Periodicals: Difference between revisions
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[[File:932 periodicals fig12 cropped.jpg|thumb|<ref>Wagstaff, Steel, and Michelle Niemann. “Periodicals.” ''Learning Historical Research'', William Cronon, www.williamcronon.net/researching/periodicals.htm. Accessed 16 Sept. 2025.</ref> | Periodicals are magazines or newspaper that are published on a regular basis. [[File:932 periodicals fig12 cropped.jpg|thumb|Historical example of advertisements in a periodical.<ref>Wagstaff, Steel, and Michelle Niemann. “Periodicals.” ''Learning Historical Research'', William Cronon, [https://www.williamcronon.net/researching/periodicals.htm www.williamcronon.net/researching/periodicals.htm]. Accessed 16 Sept. 2025.</ref> ]] | ||
== Definition == | |||
In the nineteenth century, the rise of periodicals was beneficial as it allowed people to read more things catered to their interests. It enhanced the publishing industry as it made content more affordable and accessible. Periodicals boosted literacy rates, helped shape public opinion, and revolutionized the advertising industry. Scholarly publishing was also revolutionized due to the increase in academic journals.<ref>Ezell, Margaret J. M. ''Early English Periodicals and Early Modern Social Media''. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2024. Print. Elements in Eighteenth-Century Connections. </ref> They rose to fame in the 19th century. By 1840, the U.S. Census had reported a total of 1,404 newspapers and 227 periodicals. The multilingual and diverse periodicals reflected the landscape of the early American print culture. <ref name=":0">'''Slauter, Will.''' “What Is a Periodical?” ''American Literary History'', vol. 30, no. 4, 2018, pp. 740–746. ''Project MUSE'', <nowiki>https://muse.jhu.edu/article/707751</nowiki>.</ref> | |||
=The Book in Society= | =The Book in Society= | ||
Periodicals cover a wide variety of physical media. They can appear as newspapers, weekly or monthly magazines, and journals. They can be short, long, big, and small. The special thing about periodicals is that they cater to niche audiences, discussing topics and concerns of any readership. Literature such as poetry, fiction, medical and science papers, journals, and more were featured. Periodicals allowed people to read pieces specific to their interests, such as fashion, politics, race, and religion. Periodicals could either be accessible through a library, bought for a penny, or become a subscription to people who were wealthier.<ref name=":1">Robinson, Solveig C. ''The Book in Society''. Broadview Press, 2014. </ref> | |||
[[File:OIP (4).webp|thumb|Modern day example of periodicals. <ref>Satariano, Adam. “Books and Newspapers Will Do Just Fine in 2016—Magazines, Not So Much.” Quartz, 6 Jan. 2016, https://qz.com/584744/books-and-newspapers-will-do-just-fine-in-2016-magazines-not-so-much.</ref>]] | |||
Robinson, Solveig C. ''The Book in Society | |||
=The Impact of Advertisement= | =The Impact of Advertisement= | ||
"Children's boots, men's hats, women's corsets, the latest medical device, the most promising new brand of soap -- whatever the product, there was a magazine or newspaper whose readers would be the likeliest purchasers, and putting advertisement in that publication's pages could provide just the required edge" (Robinson 120). | The rise of periodicals and advertisements was synonymous. The following quote from ''The Book in Society'' reflects on this: "Children's boots, men's hats, women's corsets, the latest medical device, the most promising new brand of soap -- whatever the product, there was a magazine or newspaper whose readers would be the likeliest purchasers, and putting advertisement in that publication's pages could provide just the required edge" (Robinson 120).<ref name=":1" />The explosion of print and overall popularity allowed prices to be minimal. The growth of the periodical press in the eighteenth century had increased advertisement overall. By the twentieth century, periodical publishers welcomed advertisement as it created a steady and high income. The collaboration of certain products with specialized periodicals was overall beneficial for everyone. | ||
== Periodicity and Reader Communities<ref name=":0" /> == | |||
The Post Office Act of 1792 allowed periodicals to be mailed for free, facilitating widespread reprinting allowing unity between distant areas. An example of this is seen between ''The Californian'', an 18th century periodical based in California, and ''The Polynesian'', an 18th century Hawaiian publication. This connection allowed news of war and other literary excerpts to be shared. Overall, mobile infrastructure allowed for periodical publishing to expand. | |||
<references /> | |||
Periodicals were also found in Latin America. For example, ''Gazeta de Mexico'' is an 18th century periodical that was based in Guatemala and Lima. By 1830, Latin America had over 450 periodicals, many centered around the political climate of the time. ''The Californian'' also discussed political issues, advocating for the annexation of California. | |||
Issues such as preservation arise when discussing historical periodicals. Access remains uneven due to undigitized archives. For instance, ''The Struggler'', a black publication from Philadelphia in the 1830s is not physically available and is survived by references. The historical absence of periodicals, specifically black periodicals, is an issue and shows the value surrounding those communities in that time. <references /> | |||
[[Category:Glossary]] | |||
[[Category:Types of Publications]] | |||
Latest revision as of 12:49, 7 November 2025
Periodicals are magazines or newspaper that are published on a regular basis.
Definition
In the nineteenth century, the rise of periodicals was beneficial as it allowed people to read more things catered to their interests. It enhanced the publishing industry as it made content more affordable and accessible. Periodicals boosted literacy rates, helped shape public opinion, and revolutionized the advertising industry. Scholarly publishing was also revolutionized due to the increase in academic journals.[2] They rose to fame in the 19th century. By 1840, the U.S. Census had reported a total of 1,404 newspapers and 227 periodicals. The multilingual and diverse periodicals reflected the landscape of the early American print culture. [3]
The Book in Society
Periodicals cover a wide variety of physical media. They can appear as newspapers, weekly or monthly magazines, and journals. They can be short, long, big, and small. The special thing about periodicals is that they cater to niche audiences, discussing topics and concerns of any readership. Literature such as poetry, fiction, medical and science papers, journals, and more were featured. Periodicals allowed people to read pieces specific to their interests, such as fashion, politics, race, and religion. Periodicals could either be accessible through a library, bought for a penny, or become a subscription to people who were wealthier.[4]
.webp)
The Impact of Advertisement
The rise of periodicals and advertisements was synonymous. The following quote from The Book in Society reflects on this: "Children's boots, men's hats, women's corsets, the latest medical device, the most promising new brand of soap -- whatever the product, there was a magazine or newspaper whose readers would be the likeliest purchasers, and putting advertisement in that publication's pages could provide just the required edge" (Robinson 120).[4]The explosion of print and overall popularity allowed prices to be minimal. The growth of the periodical press in the eighteenth century had increased advertisement overall. By the twentieth century, periodical publishers welcomed advertisement as it created a steady and high income. The collaboration of certain products with specialized periodicals was overall beneficial for everyone.
Periodicity and Reader Communities[3]
The Post Office Act of 1792 allowed periodicals to be mailed for free, facilitating widespread reprinting allowing unity between distant areas. An example of this is seen between The Californian, an 18th century periodical based in California, and The Polynesian, an 18th century Hawaiian publication. This connection allowed news of war and other literary excerpts to be shared. Overall, mobile infrastructure allowed for periodical publishing to expand.
Periodicals were also found in Latin America. For example, Gazeta de Mexico is an 18th century periodical that was based in Guatemala and Lima. By 1830, Latin America had over 450 periodicals, many centered around the political climate of the time. The Californian also discussed political issues, advocating for the annexation of California.
Issues such as preservation arise when discussing historical periodicals. Access remains uneven due to undigitized archives. For instance, The Struggler, a black publication from Philadelphia in the 1830s is not physically available and is survived by references. The historical absence of periodicals, specifically black periodicals, is an issue and shows the value surrounding those communities in that time.
- ↑ Wagstaff, Steel, and Michelle Niemann. “Periodicals.” Learning Historical Research, William Cronon, www.williamcronon.net/researching/periodicals.htm. Accessed 16 Sept. 2025.
- ↑ Ezell, Margaret J. M. Early English Periodicals and Early Modern Social Media. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2024. Print. Elements in Eighteenth-Century Connections.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Slauter, Will. “What Is a Periodical?” American Literary History, vol. 30, no. 4, 2018, pp. 740–746. Project MUSE, https://muse.jhu.edu/article/707751.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Robinson, Solveig C. The Book in Society. Broadview Press, 2014.
- ↑ Satariano, Adam. “Books and Newspapers Will Do Just Fine in 2016—Magazines, Not So Much.” Quartz, 6 Jan. 2016, https://qz.com/584744/books-and-newspapers-will-do-just-fine-in-2016-magazines-not-so-much.
