The Savannah Tribune is a weekly African American newspaper located in Savannah, Georgia

Savannah, Georgia

Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

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History

The paper was originally founded in 1875 and went through two hiatuses (from 1878 to 1886 and from 1960 to 1973). Originally named the Colored Tribune, the paper was established by Louis B. Toomer, Sr., Louis M. Pleasant, and Savannah native John H. Deveaux who served as the first editor. The first edition was published in 1875. The name was changed to the Savannah Tribune in 1876.

The newspaper published until 1878, until the all-white printers in the city, refused to produce it. It reopened in 1886. Deveaux served as the paper's owner and editor until 1889. Solomon "Sol" C. Johnson was appointed as the paper's editor and purchased the paper in 1909 upon Deveaux's death. Johnson ran the paper until 1954, when he was succeeded by Willa Johnson, who edited the paper until it closed in 1960.

Robert E. James, a Savannah banker, reestablished the paper in 1973 and served as the owner and publisher until 1983. In that year Shirley B. James became the publisher and owner.