Oak Ridge Journal
 | |
| Type | Weekly newspaper |
|---|---|
| Owner(s) | Oak Ridge Recreation and Welfare Association |
| Publisher | Oak Ridge Recreation and Welfare Association |
| Editor | Sergeant M. S. Levine |
| Founded | September 4, 1943 |
| Ceased publication | May 27, 1948 |
| Headquarters | Town Hall, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830, United States |
| Circulation | Restricted to Oak Ridge |
| OCLC number | 10553320 |
| Website | The Oak Ridge Journal archive |
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Approved by the federal government in 1943 The Oak Ridge Journal was the first local newspaper in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. It was published weekly on Thursdays from September 4, 1943 to May 27, 1948.[1]
Supervised by military editors it was not allowed to be spread outside the fenced area of Oak Ridge to prevent enemy spies picking up any useful information.
Contents
It contained between 4 and 12 pages of local news aimed at creating a sense of community and bonding in the fast growing population of the 'secret city'. Standard early opening items were 'This week at the movies', 'Recreation Hall Program' and 'Church Services' followed by new local developments and general recommendations.[2]
The first issue was four, small mimeographed pages which eventually grew to twelve pages. The first printed issue was published on March 2, 1944. A shortage of newsprint limited this issue to four 9 x 12” pages. Once delivered on horseback, the newspaper for the “Secret City” informed the growing population of official decisions, social activities, and helped form a sense of community and kinship.[3]
Once the typewriter style paper[2] changed on March 2, 1944 into a more professional printed format it would carry the 'Not to be taken or mailed from the area' notice under its name on the front page. This notice was dropped starting from the August 9, 1945 following the surrender of Japan and journalists invading the area to find out the full background story of the Oak Ridge activities.
Oak Ridge Attacks Japanese
After the first atomic bomb was dropped on August 6, the newspaper proudly published the "Oak Ridge Attacks Japanese" banner in honor of the thousands of civilians and military personnel who contributed to its development. Manhattan District Engineer Kenneth Nichols expressed his personal gratitude in the August 9 edition and after the second atomic bomb was dropped the same day, he would repeat it in the August 16 edition which also featured the new Manhattan Engineer District emblem.[4]
Historical source
Several books and articles covering the Manhattan Engineer District (MED) and the World War II activities in Oak Ridge, Tennessee use the newspaper’s contents and cite it. [5] [6]
The Oak Ridge Attacks Japanese is one of the frequently cited titles. [7] [8] [9]
- The Oak Ridge Journal - Milestone Editions
-
September 9, 1943
First edition -
August 9, 1945
Atomic bombing edition
Governance
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Editors[10]
- 1943-1944
- Sergeant M. S. Levine
- Private D. M. Wendland
- 1944
- A. Carleton Jealous
- 1944-1947
- Frances Smith Gates
- 1947-1948
- Thomas F. X. Gates
Advisor[2]
- Captain T.W. Taylor
Oak Ridge Media
Later local newspapers would include:[11]
- The Oak Ridge Times (1948-1948)
- The Oak Ridge Mail (1948-1949)
- The Oak Ridger (1949 - ...)
- The Oak Ridge Observer (2005-2014)[12]
- Oak Ridge Today (2012-...)
References
- ↑ "Oak Ridge Journal". City of Oak ridge - Public Library.
Scans of the Oak Ridge Journal, the first local newspaper, published weekly from September 4, 1943 to May 27, 1948.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 The Oak Ridge Journal first edition
- ↑ "Oak Ridge Journal". City of Oak ridge - Public Library.
Once delivered on horseback, the newspaper for the “Secret City” informed the growing population of official decisions, social activities, and helped form a sense of community and kinship.
- ↑ The Oak Ridge Journal August 16, 1945 edition (see infobox)
- ↑ Kiernan, Denise (March 11, 2014). The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II. Simon and Schuster. pp. 90, 275, 287, 343. ISBN 978-1-4516-1753-5. Search this book on
- ↑ Jackson, Charles O.; Johnson, Charles W. (1981). City behind a Fence: Oak Ridge, Tennessee, 1942-1946. University of Tennessee Press. pp. 67, 72, 123, 152, 157, 180, 189, 190. ISBN 978-0870493096. Search this book on
- ↑ WPLN News
- ↑ All That Is Interesting
- ↑ The Guardian
- ↑ "Oak Ridge Journal". City of Oak ridge - Public Library.
Editors were: Sergeant M. S. Levine & Private D. M. Wendland, from 1943-1944, Carleton Jealous, 1944, Frances Smith Gates, 1944-1947, Thomas F. X. Gates, 1947-1948.
- ↑ Library of Congress - bottom section
- ↑ "After nine-year run, Oak Ridge Observer closes". Oak Ridge Today. January 2, 2014. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
External links
- Digital scans of the Oak Ridge Journal can be found at The Oak Ridge Public Library Digital Collections - The Oak Ridge Journal
- Oak Ridge Today
- Community Journalism in a Secret City: The Oak Ridge Journal, 1943–48
- The Oak Ridge Journal on microfilm
- Ignored heroes - several excerpts from the Oak Ridge Journal. Scroll at the bottom for more excerpts
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