New-York Observer - 19th Century

The New-York Observer was a religious newspaper founded in 1823 by Sidney Edwards Morse (1794-1871) and his brother Richard Cary Morse (1795-1868), brothers of telegraphy pioneer Samuel Morse (1791-1872), sons of Jedediah Morse (1761-1826), Congregational minister and geographer, author of the first textbook on American geography published in the United States.

In 1816, Sidney E. Morse founded, with Nathaniel Willis, the Boston Recorder, a Congregationalist newspaper, established in Boston, Massachusetts. In the spring of 1823, Sidney and Richard moved to New York and founded the New-York Observer. Richard took the charge of the outdoor work for the enterprise and traveled through the country securing subscribers. Sidney was responsible for the editorial department. The first number of the New-York Observer was published on May 17, 1823. It was printed by contract in the first years.

In 1826, Gerard Hallock became associated with the Morse brothers, as editor and proprietor of the paper, which then was published by the firm of Morse, Hallock & Co. In 1828, they purchased the type and hired an office. Hallock continued in the firm until 1829, when he went into the Journal of Commerce. Then, the name of the firm became Sidney E. Morse & Co.

In the 1840s, the Morse brothers acquired the property at 138 Nassau Street, northeast corner of Beekman Street, and erected a buildings for the Observer's headquarters. Samuel Morse occupied rooms in the building while experimenting with the electric telegraph. By 1854, the building was expanded and the New-York Daily Times (renamed New-York Times in 1857) leased the building for its headquarters, but the Observer continued in the premises, which was expanded once again before 1857. The New-York Times left the building in April 1858 to its new headquarters at 41 Park Row. About 1870, the building housed the Park Hotel and was demolished in 1878.

Sidney E. Morse was one of the proprietors and the senior editor until 1858, when he retired. Richard was associate editor and proprietor. Samuel Irenæus Prime (1812-1885) entered the editorial department in 1840, and purchased the interest of Sidney E. Morse in 1858. At the same time, Sidney E. Morse, Jr., purchased the interest of his father, Richard C. Morse, and the name of the firm became Sidney E. Morse, Jr. & Co. The "Jr." was dropped at the death of Sidney E. Morse, in 1871. In 1873, editors and proprietors were five in number. Prime was the senior editor.

In 1857, the Park Building (later World Building) was erected on the southern part of the site of the old Brick Church, demolished earlier that year (Times Building was erected on the northern part). The Observer moved its headquarters to the new building, at 37 Park Row, in early 1859, on the third floor of the Park Row side. Part of its offices and the press-room of the journal continued in the old premises. The fire broke out on January 31, 1882, and destroyed the old World Building. The present Potter Building was erected on the site.

The New York Observer eventually became the oldest weekly in New York City. In the beginning, it represented the conservative part of the Presbyterian church. Later, the editors claimed the newspaper's independence from the Presbyterian church, but religious news were still the main focus. By the 1880's the journal was practically undenominational. It switched to a smaller size publication in the 1890's and lost its newspaper character. The publication ceased in 1912.

Another The New York Observer was founded in 1987.

More: Park Row in 19th Century ►