George P. Stewart

George Pheldon Stewart was born in Vincennes, Indiana in 1874. As a young man, he moved to Indianapolis and joined Bethel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. In his youth, George had learned a great deal of the printing trade from his brother, Charles [1]. At Bethel AME, Reverend D.A. Graham suggested Stewart take over the Church Recorder, hoping that the young man would expand the publication’s scope to include stories of African American involvement in Indianapolis fraternities and societies, in addition to existing church news [2]. In 1897, he took the advice of Graham and with his newspaper experience, cofounded the Indianapolis Recorder with Will Porter [3].

Stewart was a member of many Indianapolis organizations. His extensive involvement in the African American community allowed him to stay up to date with the latest news, which he published in the Recorder [4]. In addition to his religious ties to the AME Church, Stewart involved himself in political, business, and fraternal ventures.

On the political front, the paper’s creation coincided with the beginning of William McKinley’s presidency. Stewart was a Republican and, as a result, the Recorder highlighted his support of the Republican party [5]. His political involvement included chairman of the Colored Republican Committee, and membership in the National Negro Business League and Indiana Negro Welfare League [6]. Stewart was an officer of the Indiana Association of Colored Men, and used his print shop to supply handbills and printed items for their political cause [7].

Stewart was a part of many fraternal organizations as well, including the Waterford Lodge #13, F. & A.M. Marion Lodge #5, Persian Temple #46, Nobles Mystic Shrine, Indianapolis Camp of the American Woodsman, and Knights of Pythias [8]. He was most involved with the Knights, as he and Porter had been active in the Order since the creation of the black Pythians in Indiana [9]. Stewart’s devotion to his affiliations was evident in the ways he used his business and print shop to support them. He provided publicity to his fraternal and institutional connections in the Recorder and took care of the printing needs for many Black businesses, printing programs, handbills, cards, and stationary [10].

Stewart was well known and respected in Indianapolis’s Black community. His position as publisher and editor of the Recorder allowed him to serve as a mentor to many, and strangers and friends alike often sought his advice. He died in 1924 at age 50. His widow, Fannie Stewart, filled his roles as owner and publisher for the Recorder after his death. His family continued to work in various roles for the newspaper until 1988 [11]. Stewart’s hard work was essential in encouraging the Black community to become civically involved and to defend equality and Civil Rights in Indianapolis [12].

During George P. Stewart’s reign, the office for the Indianapolis Recorder moved multiple times. It was first located on New York Street, but was moved to Indiana Avenue in 1900. From there, it relocated to the Knights of Pythias building on West Walnut and by 1918 moved to a new location on Indiana Avenue, where it stayed until the 1970s [13]. The Indianapolis Recorder buildings during Stewart’s lifetime were all in the Ransom Place Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places (1992) for its association with influential African Americans in Indianapolis history [14].

[1] Wilma Gibbs, “George P. Stewart,” Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame, Indiana Historical Society, accessed March 15, 2021, https://ijhf.org/george-p-stewart.
[2] Marcus N. Mims, “The Recorder,” accessed March 15, 2021, https://www.marcusnmims.com/the-recorder.html.
[3] Wilma Gibbs, “George P. Stewart,” Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame, Indiana Historical Society, accessed March 15, 2021, https://ijhf.org/george-p-stewart.
[4] Wilma Gibbs, “George P. Stewart.”
[5] Connie Gaines Hates, “The Indianapolis Recorder; Still Strong after 96 Years,” Indianapolis Recorder (Indianapolis, IN), February 1, 1992.
[6] Wilma Gibbs, “George P. Stewart.”
[7] George P. Stewart Papers, 1894-CA. 1930s, 1990.0469. Indiana Historical Society Archives, Indianapolis, Indiana.
[8] Wilma Gibbs, “George P. Stewart.”
[9] George P. Stewart Papers, 1894-CA. 1930s, 1990.0469.
[10] Wilma Gibbs, “George P. Stewart.”
[11] Wilma Gibbs, “George P. Stewart.”
[12] “Living History, Every Week,” Indianapolis Recorder, March 12, 2020, https://indianapolisrecorder.com/ad6e0558-6468-11ea-b619-03b2fd7ecb47/.
[13] George P. Stewart Papers, 1894-CA. 1930s, 1990.0469.
[14] “Ransom Place Historic District,” Indiana Historical Bureau, accessed March 15, 2021, https://www.in.gov/history/state-historical-markers/find-a-marker/ransom-place-historic-district/.

Student Author: Gwyneth Harris
Faculty/Staff Editors: Dr. Ronald V. Morris, Dr. Kevin C. Nolan, and Christine Thompson
Graduate Assistant Researchers: Carrie Vachon and JB Bilbrey

PHOTO & VIDEO:
George P. Stewart, Indianapolis Recorder Co-Founder, Indiana Historical Society, P0556.
https://images.indianahistory.org/digital/collection/p16797coll72/id/821/rec/53