Republican Vindicator (1897, Columbus)

Ralph W. Tyler

Columbus, Ohio

1897-?

Weekly

Western Reserve Historical Society

Library Collections

34 F3.2 022

Public domain; Courtesy of the Western Reserve Historical Society

Ralph W. Tyler published the Republican Vindicator, a Columbus-based weekly newspaper, in 1897, with a motte, “Devoted to the Interests of the Negro Race.” Tyler (1860-1921) was a journalist, war correspondent, and government official. His career as a journalist is notable. The Cleveland Gazette reported that he used to work for the Afro-American and Free American, which is not confirmed by any other sources. He wrote for the Evening Dispatch and Ohio State Journal of Columbus, while publishing the Republican Vindicator. In the early 20th century, he expanded his career by writing for the Colored American Magazine and poetry for Alexander’s Magazine, and by editing the Cleveland Advocate and Columbus Ohio State Monitor. During World War I, he was known to be the only accredited Black foreign correspondent, who reported specifically on African American servicemen stationed in France. Only one issue of the Republican Vindicator on November 19, 1897, is available. The paper includes various local news and advertisements. Interestingly, the paper also contains a political caricature, which appeared most likely for the first time in the Black newspapers in Ohio. Its ending date is unknown.