Frederick Douglass Voice

The Frederick Douglass Voice began publication on October 6, 1933. The newspaper, published by Howard Wilson Coles, was devoted to the activities, aspirations, and ideals of Black people in Rochester and the vicinity. Howard Coles used the newspaper to call attention to critical issues in the Black community. In 1938, The Voice conducted a housing survey in Rochester’s Black neighborhoods and exposed the unsafe living conditions of Black renters. The paper sought to promote support for the NAACP, put more Black people in professional and legal positions, and foster voter participation. 

Howard Coles was born on November 12, 1903, in Belcoda, New York, and spent his childhood in Mumford, New York. He left school at age 15 and travelled throughout the Northeast until he returned to Rochester in the early 1930s. Coles was inspired by Frederick Douglass and his ability to reach people, especially in print. Coles borrowed $2,800 from his life insurance policy and, with the help of fellow Rochesterian Elsie Scott Kilpatrick, a local nurse, he established and began publication of The Voice. 

At its peak, the newspaper’s circulation reached approximately 10,000 copies. Coles worked as a real estate agent, insurance sales agent, and court attendant to earn enough money to support the newspaper. The Voice went through many name changes in its 63-year run. It has been called The Frederick Douglass Voice, The Rochester Voice, The Voice, The Voice of New York, and The New Negro Voice. The Voice is the longest running Black-owned newspaper in Rochester. 

Donated to the Rochester Museum & Science Center in 1998 by Howard Coles’ daughter, Joan Coles Howard, and granddaughter Shelaine Peters, the Howard W. Coles Collection includes 350 original copies of The Voice from 1933 to 1996. In 2021, all issues of The Voice held by the RMSC were digitized with support from the Rochester Regional Library Council. A representative sample of the newspaper is available here. The remainder of the newspapers will be digitally accessible in 2023 on New York State Historic Newspapers and the RMSC Collections website. 

Learn more about Howard Coles, his first wife Alma Kelso, and their role as Rochester’s first African American radio personalities in the podcast series “Black Radio Rochester,” hosted by local high school students and produced through RCTV.

Photo: Frederick Douglass Voice Feature Graphic

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  • Newspaper, The Voice, vol. 6, no. 41

    May 31, 1939
    Document
    This issue of The Voice features an excerpt from a newspaper Frederick Douglass published in 1859, biographic information about Douglass’ remaining grandchildren, and information about Bessie Walls, R. Nathaniel Dett, and Austin Steward.
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  • Newspaper, Rochester Voice, vol. 11, no. 20

    May 12, 1944
    Document
    This issue of The Voice features articles about a false story in the Times Union, Frank Gannett heading a drive to raise money for Black colleges in the South, the history of Black newspapers in Rochester, and Howard Coles’ speech to the City Council regarding the City Planning Board and City Planning Commission.
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  • Newspaper, The Voice of New York State, vol. 15, no. 10

    June 24, 1948
    Document
    This issue of The Voice features articles about The Black Yankees and the revival of Douglass Day Celebration for the first time since 1941. Another article, written by Alma Kelso Coles, investigates “a change in the employment scene” and describes and lists members of the Black community and their employers. A third article goes over the Legal Aid Society and its function so readers can know how to obtain such aid.
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  • Newspaper, The Frederick Douglass Voice, vol. 16, no. 26

    December 20, 1954
    Document
    This issue of The Voice features an article about the 1938 Housing Survey and a revised and abridged version of the survey. Each page also contains a directory of businesses in Rochester and surrounding areas.
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  • Newspaper, The Frederick Douglass Voice, vol. 17, no. 26

    November 4, 1955
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    This issue of The Voice features Howard W. Coles’ biographical sketch while running for the City Council - South District seat. Another article discusses the editor's opinion about Communism being a false religion. The remainder of the issue contains political ads from both the Republican and Liberal parties.
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  • Newspaper, Frederick Douglass Voice, vol. 37

    July 13, 1972– July 19, 1972
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    This issue of The Voice features the establishment of grievance procedures from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. A second article discusses the return of an NAACP branch to Rochester and includes a list of officers. Another article describes the institution of the “Third Ward Beat” program, a student-created newspaper focused on the Third Ward neighborhood in Rochester.
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  • Newspaper, Frederick Douglass Voice, vol. 39, no. 3

    February 18, 1976– February 25, 1976
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    This issue of The Voice features a Black History Salute, the early history of the Mumford Baptist Church, and a column written by Mildred Johnson about the Virginia Wilson Negro Information and Helping Hands Center.
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  • Newspaper, Frederick Douglass Voice, vol. 50, no. 5

    July 27, 1984– July 31, 1984
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    This issue of The Voice features a two-page article on Dr. R. Nathaniel Dett, the musician and composer, his life and legacy. Another article discusses City Council member Ruth Scott’s announcement of funding for the Police & Citizens Teamed Against Crime (Pac-Tac) initiative. A third article contains a biographical sketch of Howard W. Coles.
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  • Newspaper, Frederick Douglass Voice, vol. 50, no. 4

    August 26, 1988– September6, 1988
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    This issue of The Voice features an article about Maxine Childress Brown’s resolution to establish a city policy regarding AIDS in the workplace. Another article discusses Black inventors such as Elijah McCoy and Sarah Boone. A third article is a column written by then Governor Mario Cuomo about the State of Children in New York State report.
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