 First page of the first issue: January 1, 1828 | |
| Editor | John Neal |
|---|---|
| Categories | Literature, gymnastics, New England, England, art, theater, politics, utilitarianism, women's rights |
| Frequency | Weekly (January 1, 1828 – July 3, 1829) Monthly (July–December 1829) |
| Founder | John Neal |
| First issue | January 1, 1828 |
| Final issue | December 1829 |
| Based in | Portland, Maine, US |
The Yankee (later retitled The Yankee and Boston Literary Gazette) was one of the first cultural publications in the United States, founded and edited by John Neal (1793–1876), and published in Portland, Maine as a weekly periodical and later converted to a longer, monthly format. Its two-year run concluded at the end of 1829. The magazine is considered unique for its independent journalism at the time.
Neal used creative control of the magazine to improve his social status, help establish the American gymnastics movement, cover national politics, and critique American literature, art, theater, and social issues. Essays by Neal on American art and theater anticipated major changes and movements in those fields realized in the following decades. Conflicting opinions published in The Yankee on the cultural identity of Maine and New England presented readers with a complex portrait of the region.
Many new, predominantly female, writers and editors started their careers with contributions and criticism of their work published in The Yankee, including many who are familiar to modern readers. The articles on women's rights and early feminist ideas affirmed intellectual equality between men and women and demanded political and economic rights for women.