SECTION V

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF NEWSPAPERS PUBLISHED IN POLK COUNTY

compiled by Kathleen Casey

The following bibliography lists some forty newspapers published in Polk County from 1856 to the present. It is arranged by place of publication, and then by date of first issue. Each entry gives the newspaper title, dates of publication, type of newspaper, explanatory notes, and holding at ten institutions in Oregon. These institutions, with their abbreviations, are as follows:

Incomplete holdings are so indicated. Holdings are in paper unless otherwise specified.

George Turnbull’s History of Oregon Newspapers mentions several Polk County newspapers that have not been found in any PCHP agency or in any other major Oregon history repository. These are:

Researchers are advised that Portland and Oregon City newspapers are rich sources of Polk County news, particularly during the Territorial and Early Statehood eras. Newspapers published in neighboring counties are also worth checking. The most significant of these titles are:

Standard catalogs and indices were consulted and field surveys of PCHP agencies were conducted in compiling this bibliography. Specific sources consulted include:

Newspapers in Microform: United States. Washington, D.C: Library of Congress, 1973.

Newton, Sidney W. Early History of Independence, Oregon. Salem, Or: Panther Printing, 1971.

Oregon Newspaper Project (website accessed Feb.-April 2001). http://libweb.uoregon.edu/govdocs/newsproj.htm.

Oregon Regional Union List of Serials (ORULS) (website accessed Feb.-April 2001). Oregon State Library. http://www.osl.state.or.us/home/oruls/.

Turnbull, George S. The History of Oregon Newspapers Portland, Oregon: Binfords & Mort,

1939.

 

A table of contents for this section follows . . .

 

Bibliography of Newspapers Published in Polk County

Table of Contents

 

NEWSPAPERS PUBLISHED IN DALLAS

NEWSPAPERS PUBLISHED IN EOLA

NEWSPAPERS PUBLISHED IN FALLS CITY

NEWSPAPERS PUBLISHED IN INDEPENDENCE

NEWSPAPERS PUBLISHED IN MONMOUTH

NEWSPAPERS PUBLISHED IN VALSETZ

DALLAS NEWSPAPERS

Polk County Signal
[1868-1869?]
Frequency: weekly
Type: political
Notes: Published by J.H. Upton. Becomes: Oregon Republican (1870-1872).
Holdings:
DAL: 1868-1869 (microfilm -incomplete)
ORU: 1868-1869 (microfilm -incomplete)
Available Online (link in title)

Polk County Times
May 1, 1869-Feb. 12, 1870
Frequency: weekly
Type: community
Notes: Published by F.R. Stuart. Not listed in the History of Oregon Newspapers.
Holdings:
DAL: 1869-1870 (microfilm)
ORU: 1869-1870 (incomplete)
Available Online (link in title)

Oregon Republican
Mar. 1870 - Aug. 1872
Frequency: weekly
Type: political
Notes: Published by R.H. Tyson (or D.M.C. Gault Co.?). Former title: Polk County Signal, [1868-1869?].
Holdings:
DAL: 1870-1872(microfilm)
ORU: 1870-1872 (incomplete)
Available Online (link in title)

Liberal Republican
[1872-1874?]
Previous title: Oregon Republican 1870-1872.
Frequency: weekly
Type: political
Notes: Published by P.C. Sullivan.
Holdings:
DAL: 1872-1874 (microfilm)
ORU: 1872-1874 (incomplete)
Available Online (link in title)

Dallas Itemizer
[1875?]-1879
Frequency: unknown
Type: community
Notes: published by E. Casey. Becomes: Polk County Itemizer (1879-1927).
Holdings:
DAL: 1875-1879 (microfilm – incomplete)
OHS: 1876 (microfilm -incomplete)
ORU: 1875-1879 (incomplete)
Available Online (link in title)

Polk County Itemizer
June 6,1879-1927
Frequency: weekly
Type: community
Notes: Published by G.A. Good. Previous name: Dallas Itemizer ([1875?] –1879). Merged with Polk County Observer (1888-1927) to form Polk County Itemizer-Observer (1927-1990).
Holdings:
DAL: 1879-1926 (microfilm). Some selective indexing.
OHS: 1882-1926 (microfilm - incomplete)
ORU: 1879-1926 (incomplete)
PHS: 1895-1909 (incomplete)
Available Online (link in title)

Polk County Observer
1888-May 26, 1927
Frequency: weekly
Type: community
Notes: published by C.C. Doughty. Merged with Polk County Itemizer (1879-1927) to form Polk County Itemizer-Observer (1927-1990).
Holdings:
DAL: 1888-1917, 1922-1927 (microfilm). Indexed from 1888-1927.
MON: 1888-1889 (incomplete)
OHS: 1888-1927 (microfilm-incomplete holdings)
ORU: 1888-1917, 1922-1927 (incomplete)
PHS: 1892-1909, 1913-1926 (incomplete holdings)
Available Online (link in title)

Valley Transcript
Nov. 1, 1892- June 1, 1895
Frequency: weekly?
Type: community
Notes: published by A.V.R. Snyder.
Holdings:
PHS: Jan. 25, 1893 and fragment [May?]

Polk County Itemizer-Observer
June 2, 1927 – May 2, 1990
Frequency: weekly
Type: community
Notes: Published by E. Richardson, then L. Shaffer. Merger of Polk County Observer (1888-1927) and Polk County Itemizer (1879-1927). First two issues called Polk County Itemizer and Observer. From 1992-present, Polk County Itemizer-Observer.
Holdings:
MON: current two months (paper)
OHS: 1927-present (microfilm)
ORU: 1927-present
PHM: 1927-1963 (incomplete)
SPL: current two months (paper)
Available Online (link in title)

EOLA NEWSPAPERS

Religious Expositor
[May 6, 1856 – Sept. 27, 1856?]
Frequency: weekly
Type: religious/political
Notes: Published by C.M. Mattoon. Published in Corvallis starting July 19.
"The first newspaper published in Polk County" (History of Oregon Newspapers).
Holdings:
OHS: 1856 (microfilm)
WOU: 1856 (microfilm)

FALLS CITY NEWSPAPERS

Falls City Enterprise
[1926-1930?]
Frequency: weekly
Type: community
Holdings:
DAL: 1926 (microfilm)
ORU: April 15, 1926

Falls City News
[1909-1918?]
Frequency: Weekly
Type: community
Notes: French Bros., publishers.
Holdings:
DAL: 1909-1918 (microfilm)
ORU: 1909, 1911, 1914-1918 (incomplete)
Available Online (link in title)

INDEPENDENCE NEWSPAPERS

 Independence Riverside
[1878-1883?]
Frequency: weekly
Type: community
Notes: Quivey (G.W.) and Waller, publishers.
Holdings:
HER: 1880 (incomplete)
ORU: 1878 (microfilm – incomplete)

(Independence) West Side
[1883-1902?]
Frequency: weekly
Type: community
Notes: William H. Perry, publisher. Merged with Independence Enterprise to form Independence Enterprise & West Side (1902-1904).
Holdings:
HER: 1890-1891 (paper - incomplete holdings)
ORU: 1890-1901 (microfilm)
Available Online (link in title)

Independence Enterprise
1894-[1902?]
Frequency: unknown
Type: community/political
Notes: Merged with West Side (1883-1902?) to form Independence Enterprise and West Side (1902? -1904).
Holdings:
HER: 1895, 1900, 1901 (incomplete holdings)
IND: 1894-1902 (microfilm)
ORU: 1894-1901 (incomplete)
Available Online (link in title)

Independence Enterprise & West Side
1902-1904
Frequency: weekly?
Type: community
Notes: Published by K.E. Gray. Merger of Independence West Side (1883-1903?) and Independence Enterprise (1894-1908?). Becomes: West Side Enterprise (1904-1908).
Holdings:
HER: 1902-1904 (paper – incomplete)
IND: 1902-1904(microfilm: [film with Independence Enterprise])
ORU: 1902-1904 (incomplete)
Available Online (link in title)

West Side Enterprise
Jan. 14, 1904-Oct. 8, 1908
Frequency: weekly/semi-weekly
Type: community
Notes: Prior name: Independence Enterprise and West Side (1902-1904). Becomes: Independence Enterprise (1908-1969).
Holdings:
HER: 1904, 1905, 1908 (incomplete)
IND: 1905-[1911?] (microfilm)
> Available Online (link in title)

Independence Enterprise
Oct 15, 1908-June 26, 1969
Frequency: weekly
Type: community
Notes: Published by C.E. Hicks. Previous title: West Side Enterprise (1905-1908).
Merged with Monmouth Herald to form Independence Enterprise Monmouth Herald (1969-1975).
Holdings:
HER 1963-1968 (paper)
IND 1911-1973(?) (microfilm)
OHS 1968-1969 (microfilm)
ORU 1908-1913, 1917-1969 (incomplete)
> Available Online (link in title)

Independence Monitor
Aug. 1 [?], 1912 to July 6, 1918
Frequency: weekly.
Type: community
Notes: Published by G.A. Hurley.
Holdings:
HER 1912-1913 (incomplete)
ORU 1912-1918 (microfilm)
> Available Online (link in title)

Weekly Visitor
[1913-1915?]
Frequency: weekly
Type: community?
Notes: None
Holdings:
ORU: 1913-1915 (microfilm – incomplete?)

Farmers Union News
[1917-1929]
Frequency: monthly?
Type: local agriculture
Notes: apparently published in various counties; 1925-1928 published in Independence, Polk County.
Holdings:
HER: 1925, 1927-1928 (incomplete)
OSU: 1917-1929 (microfilm)

Western Youth
[1918?]
Frequency: weekly?
Type: children’s?
Notes: None
Holdings:
HER: April - May 1918

Polk County Post
March 26, 1918? - Dec. 16, 1921?
Frequency: weekly
Type: community
Notes: Not listed in History of Oregon Newspapers.
Holdings:
HER: 1918-1919, 1921 (incomplete)
ORU: 1918-1921 (microfilm)
> Available Online (link in title)

West Salem Mail
Dec. 8, 1938-Dec. 28, 1939
Frequency: [weekly?]
Type: community
Notes: Not listed in History of Oregon Newspapers.
Holdings:
HER: 1938-1939 (paper)
ORU: 1938-1939 (microfilm)

Panther Press
Oct. 16, 1950-present
Frequency: initially biweekly during school year; now monthly during school year.
Type: high school
Notes: printed for Central High School by the Swenson brothers of Monmouth, 1950-1966
Holdings:
MON: 1950-1966

Independence Enterprise Monmouth Herald
July 3, 1969-May 26, 1975
Frequency: weekly
Type: community
Merger of Independence Enterprise (1908-1969) and Monmouth Herald (1908-1969)
Becomes: Independence Enterprise (1975-1979)
Notes: published by H.V. Irvine.
Holdings:
MON: 1970-1974 (microfilm)
OHS: 1969-1975 (microfilm)
ORU: 1969-1975

Independence Enterprise
1975-1979
Frequency: weekly
Type: community
Merged with Monmouth Polk Sun (1976-1979) to form Sun-Enterprise (1979-1980)
Notes: published by F. Parchman.
Holdings:
HER: 1975 (incomplete)
OHS: 1975 (microfilm – incomplete)
ORU: 1975 (incomplete)

MONMOUTH NEWSPAPERS

Christian Messenger
Oct. 8, 1870- May 17, 1877
Frequency: weekly
Type: religious(?)
Notes: T.F. Campbell, publisher. "Established to help publicize and build up [Christian College in Monmouth]."
Holdings:
HER: May 15, 1875
IND: 1870-1877 (microfilm)
MON: Aug. 12, 1871 (poor condition)
ORU: 1870-1871, 1875-1877 (incomplete)
Available Online (link in title)

Pacific Christian Messenger
May 13, 1877 – Dec. 23, 1881
Frequency: weekly
Type: religious
Notes: Published by Messenger Publishing Company. Former title: Christian Messenger. Becomes: Christian Herald (1877-1881).
Holdings:
IND: 1877-1880 (microfilm)
ORU: 1877-1881 (incomplete)

Christian Herald
[1882-1887?]
Frequency: weekly
Type: religious
Note: published by D. T. Stanley. Former title: Pacific Christian Messenger (1877-1881).
Holdings:
IND: 1882-1887 (microfilm)
ORU: 1882-1887 (microfilm - incomplete)

Monmouth Herald
Sept. 4, 1908-June 26, 1969
Frequency: weekly
Merged with Independence Enterprise (1908-1969) to form Independence Enterprise Monmouth Herald.
Type: community
Notes: Published and edited by the Swenson family from 1916 to 1969. ORULS note: "Acorn Press".
Holdings:
HER: 1908-1909, 1912-1918, 1920-1968, 1968-1969.
MON: 1908-1969 (microfilm except for May 26, 1949 and June 29, 1969)
Available Online (link in title)

Lamron
1924-1989
Frequency: mostly weekly
Type: collegiate
Notes: Student newspaper for the Oregon College of Education, later Western Oregon State College. Becomes: Western Star (1989-1999)
Holdings:
MON: 1930-1959
Available Online (link in title)

OCEAN (Oregon College of Education Alumni Newsletter)
1943-1985
Frequency: quarterly
Type: collegiate (alumni)
Notes: Alumni publication for the Oregon College of Education, later Western Oregon State College. Becomes: Alumni Newsletter (1986-1999)
Holdings:
MON: 1950-1958
WOU: 1943-1985 (bound with LAMRON)

Independence Enterprise Monmouth Herald
July 3,1969-May 26,1975
Frequency: weekly
Type: community
Notes: published by H.V. Irvine. Merger of Independence Enterprise (1908-1969) and Monmouth Herald (1908-1969). Becomes: Independence Enterprise (1975-1979).
Holdings:
MON: 1970-1974
OHS: 1969-1975 (microfilm)
ORU: 1969-1975


The Polk Sun
Nov 5, 1970-Jan. 14, 1976.
Frequency: weekly
Type: community
Notes: Becomes: Monmouth Polk Sun (1976-1979).
Holdings:
HER April & Dec 1975
IND: 1970-1976 (microfilm)
MON: 1970-1976 (microfilm)
ORU: 1970-1976

The Monmouth Polk Sun
Jan. 21, 1976-to May 9, 1979.
Frequency: weekly
Type: community
Notes: Prior title: Polk Sun (1970-1976). Merged with Independence Enterprise (1969-1975) to form Sun Enterprise (1979-1980).
Holdings:
HER: 1978-1979 (incomplete)
IND: 1976-1979 (microfilm)
ORU: 1976-1979

Sun-Enterprise
May 16, 1979 to Feb. 20, 1980.
Frequency: weekly
Type: community
Notes: Merger of the Polk Sun (1976-1979) and the Independence Enterprise (1969-1975).
Becomes: Monmouth-Independence and Sun-Enterprise (1980-1992).
Holdings:
HER: 1979-1980 (incomplete)
IND: 1979-1980 (microfilm)

Monmouth and Independence Sun-Enterprise
Feb. 20, 1980-Dec. 16, 1992
Frequency: weekly
Type: community
Notes: Published by C. Lockwood. Prior title: Sun Enterprise (1979-1980). Merged with the Itemizer-Observer (1927-1990) to form: Polk County Itemizer Observer (1992-present).
Holdings:
HER: 1981
IND: 1980-1983 (microfilm)
ORU: 1980-1992

Western Star
1989-1999
Frequency: weekly
Type: collegiate
Notes: Publication of Western Oregon State College, later Western Oregon University. Becomes: Western Journal (2000-present)
Holdings:
WOU: 1989-1999 (online)

VALSETZ NEWSPAPERS

 Valsetz Mountain Echo
[1961-1966?]
Frequency: irregular; most often every five weeks
Type: community
Notes: Not found in any consulted sources.
Holdings:
DAL: 1961-1966 (incomplete)


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