"A tri-annual register of the active of African descent in New York and New Jersey", 1933-1936; "A tri-annual register of the elite of African descent in New York", 1936-1941. Cover titles of The Vanguard varied through the years. It began in 1933 as simply "The Vanguard," with later issues entitled: "The Vanguard: a classified directory," "The Vanguard: a classified directory and guide to the best in Harlem." The bulk of the collection is entitled "The Vanguard: a register of those in front." The Vanguard sometimes featured a short editorial on its first page. An index is often featured on the opposing page or following page. The directory opens with residential listings - sometimes separated by private and apartment dwellings - followed by listings for professionals, organizations and businesses grouped under broad categories, and then general information. The inside and back cover pages often contain advertisements. The Vanguard also contained a number of special features, including but not limited to: recent death notices; notices of newly opened businesses; suggestions for what to do/where to go when visiting Harlem; coverage of recent events; historical and contemporary facts and figures related to the African diaspora (for example: biographical sketches, athletic records, and listings of cities by Black population).
Biographical/historical: Established in 1932 by Samuel Lewis Jackson, a former stenographer and businessman from South Carolina, The Vanguard was a residential and business directory for the African American community in New York City and the greater metropolitan area (Westchester County and New Jersey, with some listings from northern cities with significant Black populations, like Philadelphia and Detroit). The first issue was published in 1933 - the last issue in January 1943. The Vanguard likely ceased publication because of Jackson’s premature death in April 1943. Except for the first and last issues, The Vanguard was issued tri-annually in March, July and November. In its nascent days, Jackson invited submissions to The Vanguard free of charge. Yearly subscriptions costs ranged from 45 cents to $1.00; in some years, resident and local subscriptions were cheaper than that of business and out of area subscriptions respectively. Individual copies were sold for 30 to 50 cents each.
Source note: Description based on: V. 9, no. 2 (Mar. 1941); title from cover.