-- New Jersey History of Printing and Publishing
(under construction)
|
|
* Home
* History * Population * Government * Politics * Lobbyists * Taxes * State Symbols * Biographies * Economy * Employers * Real Estate * Education * Recreation * Restaurants * Hotels * Health * Environment * Stadiums/Teams * Theaters * Historic Villages * Historic homes * Battlefields/Military * Lighthouses * Art Museums * History Museums * Wildlife * Climate * Zoos/Aquariums * Beaches * National Parks * State Parks * Amusement Parks * Waterparks * Swimming holes * Arboretums More... * Gallery of images and videos * Fast Facts on key topics * Timeline of dates and events * Anthology of quotes, comments and jokes * Links to other resources * |
The story of the development of printing and of newspapers in New Jersey is much the same as in other parts of the country, and hence, while the theme here discussed is nominally local, it actuaUy represents the experience of nearly every other Province and State in our Union.
The ruling powers in England had always a jealous dread of the influence of the press, which in times of political excitement was wont to poiir forth a torrent of virulent pamphlets, loading with obloquy the persons attacked. And so it was the rule to embody in the instructions given to the royal Governors of the several Provinces in America, strict injunctions for the restriction of the Uberty of printing. Thus Queen Anne, in her instructions to Lord Cornbury, prescribing his powers and duties as Governor of New Jersey, November 16, 1702, among other things provided: 99. Forasmuch as great inconveniences may arise by the liberty of printing in our said province, you are to provide by all necessary orders, that no person keep any press for printing, nor that any book, pamphlet or other matters whatsoever he printed without your especial leave and license first obtained. Inasmuch as the Bradfords, William and Andrew, already had presses established at Philadelphia and at New York, there seemed to be no occasion for any printing office in New Jersey, and Cornbury had no oppor16 American Antiquarian Society. [April, tunity to exercise his restrictive powers in that respect, in that Province. The Bradfords, indeed, had a monopoly of the printing for New Jersey, for more than half a century, with one or two exceptions. The earliest laws and other ofiâcial publications of New Jersey bear the imprint of one or the other of the Bradfords, the printing being actually done in Philadelphia or New York. Printing in the New Jersey colony appeared as early as 1723 with its first magazine, “The New American Magazine“, published by James Parker at Woodbridge in 1758. Parker had apprenticed under William Bradford and later became a lifelong business associate of Benjamin Franklin. Parker was appointed "Government Printer" in 1758 and "King's Printer" in 1762 for New Jersey, roles in which he printed all colonial laws and legislative journals.
In addition to his New Jersey operations, Parker was a central figure in the colonial postal and printing networks: He founded the New-York Weekly Post-Boy in 1743 and served as the public printer for the province of New York and established the Connecticut Gazette in 1755, the colony's first newspaper and also was the official printer for Yale College. Supported by Franklin, he served as the Comptroller and Secretary of the General Post Office for the British colonies. Parker's press in Woodbridge was the center of several "firsts" for the colony:
But it was Isaac Collins who on Dec. 5, 1777 started in Burlington the province’s first newspaper, “The New Jersey Gazette”, which would be removed to Trenton just three months later where it continued until 1786. Technically there is another contender for the the title of New Jersey’s first newspaper, as Hugh Gaine removed his “New York Gazette & Weekly Mercury” to Newark just prior to the British occupation of that city. His first Newark edition was on Sept. 21, 1776 and he only printed seven issues through Nov. 2, 1776 before returning to New York a few days later. The New-Jersey Gazette (1777–1786)
The New-Jersey Gazette was the state's first regular newspaper, established to support the American cause during the Revolutionary War.
(1746–1817) was a prominent 18th-century printer, publisher, and bookseller in New Jersey, best known for establishing the state's first regular newspaper. Historical Profile
Evolution of Other Key NJ Newspapers Because New Jersey was geographically sandwiched between New York and Philadelphia, many residents initially relied on out-of-state news. However, local presses expanded rapidly in the 18th and 19th centuries:
Key Historical Milestones 1776 Hugh Gaine briefly moved the New York Gazette & Weekly Mercury to Newark for seven issues, technically making it the first "NJ" printing of a paper. 1777 New-Jersey Gazette begins regular publication as the state's first dedicated paper. 1787 The "newspaper boom" sees at least four papers established in major towns like Elizabeth and New Brunswick. 2025 Major legacy papers including The Star-Ledger, The Times of Trenton, and The Jersey Journal cease daily print editions. The history of printing and publishing in
New Jersey was long overshadowed by the established hubs of Philadelphia and New York. However, the state eventually developed a robust industry driven by government needs, the American Revolution, and its centers of higher education. Early Printing and First Imprints
New Jersey was one of the last colonies to establish its own permanent newspaper because residents relied on papers from neighboring cities.
Early book production was primarily utilitarian, focusing on religious texts, schoolbooks, and government records.
20th Century: The Era of Local Dominance
In the 20th century, New Jersey's newspaper landscape was defined by dominant family-owned dailies that served as the primary record for their respective counties . The 21st century, however, has seen a dramatic consolidation under national media conglomerates and a definitive shift toward digital-only formats, in some cases replacing prior paper publications.. Throughout the mid-to-late 1900s, New Jersey news was anchored by several major regional publications:
The transition accelerated in the 2010s as traditional print advertising and circulation declined.
News Website Parent CompanyKey Coverage Areas NJ.comAdvance Publications (Newhouse Family)Statewide, including former Star-Ledger and Times of Trenton content. NorthJersey.comGannett (USA TODAY Network)Bergen, Passaic, Morris, and Sussex counties; home of The Record. APP.comGannettMonmouth and Ocean counties; digital home of Asbury Park Press. NJSpotlightNews.orgWNET Group (Nonprofit)Statewide policy, politics, education, and environment. NewJerseyGlobe.comSea of Reeds MediaIntensive focus on New Jersey politics and elections. NJMonitor.comStates Newsroom (Nonprofit)State government, healthcare, and social justice. CourierPostOnline.comGannettCamden, Burlington, and Gloucester counties. PressOfAtlanticCity.comLee EnterprisesAtlantic, Cape May, and Cumberland counties. At its height, the Star-Ledger was a circulation powerhouse, consistently ranking among the top 15 daily newspapers in the nation.
Influence on New Jersey Because New Jersey lacks a major dedicated television market (sitting between New York and Philadelphia), the Star-Ledger played a unique role in setting the state's political and cultural agenda.
For over a century, the
New Jersey news landscape was dominated by these four families, who transformed local gazettes into regional powerhouses. Their influence shifted the industry from independent local voices to the massive media conglomerates of today. The Newhouse Family (Advance Publications) The Newhouse family, led by Samuel Irving Newhouse has two prominent figures in his family lineage: Samuel Irving Newhouse Sr. (1895–1979), the architect of the Advance Publications empire, and his son, Samuel Irving "Si" Newhouse Jr. (1927–2017), who transformed Condé Nast into a global cultural power . Samuel Irving Newhouse Sr. (1895–1979) The elder Newhouse was a self-made media mogul who founded one of the largest private media companies in the United States.
(1927–2017) Known as "Si," he was the chairman of Condé Nast for over 40 years, overseeing some of the world's most influential glossies.
Samuel I. Newhouse Sr. , built the most powerful media empire in the state by focusing on market monopolies.
The Borg family owned and operated The Record (Bergen County) for 86 years, maintaining it as the state's second-largest daily and a fierce competitor to the Star-Ledger.
The Lass family, in partnership with the Plangeres, held continuous local ownership of the Asbury Park Press for 118 years.
The Tomlinson family’s influence centered on the Morris County area and high-quality lifestyle journalism.
Walter Evans Edge, Atlantic City Press and ABARTA Publications
Walter Evans Edge also was a leading figure in New Jersey's 20th-century political and media landscape, while ABARTA represents the family legacy that stewarded his primary newspaper for over 60 years. Edge rose from a "printer's devil" to become one of New Jersey’s most influential leaders, serving as Governor during both World Wars.
ABARTA is a diversified family-owned holding company founded by Rolland Adams. The name is an acronym for the original six shareholders: daughters Ann, Marcia, and Mimi; and sons-in-law John Bitzer, George Roehr, and Donald Taylor.
The Press of Atlantic City Founded in 1895 by Walter Evans Edge as the Atlantic City Daily Press, the publication has been the primary news source for South Jersey for over a century.
Beyond their vast newspaper and magazine empires, the
Newhouse and Tomlinson families expanded into broadcasting, book publishing, and large-scale cable television infrastructure. The Newhouse Family (Advance Publications) The Newhouse family's Advance Publications diversified early into the delivery systems of news, not just the content.
|
Today, New Jersey's printing history is preserved and continued by various institutions and commercial services:
- Rutgers University Libraries: Holds extensive collections of early New Jersey imprints and historical journals.
- The New Jersey Historical Commission: Continues to support the publication of state-focused historical studies.
- Local Services: Modern commercial printing needs are served by companies like All Print Resources in Mountainside and Intermedia Print Solutions in Princeton.