The Argonaut facts for kids
| Editor | Frank M. Pixley Alfred Holman |
|---|---|
| Founder | Frank Somers |
| Founded | 1877 |
| Final issue | 1956 |
The Argonaut was a newspaper published in San Francisco, California. It was printed from 1878 until 1956. Frank Somers started the newspaper. Soon after, Frank M. Pixley took over. He made it a very respected publication.
Under Pixley's leadership, The Argonaut became a top literary paper in San Francisco. It also had a big impact on state and city politics. The newspaper was known for its strong American political views. It also featured art and literature. Many famous writers from the 1800s wrote for it. These included Ambrose Bierce and Gertrude Atherton.
Contents
About The Argonaut Newspaper
Early Days and Influence
The Argonaut was very important in California. It had a lot of political power. Frank Pixley was a strong supporter of the Republican party. He used The Argonaut to back leaders like Leland Stanford. Stanford was one of the owners of the Central Pacific Railroad. Pixley had been California's attorney general when Stanford was governor.
The newspaper was started to share different ideas from Denis Kearney. Kearney was a community leader. He represented many Irish immigrants who worked for the railroad. Pixley, as editor and publisher, wanted to share his political views.
New Editors Take Over
Jerome Hart became the editor in 1891. Pixley sold the newspaper before he passed away in 1895. Many people thought the quality of The Argonaut was not as good during this time.
Alfred Holman bought the newspaper in 1907. He had just sold his shares in the Sacramento Union. Holman worked as the publisher and editor until 1924.
What Does "Argonaut" Mean?
The name 'Argonaut' comes from a local term. It was used for people who searched for gold. These gold prospectors were called argonauts.
Modern Publications Using the Same Name
In the early 1990s, Warren Hinckle started a new newspaper. It was also called The Argonaut. He also launched an online version called Argonaut360. Hinckle joked that his paper was a continuation of the original. He even used similar numbering.
In 1990, the San Francisco Historical Society also started a journal. They named it The Argonaut.
