ACPL Celebrates Fort Wayne’s Spanish-Language Newspaper El Mexicano with New Community Album

The Allen County Public Library (ACPL) announces the addition of a new Community Album collection celebrating the impact and history of Fort Wayne’s Spanish-language newspaper El Mexicano and the community it serves. This digital collection highlights an essential voice in Allen County history and the legacy of Fernando Zapari, founder and publisher of El Mexicano. 

The ACPL Community Album is an ongoing digital archiving and access project led by the Library’s Special Collections department. It provides free public access to historically significant photographs, publications, documents, and stories that reflect the people and communities of Allen County. Through partnerships with individuals and organizations, the Community Album works to ensure local history is preserved and accessible to all. 

Founded by Fernando Zapari in 1994, El Mexicano serves as a vital source of news, information, and connection for Fort Wayne’s Spanish-speaking residents. The newspaper documents community events, local issues, cultural celebrations, and everyday life, offering an important perspective often underrepresented in historical records. The new digital collection makes available issues of the newspaper, allowing users to explore this history online. 

“El Mexicano is a remarkable, richly illustrated and informative newspaper. In its pages one finds the voices of the Latino community—it represents the best in how a local community paper can inform, unite, and empower,” said Curt Witcher, Director of Special Collections at ACPL. “Fernando Zapari’s work creates a lasting record of the experiences, concerns, and accomplishments of Fort Wayne’s Spanish-speaking community. Preserving and sharing this collection celebrates those voices and ensures they remain an essential part of our collective history.” 

The El Mexicano Community Album can be explored online at www.acpl.info/elmexicano and includes digitized issues from 2010-19. More issues will be added in the months and years to come. 

The Community Album includes a range of collections from individuals and organizations such as the Bill Blass Archive, the German Heritage Society Collection, and the Williams-Woodland Park Neighborhood Collection. Those interested in contributing materials or learning more about the Community Album are encouraged to contact the ACPL’s Special Collections department at 260-421-1225.