19th Century U.S. Newspapers Digital Archive

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19th Century U.S. NewspapersDigital 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.
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What is the 19th Century U.S. Newspapers
Digital 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.

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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
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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.
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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.
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Features and Benefits
Enables faster research Unique resources at
students and researchers fingertips Creates the
opportunity for improved class research
assignments More engagingeven funfor patrons as
they discover and use primary materials
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Browse Issue by Issue
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Browse by Page by Page
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Signed Essays on 19th Century Topics and Events
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Headnotes
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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.

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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
  familys history through newspapers.

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• Birth notices 18,353 records

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• Marriage Notices 137,599 records

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• Death Notices 199,296 records

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• Obituaries 26,022 records

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Thousands of other ways to find genealogical
information

• Travelers Registers
• Hotel Guestbooks
• Court Proceedings
• Crime Blotters (not everyones 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!