Norwich
Newspapers

The purpose of this placemark is to provide a list of newspaper names, dates of publication, publisher’s names and other information about newspapers that have been printed in Norwich prior to 1960. The table includes all the known newspapers published in Norwich prior to 1960. It also includes several newspapers published since 1960. A few printers/publishers of books and other periodicals (e.g. Henry Bill) are also included.  This placemark only provides an overview of the newspapers. Much more historical information and context is available in the references provided at the bottom of this page.

The SEARCH box allows users to search for any name, word, phrase or year. All words contained in the table will be searched and the filtered results will be displayed in the table.

By default, the table is sorted by the year in which the newspaper was first published and displays the first 15 rows. If you click the small, black down-arrowhead located next to the 15, you can expand or contract the number of rows displayed. The small, white up/down arrowheads, in the first row of the table, will sort any column in either ascending or descending order. Sorts can be applied to both unfiltered and filtered columns.

Example: Enter “Stedman” into the SEARCH box. All rows of the table that include the word “Stedman” will appear.  Now, click on the small white down-arrowhead in the “Publisher” box. The filtered “Stedman” table now sorted first by Years and then by Publisher is displayed.

YearsNewspaper NameFrequencyPublisherCo-PublisherComments 1Comments 2
1773-1776 Norwich PacketweeklyAlexander RobertsonJames RobertsonFull name was "The Norwich Packet and the Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island Weekly Advertiser"A four-page newspaper, Used paper from Christopher Leffingwell's mill
1776-1802Norwich Packet; and the Weekly AdvertiserweeklyJohn TrumbullName was shortened to "Norwich Packet; and the Weekly Advertiser" in 1776Robertsons moved to New York because they were Loyalists, originally from Scotland
1790-1793Weekly RegisterweeklyThomas HubbardEbenezer BushnellA four-page newspaper, first issue Nov. 29, 1790
1793-1797Weekly RegisterweeklyThomas BushnellThomas Hubbard was E. Bushnell's brother-in-law
1796-1798Chelsea CourierweeklyThomas HubbardThe successor to the "Weekly Register"Otis Library has 1797-1820
1798-1806Chelsea CourierweeklyThomas Hubbard
1802-1807Connecticut CentinelweeklyLucy TrumbullAfter her husband's, John, death she continued to publish "The Packet" under this new name.American Antiquarian lists issues
1804-1806True RepublicanweeklyConsider SterryJohn SterryRepublican ideas, defense of Jeffersonian democracyFor availability see American Antiquarian reference
1806-1806True RepublicanweeklyConsider SterryEpaphras PorterJohn left in June 1806Last issue November 5, 1806
1806-1807CourierweeklyThomas HubbardRussell HubbardRussell was Thomas' son
1808-1809CourierweeklyRussell Hubbard
1809-1817Norwich CourierweeklyRussell Hubbard
1812-1813Native AmericanweeklySamuel WebbSucceeded by "Independent Observer and Country Advertiser", in July 1820, in WindhamAvailable on microfiche at Library of Congress
1817-1819Norwich CourierweeklyRussell HubbardTheophilus R. Marvin
1819-1822Norwich CourierweeklyRussell Hubbard
1822-1825Norwich CourierweeklyJohn DunhamThomas Robinson
1825-1841Norwich CourierweeklyJohn Dunham
1826-1829Canal of IntelligenceweeklyLevi Huntington YoungDiscussed idea of a canal from Norwich to WorcesterLibrary of Congress
1828-1835Norwich RepublicanweeklyWilliam FaulknerBoardmanAvailable at Readex
1829-1930Norwich Spectatorweekly on TuesdayPark BenjaminMarcus B. YoungNov 1829 - Jan 1830, Revived by John G. Cooley in 1842Online at Connecticut State Library
1830-183?Norwich Free PressweeklyMarcus B. YoungLibrary of Congress
1831-1832Religious MessengerweeklyJohn W. StedmanJune 1831-Sept 1832, probably a.k.a. the "Religious Intelligencer"Readex has 67 issues
1834-1835Norwich RepublicanweeklyMalzar GardnerAvailable at Readex
1835-1838Norwich RepublicanweeklyMarcus B. YoungEdited by Lafayette S. Fosterpromoted Whig ideas
1835-1838Weekly AuroraweeklyJames Holbrook
1838-1841Weekly AuroraweeklyGad S. Gilbert
1841-1842Norwich AuroraweeklyWilliam Trench
1841-1842Norwich CourierweeklyDorson E. SykesPromoted Whig politics
1841-1842Total AbstinentmonthlyJohn G. Cooley1st paper in Connecticut to promote total abstinenceSucceeded by "Spectator"
1842-1842Daily CourierdailyDorson E. SykesSuccessor to the "Norwich Courier"A sixteen-column, penny sheet
1842-1842Norwich SpectatormonthlyJohn G. CooleyPreceeded by "The Total Abstinent" and the 1829 "Norwich Spectator" Succeeded by "Norwich Gleaner"
1843-1843Norwich Tri-Weekly Auroratri-weeklyWilliam Trench
1843-1844Norwich AuroraweeklyWilliam TrenchConklin
1843-1848Norwich NewsweeklyWilliam Faulkner
1844-1860Norwich AuroraweeklyJohn W. Stedman
1845-1847Weekly ReporterweeklyJohn G. CooleyPreceeded by 1841 "The Total Abstinent" advocated temperance
1845-1858Norwich Evening Couriertri-weeklyDorson E. SykesSuccessor to the "Daily Courier"Published Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
1845-18xxNorwich GleanerweeklyBenjamin F. Taylor
1846-1859Norwich Weekly CourierweeklyDorson E. Sykes
1847-1847American PatriotweeklyJohn G. CooleyAdvocated that General Taylor should be U.S. PresidentSept. 1847 - Oct 1847
1847-1848American PatriotmonthlyJohn G. CooleyDec 1847 - Apr 1848
1847-1872Henry Bill Publishing Co.randomHenry BillPublished illustrated Bibles, other religious books, travel books
1848-1848Norwich Weekly GazetteweeklyWilliam Faulkner
1852-1853Norwich TribuneweeklyC. B. PlattEdmund C. Stedman
1852-1853Norwich TribuneweeklyE. S. WellsJan 1852 - Jul 1853
1853-1855ExaminerweeklyRev. H. P. ArmsRev. John P. GulliverLibrary of Congress
1855-1856State GuardweeklyAndrew StarkAdvocated the political party "Native American", a.k.a. the know-nothing partyAvailable at Connecticut State Library
1856-1858Evening Couriertri-weeklyDorson E. SykesDiscontinued in November 1858
1858-1859Daily CourierdailyDorson E. SykesC.D. Rice (manager)Successor to the "Evening Courier"Began in December 1858
1858-1859Daily CourierdailyGeorge B. SmithSmith took over on Dec 1, 1858, after Sykes retiredSmith controlled for only 5 months
1858-1859Weekly ReveilleweeklyWalter S. RobinsonOnly 10-12 issues printedOct 1858 - May 1859
1858-1860Eastern Bulletinweekly on SundayManning, Platt & CoW.D. Manning, James N. Perry, I.H. Bromley, Homer Blissdaily version of the "Norwich Morning Bulletin", discontinued when they bought the "Daily Courier" in 1860
1858-1863Norwich Morning Bulletindaily except SundayManning, Platt & CoW.D. Manning, James N. Perry, I.H. Bromley, Homer BlissEstablished December 1858, weekly version of "The Eastern Bulletin"
1859-1860Daily Couriersemi-weeklyDorson E. SykesSykes came out of retirementChanged from daily to semi-weekly
1859-1860Norwich Semi-Weekly Couriersemi-weeklyDorson E. Sykes
1860-1860Daily CourierdailyH. C. KinneWas published from August 1860 - November 1860
1860-1860Evening Couriersemi-weeklyH. C. KinneWas published from August 1860 - November 1860not a successor to the "Daily Courier", both were published simultaneously
1860-1867Norwich Daily Auroradaily except SundayJohn W. Stedman
1860-1895Norwich Weekly Couriersemi-weeklyDorson E. Sykes
1863-1870Norwich Morning Bulletindaily except SundayBulletin AssociationBulletin Association was formed in December 1863
1867-1874Norwich Daily Advertiserdaily except SundayNorwich Print Co.Promoted Democratic principles
1867-1878Norwich Daily Auroradaily except Sundayunknown
1868-1876Norwich Printing CompanyrandomJohn W. StedmanPrinted books and maps
1870-1873Norwich Morning Bulletindaily except SundayCampbell & CompanyW.H. Campbell, William Fitch, Charles Spalding
1873-1895Norwich Morning Bulletindaily except SundayBulletin CompanyAlbert S. Bolles as editor
1876-1880Cooley's WeeklyweeklyJohn G. CooleyBought by Cleworth & Pullen in 1890
1877-1877ReformerunknownRev. Hugh Montgomerysummer 1877 - fall 1877, a temperance paperreference Duane H. Hurd, page 311
1878-1878VimunknownRev. Hugh Montgomery May 1878 - October 1878reference Duane H. Hurd, page 311
1879-1879No License AdvocateunknownRev. Hugh MontgomeryEdited by Rev. L. T. Chamberlain & Rev. L. W. Baconreference Duane H. Hurd, page 311
1879-1879The American ConflictweeklyHenry BrownWas a weekly, semi-weekly, and monthlymoved to Danielson, reference Duane H. Hurd page 311
1879-1880Norwich Daily ObserverdailyDaniel LeeApril 1879-May 1880
1880-1881Evening StardailyGordon Wilcox166 Main Street
1880-1888Cooley's WeeklyweeklyJohn G. Cooley Jr.David S. AdamsSucceeded by the "Norwich Evening Record" supported Democratic politics
1881-18??Norwich Daily Newsdaily in afternoonNews Publishing Co.John F. Rathbone editorSupporter of Democrat political
party; 57 Water St.
1888-1890Norwich RecorddailyJohn G. LynchSupporter of Democrat political partyPurchased by Cleworth & Pullen in 1890
1888-1894Cooley's WeeklyweeklyFrank H. PullenAllan W. Cleworth154 Main Street
1890-1927Norwich Evening Recorddaily except SundayFrank H. PullenAllan W. Cleworth
1892-1898Norwich Postdailyunknown
1895-1897Morning Indexdailyunknown
1895-1904Norwich BulletindailyBulletin Company
1896-1900Morning Bulletindaily except SundayBulletin CompanyW.H. Oat became manager in 1898
1896-1900Weekly Courierweekly on SundayBulletin Company
1898-1899Morning Calldailyunknown
1900-1904Morning BulletindailyBulletin Company
1901-1927Norwich Couriersemi-weeklyBulletin Company
1904-1930Norwich Bulletindaily except SundayBulletin Company
1904-1930Weekly Courierweekly on SundayBulletin Company
1908-1944Norwich Bulletin and CourierdailyBulletin Company
1927-1930Norwich Courier-Cooley's WeeklyweeklyBulletin Company
1927-1952Norwich Evening Recordevenings daily except SaturdayWilliam H. Oat The Norwich Bulletin bought the "Norwich Evening Record" in 1927
1930-1944Norwich BulletindailyBulletin Company
1934-1952Norwich Sunday Recordweekly on SundayFrank H. Pullen
1981-2007Norwich BulletindailyGannett Company Inc.David Oat and Harrison C. Noyes were co-publishers in 1981
2007-2011Norwich BulletindailyGateHouse Media
2011-2021BulletindailyGateHouse Media

Acknowledgements

A Modern History of New London County Connecticut, Vol. 1“, (1922), pp 411-422, Benjamin Marshall Tinkham

History of New London County, Connecticut: With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Pioneers and Prominent Men” (1882), pp 307-311, Duane Hamilton Hurd

History of Norwich, Connecticut: From Its Possession From the Indians, to the Year 1866“, (pp 580-584), by Frances Manwaring Caulkins

“Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society”, Vol. 23, (1913), pp 317-325

The complete list of sources may be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button, and, then typing “Newspapers” in the SEARCH box.