American Historical Ephemera and Photography

The Zion Trumpet, Vol. IV, No. 3, December 1897, 8pp, & Vol. IV, No. 9, September 1898, 8pp. Newburgh, New York. Each approx. 9 x 13 in. (folds, toning, chipping, occasional tears). Both publications feature a similar advertisement for the editor on page 4, "E. George Biddle, Editor. Presiding Elder of New York Conference A.M.E. Zion Church, 125 W. Parmenter St., Newburgh, N.Y." Vol. No. 3 also identifies the printer, "Printed by Henry King, Jr., Afro-American Job Printer, Fishkill Landing, N.Y."

A publication of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the newspapers predominantly discuss scripture, religious matters and church news, with anecdotes, songs, and poetry scattered throughout. The paper did, however, use its pages to address important issues of the day for African Americans including discrimination. Under "Editorial Jottings" in No. 3, Biddle writes "The Negro has been in New York City over 100 years, and yet he did not weigh enough socially, politically, commercially or otherwise to secure the compliment of a nomination from any of the parties or factions lately struggling for government of Greater New York. For over forty years the Negro has been throwing up his hat and shouting himself hoarse for the Republican Party, and the best that has been done for him in the city of New York is to make him a street sweeper." A lengthy editorial by the Rev. Dr. Washington Gladden in No. 9 argues strongly for "A Living Wage" for African Americans.

Eli George Biddle, or more commonly "E. George Biddle," was born in Blackrock, Pennsylvania. HDS indicates that he, a 17 year-old painter, enlisted as a private and mustered into Co. A, 54th Massachusetts Infantry, on 3/30/1863. He was wounded at Fort Wagner, S.C., 7/18/1863 during the 54th's heroic assault. After the war, Biddle joined GAR post #134 in Boston, serving at one time as the post commander. In addition to his work as a publisher and within the AME church, Biddle was a long-time advocate of racial equality. A New York newspaper from January 1926, cites Biddle as a speaker in Boston on behalf of the National Equal Rights League. He is quoted as saying: "colored men had fought for the whites and the race should fight for rights."