Carriers' Addresses in the Michigan Historical Collections
During the nineteenth century, newspaper carriers were not paid by the publishers of the papers. They depended on donations from patrons at the end of the year. To remind the public that the carriers depended on their donations, newspaper publishers issued poetic broadsides or booklets for New Years Day. These poems often recounted the major news stories of the previous year, but always closed with a plea to pay the carrier.
1828
- Detroit, Michigan
- Address of the carrier of the Detroit Gazette, for the 1st of January, 1828
- single page broadside [negative photocopy only]
- Poet: Unknown
- Printer: Unknown
- First line: "The untiring reaper, with his scythe and glass,''
1846
- Ann Arbor, Michigan
- The carrier's address to the patrons of the Signal of Liberty, January 1, 1846
- single page broadside.
- Poet: Unknown
- Printer: Unknown
- First line: "While with thoughtful, grateful feeling,''
1852
- Kalamazoo, Michigan
- The carrier's address to the patrons of The Kalamazoo Gazette, January 1, 1852
- single page broadside [negative photocopy only]
- Poet: Unknown
- Printer: Unknown
- First line: "Now, Father Time, in his silent flight,''
1856
- Coldwater, Michigan
- Annual New-Year's address of the carrier boy of the Coldwater Sentinel, January 1, 1856
- Single sheet broadside
- Poet: Unknown
- Printer: Unknown
- First line: "We come out now, to make our bow, and hail our genrous patrons,"
1858
- Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Carrier boys' first annual address to the friends and patrons of the Local News and Advertiser, January 1, 1858
- eight pages including title page.
- Poet: Unknown
- Printer: S. B. McCracken, Local News Office
- First line: "In that vast old burial place of Time,''
1861
- Kalamazoo, Michigan
- The carrier boy's address to the patrons and friends of the Kalamazoo Telegraph
- Four pages including title page
- Poet: Unknown
- Printer: Unknown
- First line: "All hail, kind friends, once more we greet"
1862
- Ann Arbor, Michigan
- I wish you a happy New Year! Carrier's address to the readers and patrons of the Ann Arbor Journal, 1862
- Single sheet broadside
- Poet: Unknown
- Printer: Unknown
- First line: "Our 'Happy New Year,' once again we cry,''
1863
- Kalamazoo, Michigan
- Address of the carrier boy of The Kalamazoo Telegraph, to his patrons
- eight pages in shiny blue printed wrapper.
- Poet: Unknown
- Printer: Unknown
- First line: "Again, the circling year complete"
1864
- Ann Arbor, Michigan
- I wish you a happy New Year. Carrier's address to the readers and patrons of the Ann Arbor Journal, January 1st, 1864
- single page broadside.
- Poet: Unknown
- Printer: Unknown
- First line: "With a thought of the Past and a hope for the Future,''
1864
- Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Carrier boy's address to the patrons of the Peninsular Courier, January first, 1864
- single page broadside.
- Poet: Unknown
- Printer: Unknown
- First line: "Friends and patrons of the Courier,''
1864
- Hudson, Michigan
- Carrier boy's address to the patrons of The Hudson Gazette, Jan. 1, 1864
- single page broadside.
- Poet: Unknown
- Printer: Unknown
- First line: "I've come with a Happy New-Year call,''
1866
- Kalamazoo, Michigan
- Carrier boy's address of the Kalamazoo Gazette, January 1st, 1866
- single page broadside
- Poet: Unknown
- Printer: Unknown
- First line: "Silent and pensive, we watch and wait"
1867
- Kalamazoo, Michigan
- Address of the carrier boy of The Kalamazoo Telegraph, to his patrons, 1867
- small eight page booklet in shiny blue wrapper.
- Poet: Unknown
- Printer: Unknown
- First line: "With a hat-full of greetings all warm from the heart,''
1869
- Coldwater, Michigan
- [title page missing, Coldwater Sentinel]
- eight page booklet
- Poet: Unknown
- Printer: Unknown
- First line: "Behold, oh People, 'tis my fate"
1872
- Constantine, Michigan
- Carrier's Address to the patrons of the Weekly Mercury, Constantine, Mich., January 1st, 1872
- eight pages including printed wrapper.
- Poet: S. C. Coffinberry
- Printer: Unknown
- First line: "Again we hail another new born year,''
1874
- Constantine, Michigan
- Carrier's address to the patrons of the Weekly Mercury, January 1, 1874
- eight page pamphlet including printed wrapper.
- Poet: George W. Bungay
- Printer: Unknown
- First line: "Good bye departed year,''
1874
- Schoolcraft, Michigan
- The carrier boy's annual New Year's address to the patrons of the Dispatch and News, January 1st, 1874
- single page broadside.
- Poet: Unknown
- Printer: Unknown
- First line: "Kindly greeting, Patrons true,''
1881
- Detroit, Michigan
- Carrier's address to the patrons of The Detroit Evening News, January 1, 1881
- small eight page book in black hard bound cover.
- Poet: Divie Bethune Duffield
- Printer: Unknown
- First line: "A solemn dirge is on the blast''