Oral history interview with William Hubbard, 1971.

Biographical Note

William Hubbard was born in 1897. He served as Secretary and Production Manager of the Norfolk Journal and Guide, a black newspaper owned by Plumber Bernard Young in Norfolk, Virginia. Hubbard studied at Hampton Institute (University). During World War I, he served in Lieutenant James Reese Europe's 369th Regiment Marching Band overseas. Following his discharge, Hubbard completed his education and started the Norfolk Journal and Guide in 1923. Hubbard worked at the printing press as head mechanic before being promoted to Production Manager in 1946 and Secretary in 1962.

Scope and Contents

In his 1971 interview with Henry La Brie, Hubbard briefly describes his education before discussing the history of the Norfolk Journal and Guide. Later, Hubbard discusses black higher education and divestment from job training to explain the scarcity of trained black operators in the job market. Outlining the ways the Journal attracts both advertisers and readership, Hubbard discusses the changes in mainstream coverage of African-American issues and the continuing importance of the black press in African-American communities. Hubbard delves into the technical aspects of his work, discussing how he trains employees and adapts to technological advancements. In the final portion of this interview, Hubbard discusses black newspaper families; the idea of a black news service; his decision to become a linotype operator; whether black newspapers are supplementary or complementary to the black reader's news diet; Northern bias and regionalism; and the exclusion of black mechanics from labor unions.

Subjects

• Advertising--Newspapers.
• African American journalists.
• African American press.
• African Americans--Civil rights.
• Family-owned business enterprises.
• Hubbard, William--Interviews.
• Interviews.
• Journalism--Social aspects.
• Journalists--Interviews.
• La Brie, Henry G., interviewer.--http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/ivr
• Newspaper publishing--Economic aspects--United States.
• Norfolk (Va.)--Newspapers.
• Oral histories (literary works)
• United States--Race relations.