The Glasgow Herald

IDENTITY STATEMENT AREA

Reference code(s):

Title: The Glasgow Herald

Date(s): Jan 1783 - present

Level of description: Sub fond

Extent and medium of the unit of description: c1200 reels of microfilm

CONTEXT AREA

Name of creator(s):

Administrative/Biographical history: The Glasgow Herald is one of the oldest newspapers in Glasgow, beginning its life as the `Glasgow Advertiser' in January 1783, changing briefly to the title `Herald and Advertiser and Commercial Chronicle' in 1803 before becoming the `Glasgow Herald' on 26th August 1804. The Mitchell Library stores the original newspapers in printed form, as part of the History and Glasgow collection. However, copies of the entire run of the Glasgow Herald are available on microfilm, dating from 1783 to the present day. An index to the paper is also available, contained on 2 reels of microfilm for the period 1889-1906 and in printed volumes, dated 1906-1984

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CONTENT AND STRUCTURE AREA

Scope and content: The Glasgow Herald contains information about the commercial, political and social history of Glasgow since the late 18th century. It is one of the key sources of information about the population demography of Glasgow in general and, more specifically, the history of settled Black and Asian communities in the city. Leading articles, letters and advertisements document Glasgow's trade links with countries in Africa, Asia and North America throughout the 18th - 20th centuries, particularly the city's involvement in the tobacco and sugar trades with the USA and the Caribbean region. The newspaper also covers regional, national and international events which have impacted on the population of Glasgow, the city's migration history and the lives of its settled Black and Asian communities.

For example, news reports about the local and national race riots of 1919 are listed in the index to the Glasgow Herald under the following headings: `Leading Articles and Notes: Riot Trial Verdicts (Glasgow)' April 19; `Racial Questions' listing reports about riots in Barry and Cardiff on 13th and 29th June, respectively; `Riots and Mutinies: Glasgow Riots' reporting the arrest of 30 Black seamen on 24th January. Other index headings, such as `Aliens', `Aliens' Restriction Bill', `Justice Courts', `Trade Unions', `Seamen' and `Unemployment' also provide references to reports on the riots and wider statistical information about the socio-economic status of Black and Asian peoples in Glasgow at that time.

The introductory text of the report about the outbreak of the local race riots, which appeared in the Glasgow Herald on Friday, January 24th 1919, p.8, column 4, is shown below:

Title: 'Furious Fighting: Revolvers and Knives Used: 30 seamen arrested in Glasgow.'

1st paragraph: 'A serious disturbance extending for almost an hour, and at moments of a riotous description, occurred early yesterday afternoon among seamen at the Broomielaw, Glasgow. The affray began in the yard of the Mercantile Marine Offices, which followed upon a heated dispute, was the scene of furious fighting between white and coloured sailors and firemen. In the course of the struggle a number of revolver shots were freely used. The coolies continuing to make their escape into James Watt Street took refuge in the Sailors' Home...'

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CONDITIONS OF ACCESS AND USE AREA

Conditions governing access: Members of the public have open access to the microfilm copies of the newspaper via the History and Glasgow Room, Mitchell Library.

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Finding aids: Index to the Glasgow Herald: 1889-1906 (microfilm); 1906-1984 (printed)

ALLIED MATERIALS AREA

Existence and location of originals: Printed originals of the newspaper are stored in the Mitchell Library, 210 North Street, Glasgow G3 7DN.

Existence and location of copies: Microfilm copies are available in the History and Glasgow Room, Mitchell Library, 210 North Street, Glasgow G3 7DN

Related units of description:

Publication note: Phillips, Alastair (1982) Glasgow's Herald: 200 years of a newspaper, 1783-1983. Glasgow: Richard Drew Publishing. (ISBN: 086267008X).

DESCRIPTION CONTROL AREA

Recorder's note:

Rules or conventions: Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions: 19th September 2001

Interest: Asian, Black

Specific group:

Subjects

Racial prejudice

Interethnic relations

Black and Asian seamen

Riots

Demography

Personal/Corporate names

Places

Glasgow, United Kingdom