The Local Officer began publication in August 1897 as an octavo monthly priced at 1d. It reported on the work of local Salvation Army corps and included articles giving advice for lay members of corps, known as ‘local officers.’
In 1907 the tabloid size Bandsman & Songster began publication as a 1d weekly newspaper covering all aspects of Salvation Army music, under the editorship of Staff-Captain Arthur R Goldsmith.
In 1909 this merged with The Local Officer to form The Bandsman, Songster and Local Officer, primarily aimed at members of The Salvation Army with a focus on news about bands and music.
In 1938 the title rebranded as The Musician of The Salvation Army which remained weekly with an increased price of 2d. In 1986 The Musician, now costing 20p a week, was replaced by the weekly Salvationist focused more on internal Salvation Army news and which remains in print.
For this newspaper, we have the following titles in, or planned for, our digital archive:
- 1897–1908 The Local officer. An Illustrated monthly magazine
- 1907–09 The Bandsman & Songster of the Salvation Army (London, England : 1907)
- 1909–13 The Bandsman, Songster, and Local Officer of the Salvation Army (London, England : 1909)
- 1913–24 The Bandsman, Local Officer and Songster of the Salvation Army (London, England : 1913)
- 1924–37 The Bandsman and Songster of the Salvation Army (London, England : 1924)
- 1938–85 The Musician of the Salvation Army
