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| "The Nation"newspaper, Kombi |
Petër Prifti, in his book "Biography of Albanians in America" claims that from 1906 to 1941, 53 different newspapers and magazines were published.
Since the number of newspapers and magazines is large, two of them are mentioned: "KOMBI" newspaper, which is the first newspaper of Albanians in America, and "DIELLI" newspaper, which is the largest and longest-lived newspaper.
The coming to light of the "KOMBI" newspaper, Pritfti brings from the memories of Costandin A. Demo:
- "Kombi" newspaper was the first Albanian newspaper to appear in America in 1906. We jumped up for joy. They sang and enjoyed the newspaper a lot, but the subscribers were few. Within a year the paper was financially strapped and $485 in debt. This forced Pec and Noli to come to Natick for help. Finally, Kristo Kirka, Andrea Pani, Kol Tromara, Ilo Tromara, Sotir Noke, Ilo Zdruli and several others collected the necessary money and paid the debt. This amount seems quite small today, but at that time it was a huge amount when we consider the very small wages that the workers received at that time. In 1909, "Kombi" stopped publishing and its place was taken by the newspaper "Dielli", which was published in the same printing house and with the same letters as "Kombi". Three people took care of the publication of "Kombi", Peci, Noli and another indispensable person, Efthim Natsi. Natsi did three jobs at the same time: sorting the newspaper, making corrections and working the printing press. There was nowhere like this printing press because it was done on foot. Picture this scene in your mind: On the right, Noli, who put the card in the printing press, in the middle, Thimaqi (Efthimi), who worked the printing press, and on the left, Peci, who took care of the printed newspaper. Ah, how happy we were then. There is no doubt that the memory of that time gladdens the heart of one of the collaborators of that famous partnership that still lives. Newspaper "KOMBI" in No. 1 Year 1906, had Sotir Peci as editor and Fan Noli as collaborator".
"DIELLI" NEWSPAPER
Political, social, literary, cultural, economic newspaper that was published once a week. It was founded by the "Besa-Besen" society on February 15, 1909 in Boston. On May 2, 1912, it became an organ of the Pan-Albanian Federation "Vatra" and began to be published twice a week. On November 18, 1914, it began to be published three times a week. On November 9, 1915, began to be published daily. The editor of "Dielli" since February 15, 1909 was Fan Noli. It stopped being published from July 1 to October 1910. From November 1910 to September 1911 it was published under the title "Sun and Flag". After October 1911, it appeared again with the title "The Sun".
"DIELLI" newspaper, in the following years, has had many leaders, but for several years I am mentioning: Fan Noli, Faik Konica, Efthim Natsi, Kristo Floqi, Paskal Aleksi, Koste Çekrezi, Bahri Omari, Zenel Hysen Sulaj, known as Nelo Drizari (1902-1978). Journalist, linguist, writer, painter. He was born in Drizar of Mallakastra. He immigrated to the USA after his father in 1912. He studied journalism at Columbia University School in New York in 1928. ). Manager and associate of "The Sun". He published many analyses, and reports in well-known newspapers. He laid the foundations of broadcasting in the Albanian language at "Voice of America" in the years 1942-1948. Editor and main speaker of the "Voice of America" Radio Station. He published the English-Albanian and Albanian-English dictionaries after 33 years of work (1934-1957). During the Second World War, he worked as the head of the Department for Albania in the American Office of War Information.
Year 1921-1922 – Kostë Cekrezi (1892-1959)
He was born in Ziçisht of Devolli. He completed his primary and secondary education in Korça and Thessaloniki. He began his higher studies in Thessaloniki in 1913. In 1914 he emigrated to the USA, where he completed his studies in history and economics at Harvard University. He was elected for years in the governing bodies of the Federation "VATRA" and its chairman in 1920. Director of the newspaper "DIELLI" in the years 1915-1916 and 1919-1920. In 1916, he published the magazine "Illyria" in Boston in three languages: English, French and Albanian. After returning to his homeland, in the years 1926-1928 he published the newspaper "TELEGRAF" as its director and owner. In the years 1920-1932, he published the magazine "ORA".
Director of "DIELLI" in a few more years
Year 1937-1938 – President Andrea D. Elia.
Secretary: Mina Luka.
Third: Abdul Abaz.
Members: Shaban Pojani, Hajredin Ceco, Seit Piluri, Yzeir Cangonji.
Reserve members: Nicho Grabocka, Shefqet Bênça.
Editor: Nelo Drizari.
Year 1939-1940 – President Denis Kamburi.
Board: Kosta Issak, Theodhor Kotelli, Hajdar Menkulasi, Refi Gurri.
Year 1945 – President Vasil Pani.
Secretary: Gregor Stefo.
Board: Petër Stafa, Dhimitër Robo, Mehmet Tosun, Kristo Thanas, Vangjel Sotir.Albanian Newspapers and magazines published in the USA in the years 1906-1941, in English:
1. The Nation, 1906-1909, Boston
2. The Sun, 1909, Boston
3. Flag, 1910, Boston
4. Time, 1911-1920, Jamestown
5. Trumpet of Kruja, 1911, St. Louis
6. Voice of the People, 1912-1913, New York
7. The Adriatic, 1914, Framingham
8. The Albanian Era, 1915-1916, Denver Col.
9. The Volunteer, 1916-1917, Natick
10. Illyria, 1916, Boston
11. Progress, 1916-1920, New-York
12. Viosa, 1916, New York
13. Albanian Defense, 1916, St. Louis
14. Warrior of Justice, 1917, Boston
15. Morning Star, 1917-1920, Boston
16. Sazani, 1917-1918, Worcester
17. The Nativity, 1917, Framingham
18. Albania, 1918-1920, Chicago
19. Albania, 1918, Waterbury,
20. The Adriatic Review, 1918-1919
21. Albanian independence, 1918
22. Student, 1920, Springfield
23. Justice, 1920, Watertown
24. Truth, 1920-1923, St. Louis, Mo.
25. Independence, 1920-1921, New-York
26. The Student, 1921, Boston
27. Spark, 1921-1922, Watertown
28. The Albanian Journal, 1921-1923, Chicago,
29. Lighthouse, 1922, Worcester
30. National Desire, 1922-1923, Canton, Ohio
31. Protection of the Hearth, 1922, New Bedford,
32. Approach 1922-1925, New-York
33. New World, 1922-1923, Boston
34. Perch, 1923, Boston
35. Nation in Peril, 1923, Boston
36. Red Lantern, 1924-1925, Watertown
37. The Immigrant, 1925-1926, Worcester
38. The Idealist, 1926-1927, Boston
39. The Albanian Republic, 1926, Watertown
40. Literary Magazine, 1927, Watertown
41. Albania, 1921-1931-1933-1940, New York
42. Social News of Albanians in America, 1929-1930, Worcester
4.3 Melesini, 1930, Worcester
44. Justice, 1930-1931, Worcester
45. Republic, 1930-1933, Boston
46. Albanian Herald, 1934-1936, Worcester
47. The Liberator, 1934, Boston
48. The World, 1936-1939, Boston
49. Bulletin, 1938, Boston
50. Democracy, 1938, Boston
51. Light, 1940, Worcester
52. Albanian Freedom, 1940, Boston
53. Liberty, 1941, Boston