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19 th Century U.S. Newspapers Digital Archive.
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“Many people like newspapers, but few preserve them; yet the most interesting reading imaginable is a file of newspapers. It brings up the past age, with all its bustle and every day affairs, and marks its genius and its spirit more than the most labored description of the historian.”--Savannah Republican, Sept. 3, 1862, p. 2, c. 2.
What is the 19th Century U.S. NewspapersDigital Archive? • Approx. 500 U.S. newspapers, published between 1800 and 1900. • Total number of pages is over 1.7M. • Newspapers from throughout the United States, including many published in what were, at the time, only territories. • Papers were sourced from many institutions and historical societies throughout the U.S. • Built on the highly-regarded Times Digital Archive platform. • Will migrate to PowerSearch in 2007.
A Unique Collection of Sources • Syracuse University • Harvard University • Scholarly Resources Archives • North Carolina Office of Archives and History • Nebraska State Historical Society • Pennsylvania State Archives • Western Reserve Historical Society • Idaho Historical Society • Library of Congress • Wisconsin Historical Society • Mississippi Department of Archives and History • South Caroliniana Library • University of Georgia • Tennessee State Library and Archives • Kansas State Historical Society • Boston Public Library • Colorado Historical Society
Newspaper Selection Criteria • Most titles unique to this collection – minimal duplication with other online resources. • Selected for value to researchers and students. • Represents a broad geographic spectrum and comprehensive chronological coverage.
Why Researchers Want NCNP • Opens archives never before available. • Entire text searchable – actual page images displayed. • Compare regional coverage of news in 19th century. • Newspapers form a critical role in genealogical research.
Features and Benefits • Enables faster research • Unique resources at students’ and researchers’ fingertips • Creates the opportunity for improved class research assignments • More engaging—even fun—for patrons as they discover and use primary materials
Newspapers and Genealogy • Newspapers in the 19th Century were not just a record of the important or the famous, they contained many articles about the ordinary citizens in their audience. • Newspapers often noted the recent arrivals to or departures from their towns of ordinary persons, often publishing the names of those visitors staying in hotels and rooming houses. • Newspapers published birth notices, marriage announcements, official appointments, death notices and obituaries of the residents of their citizens. • Newspapers recorded land purchases, and the opening, closing or changes in ownership of local businesses.
Aids to Genealogical Research • Full-text searching allows the researcher to find any name on any page. • The “People” categories are tailor-made for locating information on individuals. • Search all of “People” or limit your search to: Birth Notices Death Notices Marriage Notices Obituary • Thomson Gale is developing a guide for genealogists which will be added to the database by the end of the year, with tips, tools and helpful information for those searching out their family’s history through newspapers.
Thousands of other ways to find genealogical information • Traveler’s Registers • Hotel Guestbooks • Court Proceedings • Crime Blotters (not everyone’s great granddad was an angel!) • Election campaigns • News of local regiment departures, returns and war casualties • Business news and trade • Real estate purchases • Arts and Entertainment news • “Goings on about town” columns • Subscriber lists of many newspapers • Many more!
