St. Croix Avis Archive 

The St. Croix Avis began publication in 1844 under the direction of editor and publisher Richard Hatchett in Christiansted, St. Croix. It is a successor of The Royal Danish American Gazette, the first known newspaper published in the Virgin Islands. Richard Hatchett published the Avis until the 1860s, under the authority of the Danish West Indian Government. The first digitized issue confirms that on January 3, 1865 the newspaper was edited by Hans Hatchett, and that it "published every Tuesday and Friday for the proprietress." The masthead includes a printed note in Danish during this time: "Udgiver: Hans Hatchett–Trykt I Enken Harriet Hatchett's Bogtrykerri" ("Publisher: Hans Hatchett–Printed in the widow Harriet Hatchett's printing house").

Throughout its publication, the Avis was formatted into three columns and were typically four pages in length, with an occasional addition of a fifth or sixth "supplemental" page. From its inception until 1917, the Avis published a considerable amount of its content in Danish, indicative of the island's Danish-speaking population of the time. Common Danish-language sections included Bekendtgorelse (Announcement), Proklama (Proclamation), Auktion (Auction), and Ansaettelser (Appointments). The shift to a primarily English-language publication began after the US purchased the Virgin Islands from Denmark in 1917.

The St. Croix Avis reported on local weather and natural disasters. It frequently printed records of rainfall on the island. It covered hurricanes and their damage, not only as they occurred, but also on the anniversary of major events to acknowledge and observe past disasters and the damage left in their wake. Reports of natural disasters extended beyond the Virgin Islands and often included coverage of their impact throughout the Caribbean.

The content of the St. Croix Avis offers a critical reflection of its unique importance as the first newspaper of the United States Virgin Islands. The paper catered to, reflected, informed, and represented the interests of all the individual governing nations of the region and their territorial residents. Perspectives are many and varied: From the delightful excursion to library books recalled through newspaper announcements; employee disputes over termination causes; reports of the presence of yellow fever and cholera as they plagued the Caribbean and Latin America; and coverage of the imposition of property taxes with respect to "king" sugar.

The Avis' journalists often compared what was happening in the European governed territories regarding slavery on the island and its management. These comparisons often focused on the economic advantages used to justify slavery. The paper provides a rich diversity of reporting picked up from national and international correspondents and the Avis' own contacts in Cuba, Latin America, and Europe. These reports demonstrate the anxieties of residents; preoccupations with the economic and social condition in the U.S. mainland; and challenges in the territory.