Samuel E. Cornish Memorial Lecture Series

The Samuel Eli Cornish Memorial Lecture Series was established by the World Journalism Institute to honor Cornish, who founded the first African-American newspaper in 1827.

 Samuel E. Cornish

(1795-1841)

Samuel Cornish was born in Sussex County in southern Delaware in 1795 to a free family. In 1815 at age 20, he moved to Philadelphia, where he was picked to be tutored for the gospel ministry by members of the Philadelphia Presbyterian leadership. Cornish was recruited in 1820 by New York City evangelical Presbyterians to move to New York and minister to poor blacks. In 1824, Cornish built and settled into a brick home in lower Manhattan with his new wife, Jane. The house served as the church building for the New Demeter Street Presbyterian Church, the first black Presbyterian congregation in New York City. In March 1827 Cornish launched Freedom’s Journal, the first black newspaper in the United States. In September 1827, having completed his agreed-upon six months as managing editor, Cornish resigned from the Freedom’s Journal and in 1828, he withdrew as pastor of New Demeter Street Presbyterian Church. In 1828, Freedom’s Journal ceased publication after 103 issues. Noting this, Cornish started a new paper to replace Freedom’s Journal called the Rights of All, but it lasted only six months. In 1837, with ink still in his blood, Cornish started yet another newspaper, Colored American, which ceased publication in 1841. In poor health, Cornish died in 1858 at age 62 in Brooklyn.

The Samuel E. Cornish Memorial Lecture Series

"Samuel Eli Cornish: The Christian Journalist"
Robert A. Case II

 "A Cord of Three Strands: The Distinct Role of the African-American Christian Journalist"
Karima Haynes
2005

"Mightier Than the Sword: The Ministry of Journalism"
 John W. Fountain
2006

"Heart & Soul: Love, Faith and Journalism"
Herbert & Mira Lowe
2007

"10 Qualities of a Good Journalist (And 5 non-sequiturs)"
Rafael Olmeda
2007

"God's Ambassador"
Joe Torres
2007

"Servant Journalism"
Mizell Stewart III
2009