July 1, 2025
Introduction: In this article, Katie Rebecca Merkley searches old newspapers to learn about some of the ways our ancestors celebrated Independence Day in 1925. Katie specializes in U.S. research for family history, enjoys writing and researching, and is developing curricula for teaching children genealogy.
One hundred years ago our ancestors celebrated Independence Day, as of course we do today. There were various ways they celebrated, and we can learn about that in old newspapers.
Photo credit: https://depositphotos.com/home.html
Radio was becoming popular in the early 20th century. It was popular enough in 1925 for newspapers to announce radio programs. The Patriot, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, announced radio programs for Independence Day from across the country. The article was organized by time zone, then by radio station, listing the programs that would play at different times. Some stations were playing special Independence Day programs.
A Jersey City, New Jersey, newspaper mentioned some 4th of July celebrations in the area. Due to concerns about traffic congestion, there were no parades in Absecon and Mays Landing, but dancing and fireworks were held at Lily Lake Park and Lenape Park.
While some newspapers announced celebratory events and radio programs, others published historical discourses. A New York City newspaper referred to Independence Day as “Uncle Sam’s birthday” and stated that while only 149 years old, “he has become the giant of the world in wealth, in power and in justice.”
The American ideal of self-government was radical at the time, but the Founding Fathers’ perseverance in this endeavor led to our becoming our own nation.
This wasn’t the only newspaper recounting the nation’s history on this holiday. Marian Inglewood, a newspaper reporter in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, wrote a discourse on U.S. history in which he refuted some legends surrounding the Declaration of Independence. He pointed out that the event was done in secret, “for it was an occasion when men needed to weigh matters carefully.”
According to this article, the committee preparing the Declaration of Independence consisted of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston. Congress adopted it on July 4. Twelve states (all except New York) voted on it. A few minor changes were debated and made. New York voted on July 9 and announced its decision on July 15. The date written on the Declaration of Independence was 4 July 1776. However, it was not made public until 8 July 1776.
The bell, now known as the Liberty Bell, called the people of Philadelphia to the Square to hear the reading of the Declaration of Independence. The bell stopped ringing, and John Nixon read the Declaration of Independence from a balcony. The crowd stood in silence, pondering the significance of the words, then “broke into glad shouts of rejoicing” when the bell began to ring again.
The American people rejoiced at being free back in 1776, and this newspaper article reminded our ancestors of that 100 years ago. It is this freedom that we continue to celebrate every July 4th.
Happy Independence Day!
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Note on the header image: “Happy Independence Day” illustration. Credit: https://depositphotos.com/home.html
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