Readex Adds Renowned Hispanic American Newspaper Collection to America’s Historical Newspapers

Online resource provides new opportunities to explore Hispanic American history, culture and daily life in the United States over two centuries

JANUARY 4, 2008 (NAPLES, FL) - Readex, a leading publisher of online historical collections, announces the initial release of Hispanic American Newspapers, 1808-1980 in February 2008. Created in cooperation with the University of Houston, this new digital resource represents the single largest compilation of Spanish-language newspapers printed in the U.S. during the 19th and 20th centuries. The distinctive collection features hundreds of titles, including many published bilingually in Spanish and English. Based on the “Recovering the U.S. Hispanic Literary Heritage Project,” a national research effort directed by Professor Nicolás Kanellos, Hispanic American Newspapers, 1808-1980 is the first in a new American Ethnic Newspapers series, available within America’s Historical Newspapers.

“These American newspapers published by Hispanics offer a diversity of unabridged voices, ranging from intellectuals and literary notables to politicians, union organizers and grassroots figures,” says Kanellos. “Now, through partnership with Readex, these largely forgotten perspectives on the history of the United States and Latin America will be made available online to students, teachers and scholars.”

Hispanic newspapers reflect a long tradition of Spanish-language press in the western hemisphere. In the United States, the Hispanic press plays a vital role in the lives of immigrants, exiles and native Hispanic peoples alike. Often illustrated with photographic documentation, Hispanic American newspapers reveal the rich history of a people who have long resided in and contributed to the American public sphere. For more than two centuries, they have united Spanish speakers and preserved their cultural heritage through news, editorials and literature as well as by providing leadership, solidifying communities and spearheading social movements.

“We’re proud to be working with Professor Kanellos to provide new access to this detailed record of the Hispanic American experience,” says Remmel Nunn, Readex Vice President for Product Development. “Together, we are creating the most extensive digital database of Hispanic American newspapers in existence, including many rare titles published in the 19th century.”

Prior to Kanellos’ massive undertaking, many of the titles found in Hispanic American Newspapers, 1808-1980 were scattered or forgotten. “Until the advent of this digitization project, major portions of American literary, political and cultural history remained either unknown or inaccessible,” Kanellos says.

With the digital publication of Hispanic American Newspapers, these important primary documents can now be easily browsed, searched and read. Users can easily compare and contrast Hispanic views on nearly every major theme in American life with those appearing in other America’s Historical Newspapers series, including Early American Newspapers, 1690-1922.

About Readex
For more than 50 years, the Readex name has been synonymous with research in the humanities and social sciences using historical printed materials and government documents. Recognized by librarians, students and scholars for its efforts to transform academic research at all levels, Readex offers a wealth of Web-based, primary source materials. Today, Readex, a division of NewsBank, has established a leadership position among publishers by creating the digital Archive of Americana, a cohesive family of authoritative collections that provides unprecedented access to the history, literature, culture and daily life of the United States over more than three centuries.

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For more information or to speak with a Readex expert, contact Readex Marketing Director David Loiterstein by calling 1.203.421.0152 or emailing dloiterstein@readex.com.