Newspaper Archives

Newspaper archives can be a great resource for finding information about a person or an organization or business.

Here are some ways that newspaper archives can help you find out information about a person:

1. Obituaries: One of the most valuable sources of information in newspaper archives is obituaries. Obituaries often include biographical information about the deceased, including their birthdate, occupation, family members, and achievements. They can also provide other details about the person’s life.
2. Birth and marriage announcements: Newspaper archives may also contain birth and marriage announcements, which can provide important information about a person’s family history and relationships.
3. News articles: News articles can be a great source of information about a person, especially if they were involved in a newsworthy event or were a public figure. Even for non public figures, there are often news articles about high school and college events (sports, theater productions, graduations etc) which can provide important factual information about a person.
4. Classified Advertisements and Legal Notices: Newspaper archives may also contain classified advertisements and Legal Notices which can provide information about their occupation, interests, and lifestyle.
5. Opinion pieces: Opinion pieces, such as editorials or letters to the editor, can also provide insights into a person’s beliefs and values.

To find information about a person in newspaper archives, you can start by searching for their name, as well as any relevant keywords or dates. You may also want to try searching for the names of family members, as well as the places where the person lived or worked.

Here is a list of newspaper archives websites in the US:

1. Library of Congress – Chronicling America: This website provides access to over 16 million pages of historic newspapers from 1789-1963 from 48 states and the District of Columbia. It is free and open to the public.
2. NewspaperArchive.com: This website claims to have the world’s largest online newspaper archive with over 300 million pages of historical newspapers from the United States and around the world. It requires a subscription to access.
3. ProQuest Historical Newspapers: This database provides access to over 30 historical newspapers from major cities in the US, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Chicago Tribune. It requires a subscription to access.
4. GenealogyBank: This website provides access to over 7,000 historical newspapers from the United States, including obituaries, marriage and birth announcements, and other genealogical records. It requires a subscription to access.
5. Newspapers.com: This website provides access to over 19,000 historical newspapers from the United States and around the world. It requires a subscription to access.
6. The New York Times Archives: This website provides access to all articles published in The New York Times from 1851 to the present day. It requires a subscription to access.
7. Genealogy websites: Many genealogy websites, such as Ancestry.com and Findmypast, offer access to historical newspaper archives as part of their subscription services.
8. Library databases: Many libraries offer online access to newspaper archives through their databases. Check with your local library to see if they offer this service.
9. Newspaper websites: Some newspapers host their own online archives of their past issues. This may be a paid service, or it may be available for free.
10. Google News Archive: Google News Archive is an online database of historical newspapers, offering free access to millions of articles from a range of newspapers.