About

Cornelius R. Hanleiter published the first issue of the Southern Post and Literary Aspirant on September 2, 1837, in Macon, Georgia. This newspaper was the beginning of what would be a prolific printing career for Hanleiter. The paper’s original title was the City News Carrier, and Hanleiter enlisted the printing office of Griffin & Purse to issue that paper in June, 1837. By July, 1837, the first prospectus for the Southern Post and Literary Aspirant appeared and announced the replacement of the News Carrier. This new paper was focused on literature in the South, and advertisements offered a free copy to anyone who obtained ten new subscribers. After only a month of circulation, the paper briefly suspended operations while Hanleiter set up his own job-printing office on Mulberry Street. On December 2, 1837, the paper reemerged as the Southern Post with P. C. Pendleton as editor. Pendleton was also early in his prominent career as a newspaper editor. The Southern Post circulated for two years before announcing another suspension in September, 1839. The suspension was meant to be temporary while Hanleiter pursued other projects, but, with the exception of a single issue in October of that year, the Southern Post did not resume printing in 1840 as initially announced. Instead, Hanleiter’s printing office focused its resources on producing a new monthly journal titled the Southern Ladies Book.