The Pennsylvania Packet, and the General Advertiser

The Pennsylvania Packet was a newspaper based out of Philadelphia from 1771 to 1839 (and Lancaster from 1777-1778), and became the first successful daily newspaper publication in America. Beginning in 1771 as a weekly newspaper named The Pennsylvania Packet, and General Advertiser by Philadelphia printer and proprietor John Dunlap, the newspaper underwent a number of changes in frequency and name: from Dunlap's Pennsylvania Packet, or, the General Advertiser (1773-1777), to The Pennsylvania Packet, and General Advertiser (1777-1783), and reverting to The Pennsylvania Packet, and General Advertiser (1783-1784). In 1778, the publication started to be issued bi-weekly, then tri-weekly the same year, later becoming daily in 1784 as The Pennsylvania Packet, and Daily Advertiser. David C. Claypoole, another Philadelphia printer, joined as a partner around 1780, and taking over the business by the next year. Dunlap would later rejoin as a partner. The September 19, 1787 issue is notable for printing the full United States Constitution, created two days prior to printing. In 1791, the phrase "Pennsylvania Packet" was removed from the title, and the newspaper went through a series of proprietors and name changes until being bought out at the end of 1839: Dunlap's American Daily Advertiser (1791-1793), Dunlap and Claypoole's American Daily Advertiser (1793-1795), Claypoole's American Daily Advertiser (1795-1800), and Poulson's American Daily Advertiser (after the paper was purchased by Zachariah Poulson, 1800-1839). George Washington's Farewell Address was first published in the September 21, 1796 issue.

The holdings of The Pennsylvania Packet at the State Library of Pennsylvania are not complete. The issues presented for the years digitized reflect the holdings of the library, and other issues may exist beyond these holdings.