The St. Louis County Watchman-Advocate had the largest circulation of any St. Louis County newspaper. Its first issue appeared on 29 September 1881. According to the History of St. Louis County, it had “a corps of sixty correspondents covering every section of the county” and kept all apprised of items of “interest occurring in their neighborhood.” (p. 116) It was published every Friday in Clayton and was basically a small town newspaper with lovely articles of local interest, varying from marriages, deaths, stolen wagons, sprained ankles, picnics among friends, a mule’s death, etc. It was the official organ of the Republican Party and printed all the legal notices. Its title varied over time as the St. Louis County Watchman-Advocate, the Watchman, the Clayton Watchman-Advocate and the Watchman-Advocate.

The microfilm for this newspaper is located on Tier 4. Photocopies of these articles are available from Special Collections. This is a work-in-progress. Watch for additional years to be added.