| Format | Newspaper |
|---|---|
| Owner(s) | Edward G. Irvin |
| Founder(s) | Edward G. Irvin |
| Founded | 1922 |
| Ceased publication | 1927 |
| City | Anderson, Indiana |
| OCLC number | 13317294 |
The Shining StarorIndiana Shining Star was an African American newspaper published in Anderson, Indiana, from 1922[1] to about 1927.[2] It is the only known African-American newspaper ever published there.[2]
The newspaper was founded in 1922 by Edward Giles Irvin (1893-1982), the youngest of the ten founding members of the Alpha Kappa Psi fraternity.[3] Irvin had worked for newspapers in various cities before joining the military in World War I.[4] They included the Indianapolis Freeman, Chicago Daily Bulletin, and Gary Sun.[3] Irvin is memorialized in the name of the charitable arm of the Chicago alumni chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi[5] and in the name of an annual Kappa Alpha Psi award.[6]
Like many early black papers, The Shining Star placed a strong emphasis on self-improvement, publishing a new word and Bible quotation every week for its readers to memorize.[7] The local news in The Shining Star was dominated by the activities of churches and the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows,[7] of which Irvin was a member.[8] The Shining Star exhorted its readers to support local Anderson businesses and lift up the local community.[7] Its coverage, however, was not limited to Anderson, as it provided a weekly column about nearby Muncie as well.[7]
