From : Stewart Gillies
British Library Newspapers


The main source for tracing information on 19th century English newspape
rs is the 20 volume reference work, 'The Waterloo Directory of English New
spapers and Periodicals' North Waterloo Academic Press, 2003. ISBN: 0-9210
75-27-8. There is also an online subscription version of this resource whi
ch some public reference libraries may subscribe to.

I have checked the printed version and this does list Samuel Charles Harpe
r, Alfred Harper and Thomas Harper in its people index.

The 'Waterloo Directory' lists the main newspapers published or print
ed by them as:


1. Cheltenham Free Press and Gloucestershire Herald (various title chang
es given below) 1 Nov 1834 - 27 June 1908 incorporated with "Cheltenham Ex
aminer"

Lists Proprietors as Samuel Charles Harper (1846); Alfred Harper (1851-59)
.
Lists Publisher as Alfred Harper (1851).


2. Cheltenham Mercury 4 August 1855 - 12 Sept 1903

Lists Proprietor as: Thomas Harper (1855)


3. Cheltenham Observer, and General Advertiser 4 July - 26 Dec 1855

Lists Proprietor as Alfred Harper (1856).
4. Harper's Cheltenham Directory 1853-1857
[NB: This is not a newspaper but is a town directory and is not held at t
he Newspaper Library].

Lists Publisher as A. Harper; Printer as A. Harper

The dates in brackets are dates where the Waterloo researchers have been a
ble to check contemporary sources such as the annual Newspaper Press Direc
tories (printed from 1846 onwards).
The Newspaper Library holds full sets of the Newspaper Press Directories a
nd these are on the open access reference shelves in our reading room alo
ng with the 'Waterloo Directory of English Newspapers and Periodicals'.


Full details of the Newspaper Library holdings of the above newspapers a
re given below:

1. Cheltenham Free Press and Gloucestershire Herald
No.1-1915. from 1 Nov.1834 - 25 Sept.1858 continued as

2. Cheltenham Free Press and Weekly Fashionable Directory, and Gloucesters
hire Herald
no.1916, etc from 2 Oct.1858 - 18 May 1867 continued as

3. Cheltenham Free Press
From 25 May 1867 - 2 April 1892 continued as

4. Cheltenham Free Press and Cotswold News
From 9 April 1892 - 27 June 1908 incorporated with

5. Cheltenham Examiner
Wanting Jan.1873-June 1874; Jan.-Dec.1897.
Microfilm: 1890, 1891

6. The Cheltenham Mercury, etc
No.1-2890 from 4 Aug1855 - 12 Sept1903
Discontinued, wanting 1899.
Microfilm: 1855

7. The Cheltenham Observer and General Advertiser
No.1-26 from 4 July - 26 Dec1855