History
The Southern Literary Messenger first appeared in August 1834 with Thomas Willis White as publisher. In the inaugural issue Willis stated that his aim was "to stimulate the pride and genius of the south, and awaken from its long slumber the literary exertion of this portion of our country." This was in reference to the fact that at the time most magazines were published in Boston, New York and Philadelphia.
Edgar Allan Poe served as an editor for a time (see below). After his departure, White resumed editorial duties before hiring Lieutenant Matthew Fontaine Maury USN as editor from 1840 to 1843. Upon White's death in 1843, Benjamin Blake Minor served as editor and publisher from August 1843 to October 1847.
Writing contributions to the journal, as well as a loss of subscriptions, led to its cancellation in June 1864. As was explained editorially in that issue, the press in Richmond (and the town in general) had been thrown into considerable disarray due to the American Civil War.
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