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 Often the first recorded printing by early Canadian printers, newspapers were weeklies sold by subscription - 200 to 300 at most - and carried more foreign than local news, official government notices, and a few advertisements. Many were short-lived, as were the early magazines which were unable to compete with the established and well-illustrated ones from England and the United States. It was not until the growth of the railroad and the increase in commercial activity that newspapers became dailies. The railroad distributed them to a wide area and up-to-date news could be received the same day by a greater number of readers. Paid advertising, rather than subscriptions, soon became what made newspapers profitable. Magazines developed as Canadians acquired more leisure time. It was not until the 20th century that mass-produced Canadian magazines began to compete with their American counterpart. This section of the exhibition is designed to show how early news travelled and to give only a few examples of 19th-century newspapers and magazines. The topic could have easily taken up the entire exhibition.  Founded by Reverend William Cochran in July 1789, the Nova Scotia Magazine is the earliest magazine published in Canada. John Howe, the father of Joseph Howe, both edited and printed it from June 1790. It was a monthly publication available by subscription - with an average of 200 subscribers - and made up mostly of articles and pieces of literature taken from foreign publications. The space given to local news and original contributions was very small and the readership soon declined. The Nova-Scotia Magazine and Comprehensive Review of Literature, Politics and News. Halifax: John Howe, 1789-1792. The first two truly political newspapers printed in Canada. The Quebec Mercury, founded by Thomas Cary, represented the interests of the English merchants, while the Canadien was the defender of the aspirations of the professional class of French Canadians. Obviously the two newspapers went head to head on numerous issues. This continued for a number of years and had a great influence on the events to come. Le Canadien. Québec, 1806-1893. The Quebec Mercury. Québec, 1805-1863. An important literary magazine, with such contributors as Charles Sangster, Susanna Moodie and Catherine Parr Traill, the Literary Garland was often illustrated with lithographs and was the first magazine to publish musical scores. It was also the first periodical to survive for more than three years. The Literary Garland. Montreal: John Lovell: Lovell & Gibson, 1838-1851. One of the leading literary periodicals of the "patriotic school" in French Canada, the Foyer canadien, claiming 2000 subscribers, was begun by a group issued from Les Soirées canadiennes. A number of important literary and historical works were published in this periodical. Since a number of its contributors were employed by the government, the end of this periodical was brought about by the move in 1866-67 of the national capital to Ottawa. Le Foyer canadien. Recueil littéraire et historique. Québec, 1863-1866. January-February, 1863 issue. The most popular weekly in the rural parts of Canada. The Family Herald and Weekly Star. 1897-1956. Founded by Edmund Ernest Sheppard (1855-1920), Saturday Night, with its mixture of political criticism, international and national news, travel information, not to mention its literary supplement - which began in 1925 - was read by many generations of Canadians. Saturday Night. Toronto, 1887- |
