In the 1940s, the Pittsburgh Courier reached the height of its circulation. At its peak, the newspaper’s reach extended to 14 cities nationwide, employing more than 400 people.

Russell Washington had a front row seat in the glory days of the Courier. In his position on the business side of the company, working with the newspaper’s finances, he had a behind-the-scenes view of the paper’s rise and temporary demise.

A PIECE OF HISTORY—Russell Washington reflects on the 26 years he worked for the Pittsburgh Courier. (Photo by Rossano P. Stewart.)

“We had offices in Washington, D.C., Phila­delphia and New York City. We had contacts in other places around the country,” Washington said. “Everything was printed in Pittsburgh. We did all the printing. All of that was done by our own people.”

The past 100 years have been marked with literally thousands of events, critical dates, accomplishments, failures and historically significant acts by African-Americans. Historians often record and credit those closely associated with the known facts about an event. They frequently overlook the “root cause” of the event. This article is dedicated to the Pittsburgh Cou­rier newspaper first published in 1910 by a small band of African-American businessmen, clergy and leaders living in Pittsburgh.

MEMORIAL—A large memorial was held for Robert L. Vann on his death in 1940. Above: Courier editors and Mrs. Jessie Vann stand with various city, state and national figures behind a military honor guard.

One of the most popular sections of the Courier was the religion section and for many years the lead writer and editor of these pages was Rev. Bert H. Logan.

The late Rev. Logan was the man behind the Pittsburgh Courier’s religion pages during the 1950s and ’60s. He was a Baptist minister with a love for the Lord, people and his job.

COURIER LEADERS—Rev. Bert Logan, religious editor, right, back row, stands with other Pittsburgh Courier staff. Standing from left: Photographer Charles “Teenie” Harris, Managing Editor Frank Bolden and City Editor and writer Ralph Koger. Sitting, from left: writer and columnist Hazel Garland; writer John L. Clark and columnist and writer Willa Mae Rice.

“He was delighted to work as the religion editor for the Pittsburgh Courier because he had been in the religious field forever, so it was just fitting,” said his daughter, Sue Lockett. “He was the religious editor for a long time.”

Reverend Logan also covered religious news and events in the local and national Black communities. He often covered church conventions and even after his position as religious editor ended, he would appear as a guest columnist in the section.

When Jeron Grayson, 18, returned home from Hampton University over the weekend to visit family and friends, he told his father Rev. Glenn Grayson he wanted to take their church’s community center global. Later that weekend, on Oct. 17, he was killed at a post-homecoming party in an apartment near California University.

STRONG ATHLETE—Jeron Grayson was selected to the New Pittsburgh Courier All City Football Team. (Photo by J.L. Martello.)

“In many ways it’s as if God was preparing me for another level of the ministry. Now we have both sympathy and empathy,” said Rev. Grayson, pastor of Wesley Center AMEZ Church in the Hill District. “The only thing that’s holding us is our faith and even with that we go through the typical emotions of grief like questioning God. We believe and know he is with God.”