Frank L. Stanley Sr. bought Sengstacke's share in 1936, and published the paper for the next 37 years.[2] By 1942, the newspaper had reached its target circulation of 15,000.[3] The paper became profitable after purchasing its own printing press in 1956.[3] Circulation dipped in 1953 when it became a tabloid, and dropped to 10,000 in the 1960s when other major newspapers started hiring African Americans to cover civil right issues in their papers.[4]
Stanley's column, "Being Frank", became nationally syndicated in the 1940s.[2] During the 1950s the paper covered issues related to integrated public accommodation, and in the 1950s and 1960s it covered open housing, equal job opportunities, and desegregated schools.[4]
After Stanley's death in 1974, his wife and sons became co-publishers. Circulation dropped to 2,600 weekly by 1985, and the family sold its ownership to Consumer Communications Industries Corporation headed by Clarence Leslie.[4] As of 2020[update], weekly circulation was listed as 1,115.[1]
Photography
Bud Dorsey was a full-time photographer for the Defender for more than 20 years when he retired in 2002.[5][6]