What were Alaskas earliest newspapers?
No newspapers in Russian from Russian-America (pre-1867) are known to have been published. The following are the earliest papers found: The Esquimaux Libbysville, Port Clarence, Russian America; Camp Libby, Plover Bay, North East Siberia, Oct. 14, 1866-Sept. 1, 1867. Published by Captain Daniel B. Libby’s section of the Western Union Telegraph Expedition. Editor J.J. Harrington, in the Introduction to his publication of the issues stated: “Here, amid the Arctic snows, when daylight was only visible for an hour or two, and it was therefore almost impossible to prosecute our labors, to while away some tedious hours, this little paper was produced.” The Esquimaux was hand-written and bound together with bent pins. Upon the abandonment of the enterprise and the subsequent return of the Expedition parties to the United States, the Editor republished the issues for the general public. This paper’s dates are before the purchase of Russian-America by the United States. The Sitka Times Sitka, S
