The CLEVELAND GAZETTE gave local AFRICAN AMERICANS their own newspaper for the first time since before the Civil War. Although founded on 25 Aug. 1883 by a partnership of 4 men, within 3 years it had come under the sole control of its original managing editor, HARRY C. SMITH. By the time of Smith's death, it had become the longest-publishing African American weekly in the U.S., earning its nickname "The Old Reliable" by never missing a Saturday publication date in 58 years. Smith's causes became the Gazette's causes, as he mobilized it against segregated schools, minstrel shows, and the last of Ohio's "BLACK LAWS." Regarding the debate over vocational training versus college education, the Gazette recommended the latter whenever possible. Circulation of the Gazette remained fairly constant at 5,000 for its first 20 years. Around World War I, it was reported at 18,000, where it remained, perhaps somewhat inflated, until the end. It inhabited a succession of addresses in its lifetime, including Euclid and Superior avenues, W. 3rd St., and Smith's final headquarters at 2322 E. 30th St. Two constants were its 4-page format and its Republican allegiance, which not even the New Deal could sway. Following Smith's death on 10 Dec. 1941, the Gazette was continued for a time by his associate, Talbert White. It surfaced in 1944 as a 12-page paper under the ownership of the Cleveland Publishing Co., with Dr. Geo. W. Brown as managing editor. Diminished to tabloid size, its final issue apparently appeared on 20 May 1945.
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