The Baltimore News American traditionally traced its line of descent to the colonial era newspaper, The Maryland Journal and the Baltimore Advertiser - an enterprise associated with the brother/sister printers, William and Mary Katherine Goddard. Though it is not clear that the newspaper could trace an unbroken line of descent as far back as they claimed, it is true that, despite frequent name changes, mergers and changes in ownership that were the rule in the newspaper business. There were at least 26 different titles for the paper in its 213-year history.

The News American could definitively trace its lineage to editor Alex Martin's American and Commercial Daily Advertiser, which Martin began printing in 1799 on the presses he had purchased from the The Maryland Journal and the Baltimore Advertiser. The final title, News American, reflects the two main stems in its lineage. For a comprehensive listing of the location of Maryland newspapers, search the Maryland State Archive's Guide to Maryland Newspapers.

The first publication office of The Maryland Journal and Baltimore Advertiser, which was located on Market (Baltimore) Street, a few doors from South Lane (South Street). George Washington was a big advertiser in the first issue of the newspaper on August 30, 1773.

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