Draft:The Florida Tattler

The Florida Tattler
The Florida Tattler was a twentieth century African American owned and operated newspaper based out of Jacksonville, Florida. The paper (also called The Fla. Tattler) commenced publications in 1934 under Taylor & Son Printing Co. It was founded December 1st, 1934 by Porcher L. Taylor, Sr. with the assistance of his son, Porcher L. Taylor, Jr. The publishing office was located at 614 Broad Street, Jacksonville, Florida. The publication circulated on a weekly basis. Its price per copy ranged from two cents upon its inception, to five cents during its final publications. The Florida Tattler was funded at least in part by community sponsors such as the Alcazar Cafe on 612 Broad Street, and Robert Smith's Shoe Shine Parlor on 791 West Ashley Street.

Content
Florida Tattler was self proclaimed as "Jacksonville's Only Negro Weekly" and served primarily "Duval, Nassau, and adjacent counties". In addition to Porcher L. Taylor, Sr's role as publisher-editor, Taylor collaborated on the publication frequently. The paper read primarily as a gossip column. Multiple editions display open letters and op-ed pieces from the community. The paper addresses topics ranging from lists of fellow community members' travel itineraries to news of the Alabama Scottsboro Boys. The paper slogan, seen in the June 29th, 1935 edition, is "Sees all, tells all". The slogan is reflective of the wide ranging reporting, advertising, and promoting. While there was no written direction that The Fla. Tattler was intended for women, advertisements within the available editions suggest that the niche progressively included primarily women. In the September 29th, 1945 edition the cover titles read "Rev. Morris Writes An Open Letter. Soldier Throws Wife Out Window." The advertisement space beneath the cover stories promoted Groff Hosiery Co. located at both 104 Broad St. and 825 Davis St. In addition to hosiery, a supplementary ad displayed a call to "Buy War Bonds First". It was common to see tonal variations, like the previous example, within the writing. Overall, the content of The Florida Tattler followed the trajectory for the Black community in Florida and the southeast region of the United States at the peak of the Jim Crow era.

Final Days of The Florida Tattler
Resources available online contain conflicting dates as to when The Florida Tattler ceased publications. Readex archive database shows the last available paper dated to September 29th, 1945. An interview abstract of Porcher L. Taylor, Jr. conducted by thehistorymakers.org claims that the paper ended in 1964 upon the passing of Porcher L. Taylor, Sr.

The Taylor Family
In addition, the interview abstract provides that entrepreneurship within the Taylor family started well before Taylor, Sr. founding The Florida Tattler. Taylor, Jr.'s discusses how his paternal grandfather was also committed to entrepreneurial endeavors. Taylor, Sr. Taylor, Jr. "worked as a typesetter and a pressman until 1943, when he joined the U.S. Navy and spent three years on tour in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Honorably discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces, he was able to enroll at Tuskegee Institute with support from the Army’s G.I. Bill." Taylor, Jr. enlisted in the Tuskegee Institute Reserve Officer Training Corps, the precursor to the Tuskegee Airmen. Overall, the family had a history of amplifying their voice to support their values of community, faith, social justice and service.