
became The Rushmore Beacon, 1940-
The Tablet, 1877-1910 [West Virginia Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind]
became The West Virginia Tablet, 1910-
Tennessee Observer, 1950- [Tennessee School for the Deaf]
formerly Silent Observer, 1875-1950
Texas Mute Ranger, 1878-1893 [Texas Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb]
merged with Juvenile Ranger to become The Lone Star Weekly, 1893-1902
became The Lone Star, 1902-
The Utah Eagle, 1897- [Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind]
formerly The Deseret Eagle, 1889-1897
Virginia Guide, 1908- [Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind]
formerly Goodson Gazette, 1874-1908
Vis-à-vis, 1882-1886 [Ohio Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb]
formerly Mute's Chronicle, 1868-1880
became Mute's Chronicle, 1886-1894
became Ohio Chronicle, 1894-
The Washingtonian, 1892- [Washington School for Defective Youth / Washington State School for the Deaf]
The Web-Foot, 1903-1906 [Oregon School for the Deaf and Dumb]
formerly The Oregon Gazeteer, 1889?-1903
became The Oregon Outlook, 1906-
The Weekly News, 1889-1894 [[California] Institute for the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind]
formerly The Daily News, 1885-1889
became California News, 1895- [California School for the Deaf]
West Virginia Tablet, 1910- [West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind]
formerly The Tablet, 1877-1910
The Western Pennsylvanian, 1893- [Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf]
formerly The Holiday Gazette, 1890-1891
became The Gazette, 1891-1893
Wisconsin Deaf-Mute Times, 1883-1887 [Wisconsin Institution for the Deaf and Dumb]
formerly The Deaf-Mute Press, 1878-1880
formerly Modern Times, 1880-1883
became The Wisconsin Times, 1887-
The Wisconsin Times, 1887- [Wisconsin Institution for the Deaf and Dumb]
formerly The Deaf-Mute Press, 1878-1880
formerly Modern Times, 1880-1883
formerly Wisconsin Deaf-Mute Times, 1883-1887

 

* * * * * * * * * *
Prepared by Tom Harrington
Reference and Instruction Librarian
September 2001

 

Graphic Element