Orange Standard Archives

Welcome to the archives of the Orange Standard Newspaper.

In June 1972 it was agreed at the Grand Lodge that efforts would be made that Autumn to explore the prospect of introducing an official Orange publication for not only the membership but also the general public.

In January 1973 the Orange Standard was launched, with key figures involved in its formation and production including Rev. Canon Dr. S. E. Long and the late Dougie Sloan, a County Armagh newspaper editor. The paper cost five pence per edition and was printed on the second Friday of each month.

Distribution took place across Northern Ireland.

The Orange Standard has evolved during the 40 years of continuous production and previous editors have included the late Dougie Sloan, Billy Kennedy and Dr. David Hume.

The publication has, over the years, evolved into a newspaper which provides comment, news from around the lodges, world Orange news, leisure pages, historical articles and profiles of members of the Institution.

Originally a print publication, the Orange Standard is now a digital publication and has more than 5,500 subscribers who receive the paper by email on a monthly basis

This archive will initially chronicle editions of the paper from January 1973 through to December 1989. However, it is anticipated that the entire archive through to 2020 should be available in the coming months.

This digital archive has been made possible through funding provided by the Covid Recovery Programme for Heritage, Department for Communities and administered by The Heritage Fund in Northern Ireland.

To access the decade you wish to view, simply click on the icon below.