Lietuvių žurnalistikos istorija Amerikos lietuvių darbuose (iki 1904 m.)
LTĮ lietuvių žurnalistikos istorijos tyrinėjimus dar ne ką įvesdinti Amerikos lietuvių autorių darbai, skelbti knygose, ypač tos šalies lietuvių periodikoje. Tuo tarpu jų straipsniai ar šiaip medžiaga tomis temomis iškėlė ir nušvietė svarbių mūsų periodikos istorijos reiškinių, leidinių, asmenybių. Kai kuriuos tos istorijos dalykus jie svarstė ar naujai interpretavo pirmieji. Šioje istoriografinėje informacijoje apibūdinami XIX a. pabaigoje - XX a. pradžioje (t. y. lietuvių spaudos draudimo laikais) Amerikos lietuvių periodikoje ir knygose pasirodę darbai daugiausia apie mūsų nacionalinės žurnalistikos pradžią ir pirmuosius leidinius. Tie įvairaus žanro raštai aprėpia ano meto lietuvių periodikos atšakas Mažojoje Lietuvoje ir Amerikoje.
ENA number of works by Lithuanian-American authors have as of yet neither been published in books nor included in the research of the history of Lithuanian journalism - especially the works which were found in American-Lithuanian periodicals. Nonetheless, these articles and other materials of the same nature shed light on what historical importance these Lithuanian periodicals had, revealing the actual publications as well as the people behind them. In some cases, it was the Lithuanian-Americans who were the first to consider, or newly interpret areas of the field (i.e. history of Lithuanian journalism). This historiographical article describes the works concerning the very beginnings of our national journalism (late 19th century - early 20th century) as well as the first publications which were found in the periodicals and books of the Lithuanian-American periodicals. (This was a time period when Lithuanian publications were banned in Russia.) The first translation of Lithuanian Minor Lithuanian newspapers were offered in the Lithuanian-American newspaper, "Gazieta lietuviška" ["The Lithuanian Gazette"], in 1879. In the paper, Mikalojus Akelaitis wrote that in the land of the Prussians (otherwise, what is known as Lithuania Minor) a few Lithuanian newspapers were being published, but according to Akelaitis, "desiring to become German, Lithuanians in Prussia, who in essence are true Lithuanians did not try to read such publications". Akelaitis began to evaluate Lithuanian newspapers based on their nationalistic perspective (i.e. their Lithuanianess or the spirit of the nation). Already in 1885, an attempt was made in the paper of the US publisher, Jonas Šliūpas, "Lietuviškasis balsas" ["The Lithuanian Voice"] to join Lithuanians publications into one mutual context and tradition.In the edited article, "Mūsų kelias" ["Our Way"] of "Lietuviškasis balsas's" first issue, the American periodical had worked its way into a national - and even international - context and surroundings. This is by far the first publication in our historiography to attempt to show our national periodicals on a wider historical perspective. J. Šliūpas here describes the appearance of the first newspapers of the press and writings, their characteristics, and the historical conditions behind them. Traditional journalistic ties between the periodicals of Lithuania Minor and America were discussed in Kazimieras Valaitis's article entitled "Laikraščiai lietuviški" ["Lithuanian Newspapers"] in 1887. At that time, Valaitis, a student of Detroit's seminary school, wrote for "Vienybės lietuvininkų" ["Of Unity for Lithuanians"]. The article told of newspapers from both sides. Among those eleven mentioned are those in Lithuania Minor, such as "Lietuviška ceitunga" ["The Lithuanian Zeitung"], "Tilžės keleivis" ["Tilsit's Traveler"], and "Keleivis" ["Traveler"]. For the first time in a Lithuanian-American periodical, the article touches upon the question of the beginnings of Lithuanian national journalism. The sources of Lithuanian periodicals as well as its very beginnings are broadly discussed and specifics given in J. Šliūpas's book, "Lietuviškieji raštai ir raštininkai" ["Lithuanian Writings and Writers"] (1891). It is well understood that Lithuanian-American authors and their publications were the first who focused their interests on the history of their own periodicals, which had started with "Gazieta lietuviška" in 1879. The prospectus of "Unijos" ["Unions"] newspaper was already mentioned in 1884.From it very reception, the first Lithuanian-American newspaper, "Gazieta lietuviška", was critiqued harshly - as pro-Polish publication of little worth and as having little influence when it was introduced in "Vienybės lietuvininkų" in 1893. Around 1891, there were other interpretations concerning "Gazieta lietuviška". They looked at the conditions and surroundings in which the publication appeared and thrived: when reviewing the newspaper, "it behooves one not to forget that it the paper ran when the 'Lithuanian question' was not clearly presented in Lithuania itself". These historiographical jottings bring some - albeit limited - attention the published works of Lithuanian-Americans as well as some areas of the history of Lithuanian journalism. This should show that the role of these authors and their works on journalism's past are in need of being researched.
