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Oral history interview with Marcus C. Stewart, Sr., 1971.

Creator: Stewart, Marcus C.
Project: Black Journalists Oral History Collection.
(see all project interviews)
Phys. Desc. :Transcript 53 pages Sound recording 1 audiocassette
Location: Columbia Center for Oral History
Full CLIO record >>

Biographical Note

Marcus Cuthbert Stewart Sr. was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on October 17, 1904. His father founded the Indianapolis Recorder in 1895; Stewart began working full time as editor of the publication in 1928, after the death of his father and after attending Butler University. While taking courses at Indiana University Extension School in 1930, Stewart met Pauline Turner; they married in 1931. They had four children, two of which, Marcus C., Jr. and George P. II, joined the staff of the Recorder. Stewart began to work at the Recorder as publisher in 1957 following the death of his mother, who had been the publisher for 33 years. He became a member of the Hoosier Press Association in the 1940s and for 20 years was a member of the National News Publishing Agency and served on their board of directors.

Scope and Contents

In this interview conducted with Henry La Brie III, Marcus C. Stewart, Sr., discusses the history of the Indianapolis Recorder and the various issues in running the paper. He conceptualizes the successes and the future of the black press, the problems with advertising, and crime reporting, with particular attention to the shifting American racial consciousness. Stewart explains the differences of the black press in the North and in the South. Stewart and La Brie discuss what objectivity means in the context of running a newspaper. Stewart also explains why expanding and catering to a white readership is not a priority for him.

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