The Aegis & Intelligencer was a conservative Unionist newspaper published from March 18, 1864 to January 26, 1923 in Bel Air, Maryland. The paper was originally named "Aegis" in reference to Zeus' shield in Greek mythology, and was meant to "evoke protection for the interests of Harford residents" as well as reflect the founding paper's Southern sympathies.[1][2] Its initial publisher, Frederick W. Baker, became notorious for his controversial editorial positions such as violent opposition to African American advancement under Reconstruction. During this period, The Aegis & Intelligencer "could be counted upon to be anti-black and conservatively Democratic at all times."[3] However, the paper also recorded the increasing economic growth of Bel Air and published stories documenting the construction of the Maryland Central Railroad in 1883 and the arrival of the American Union Telegraph Company in 1880.[4]
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 The cover page of the March 18, 1864 issue of The Aegis & Intelligencer | |
| Type | Weekly newspaper |
|---|---|
| Owner(s) | Walter Finney and Louis Dashiell (1899-1904), John D. Worthington (1904-1923) |
| Founder(s) | John Cox |
| Publisher | Bateman & Baker (1864-1869), F.W. Baker (1869-1894), Frank E. Gorrell (1894-1899), Walter Finney and Louis Dashiell (1899-1904), John D. Worthington (1904-1923) |
| Editor | A. W. Bateman (1864-1869), Frederick W. Baker (1869-1894; 1899-1904), Frank E. Gorrell (1894-1899), John D. Worthington (1904-1923) |
| Founded | 1856 |
| Political alignment | conservative Unionist |
| Language | English |
| Ceased publication | January 26, 1923 |
| Relaunched | January 27, 1923 The Aegis |
| Headquarters | Bel Air, Maryland |
| OCLC number | 9406028 |
Baker sold the paper to Frank E. Gorrell in 1894, who in turn sold it to Walter Finney and Louis Dashiell in 1899. The newspaper was then purchased by John D. Worthington, Sr. in 1904, and he simplified the name of the newspaper to The Aegis in 1923. In 1986, the Times Mirror Company, then-owner of The Baltimore Sun, purchased The Aegis, and the newspaper continues its run to this day.[5][6][7][8][9][10]
References
edit- ^ "A Harford newspaper turns 140 The Aegis: In growing county, it's one of few community institutions bridging old and new". The Baltimore Sun. 28 June 1996. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
- ^ "The aegis & intelligencer, 1864-1923". Chronicling America. Library of Congress.
- ^ Larew, Marilynn (1979). National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form, Aegis Building, Bel Air (PDF). Bel Air, MD. p. 6.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Portrait and Biographical Record of Harford and Cecil Counties, Maryland: Containing Portraits and Bibliographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the Counties. Together with Biographies and Portraits of All the Presidents of the United States. New York and Chicago: Chapman Publishing Co. 1897.
- ^ "Aegis sold to Times Mirror-owned Baltimore Sun". The Baltimore Sun. 28 December 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2017.[dead link]
- ^ Deibel, Carol (2012). Bel Air Chronicles (Illustrated ed.). Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-1614236740.
- ^ Penski, Elwin (2010). An American County Historical Chronology, Big Bang to 2009 Harford County, Maryland, USA. 125th Anniversary of the Historical Society of Harford County, Inc (Limited ed.). Harford County, MD: El's Research Studies. ISBN 978-0984121014.
- ^ Larew, Marilynn (1995). Bel Air: An Architectural and Cultural History, 1782-1945. Bel Air, MD: Town of Bel Air, Maryland.
- ^ Chambers, Tom (Fall 1991). Harford County Newspapers of the 19th Century. Harford County, MD: Harford Historical Bulletin 50. p. 87-131.
- ^ Mason, Samuel (1955). Historical Sketches of Harford County, Maryland. Harford County, MD: Little Pines Farm. ISBN 978-0788437809.