Younkin

Younkin Family News Bulletin
Family History Newspaper Archives from the 1930s
and Early '40s Published by Charles Arthur Younkin

The original Younkin Family News Bulletin was the brainchild and focus of Charles Arthur Younkin, of Charleroi, Washington County, PA. "Charleroi Charley," as he was nicknamed, was a businessman, reunion organizer, journalist, letter writer and family cheerleader. His pioneering genealogy publishing, in coordination with his distant cousin Otto Roosevelt Younkin, resulted in a national reunion and following involving thousands of cousins. This all happened during the height of the Great Depression, a phenomenon he called the "Great Younkin Awakening." His efforts set the stage for the renewed interest in Younkin family connections today, and the establishment of the Younkin Reunions in the 1990s.

The original YFNB was a six-page, five-column tabloid, priced at $1.00 per year. The first issue, dated Christmas 1937, was loaded with family stories and obituaries, a reunion wrap-up and letters from readers. All told, eight editions were printed -- Christmas 1937; April 30, 1938; August 5, 1938; December 20, 1938; August 10, 1939; March 15, 1940; Sept. 25, 1940; and June 30, 1941.

In 1938, a subscriber in Ashville, Ohio, showed his copy to newspaper columnist Clyde Michael of the Pickaway County News. Mitchell later devoted an entire "Meanderings" column to the reunion and the family newspaper (July 28, 1938), writing: "[Horton] showed me what I believe to be the only newspaper whose news is devoted entirely to one family and which is written and published as a family newspaper...."

The last known YFNB, dated June 30, 1941, contained a foreshadowing of world war. A subscriber from Arizona wrote: "We are certain to be called upon to sacrifice much, to work hard and long with no thought of the dividends which might accrue...."

This webpage contains "above the fold" images of all eight known copies. Many thanks to Ross Younkin for his scanning services.

The first edition, dated Christmas 1937

Volume 1, No. 2 - April 30, 1938

Volume 1, No. 3, dated Aug. 5, 1938

Volume 1, No. 4, dated Dec. 20, 1938, just in time for Christmas

Volume 2, No. 1 and 2, dated August 10, 1939

Volume 2, Numbers 3 and 4, dated March 15, 1940

Volume 3, Numbers 1 and 2, dated Sept. 25, 1940

Volume 3, Numbers 3 and 4, dated June 30, 1941 -- the last issue

Many thanks to Ross Younkin for his scanning services.