The Shining Star (Anderson)

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The Shining Star
FormatNewspaper
Owner(s)Edward G. Irvin
Founder(s)Edward G. Irvin
Founded1922
Ceased publication1927
CityAnderson, Indiana
OCLC number13317294

The Shining Star or Indiana Shining Star was an African American newspaper published in Anderson, Indiana, from 1922[1] to about 1927.[2] It is the only known African-American newspaper ever published there.[2]

The newspaper was founded in 1922 by Edward Giles Irvin (1893-1982), the youngest of the ten founding members of the Alpha Kappa Psi fraternity.[3] Irvin had worked for newspapers in various cities before joining the military in World War I.[4] They included the Indianapolis Freeman, Chicago Daily Bulletin, and Gary Sun.[3] Irvin is memorialized in the name of the charitable arm of the Chicago alumni chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi[5] and in the name of an annual Kappa Alpha Psi award.[6]

Like many early black papers, The Shining Star placed a strong emphasis on self-improvement, publishing a new word and Bible quotation every week for its readers to memorize.[7] The local news in The Shining Star was dominated by the activities of churches and the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows,[7] of which Irvin was a member.[8] The Shining Star exhorted its readers to support local Anderson businesses and lift up the local community.[7] Its coverage, however, was not limited to Anderson, as it provided a weekly column about nearby Muncie as well.[7]

Works cited[edit]

  • Bigham, Darrel E. (1996). "The Black Press in Indiana, 1879-1985". In Suggs, Henry Lewis (ed.). The Black Press in the Middle West, 1865-1985. Greenwood Press. ISBN 9780313255793.
  • Parks, Gregory S. (2008). "Edward G. Irvin". Black Greek-letter Organizations in the Twenty-First Century: Our Fight Has Just Begun. ISBN 9780813138725.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "About The shining star. [volume] (Anderson, Ind.) 1922-19??". Chronicling America. Library of Congress.
  2. ^ a b Bigham 1996, p. 51.
  3. ^ a b Parks 2008.
  4. ^ "Founders". Kappa Alpha Psi Cincinnati Alumni Chapter. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  5. ^ "Edward Giles Irvin". Edward G. Irvin Foundation. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  6. ^ "Edward Giles Irvin". Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  7. ^ a b c d Bigham 1996, p. 58.
  8. ^ "Famous Odd Fellows". Grand United Order of Odd Fellows. Retrieved 2019-12-02.