Historical News Sources

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Eric Novotny
Title: Acting Head Arts and Humanities

814-865-1014
Arts & Humanities Library

Databases

America's Historical Newspapers, 1690-1922 [Full Page Reproductiion]
- More than 1,000 U.S. historical newspapers published between 1690 and 1922, including titles from all 50 states
Accessible Archives [Text Content Only]
- Civil War newspapers (Charleston Mercury, New York Herald, and the Richmond Enquirer)
- African-American Newspapers
- Pennsylvania Gazette
- Pennsylvania Newspaper Record, Delaware County
Chronicling America (Library of Congress)
- America's historic newspapers pages from 1836-1922
- U.S. Newspaper Directory
- Information about American newspapers published between 1690-present
- Guide to using Chronicling America (Ohio Historical Society and the National Digital Newspaper Program in Ohio)
Google News Archive
- No longer being updated (effective 2011)
- Advanced News Search by keywords, date, language, source
- Free and fee based
- Contains:
  - Adams Centinel, Gettysburg, PA, November 19, 1800 - March 19, 1883 [incomplete]
  - Republican Compiler, Gettysburg, PA, September 16, 1818 - July 16, 1888 [incomplete]
  - Gettysburg Compiler, Gettysburg, PA, January 1, 1869 - December 26, 1953 [incomplete]
  - Star & Sentinal, Gettysburg, PA, June 12, 1867 - December 26, 1953 [incomplete]
  - Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, PA, July 18, 1819 - July 28, 1992 [incomplete]
  - Reading Eagle, Reading, PA, July 18, 1819 - July 28, 1992 [incomplete]
- Use citation information to search for newspapers in the Penn State System through NewsCAT
Nineteenth Century U.S. Newspapers (Gale) [Full Page Reproduction]
- Searchable by state and city
- Research Guides for selected topics
- Gale NewsVault is a front-end that allows researchers to search across several news and 19th century Gale databases at once
NewspaperArchive [Full Page Reproduction]
- Search Pennsylvania newspapers (other states not available through database)
- Primarily 19th and 20th centuries
- Many newspapers from small and medium-sized cities
- NewspaperArchive.com
  - Website offers free searching but content is fee based
  - Use citation information to search for newspapers in the Penn State System through NewsCAT
African-American
- Afro-Archives [Digital archives of Afro-American newspapers]
  - Includes:
  - Afro-American - National Edition
  - Afro-American Ledger
  - Baltimore Afro-American
  - Washington Afro-American
- African American Newspapers, 1827-1998 [Full Page Reproduction] (Readex)
  - More than 270 African American newspapers from 35 states
  - Includes Freedom's Journal, the first African American newspaper
- Black Historical Newspapers 1910-2002 [Full Page Reproduction]
  - Pittsburgh Courier, 1911-2002 [Full Page Reproduction]
  - Chicago Defender, 1910-1975 [Full Page Reproduction]
  - Philadelphia Tribune 1912-2001 [Full Page Reproduction]
Illinois
- Chicago Tribune Historical (1849-1986) [Full Page Reproduction]
  - Printing from Chicago Tribune Historical
New York
- New York Times Historical (available from 1851) [Full Page Reproduction]
  - Most recent four years not available
  - Printing from NYTimes Historical
- NYTimes.com Academic Passes
  - For Penn State Students ONLY
  - Content Included: 1851-1922 & 1987-Today
  - Access to 1923-1986, limited to 5 free articles / 24 hours
Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania Civil War Newspapers [Full Page Reproduction]
  - Words, photographs, and advertisements from selected newspapers published during the pivotal years before, during, and after the U.S. Civil War
- Pennsylvania Historic Newspapers (via PA State Library) [Full Page Reproduction]
  - Pennsylvania newspapers dating back to the early 1800s

Periodical Press

American Periodicals Series (1740-1900) [Full Page Reproduction]

American Periodicals from the Center for Research Libraries [Full Page Reproduction]

British Periodicals [Full Page Reproduction]

The Economist Historical Archive 1843-2003 [Full Page Reproduction]

Harpers's Weekly, 1857-1877 [Full Page Reproduction]

Periodicals Archive Online (1770-1995)

Reader's Guide Retrospective: 1890-1982 Provides indexing of general interest periodicals published in the United States and reflects the history of 20th century America

Newspapers at Penn State

To Locate Newspapers at PSU

Search The CAT. This works best if you know the name of the newspaper. Use the advanced search to limit your search to the Material Type: Newspapers.

Back files of hundreds of newspapers are available in the News & Microforms Library. The collection begins in the eighteenth century and includes many Pennsylvania publications.

Use NewsCAT to search for specific titles either alphabetically, by geography or by the time period published. This also includes microfilm collections in the University Libraries.

Black Abolitionist Papers, 1830-1865
- Approximately 14,000 letters, speeches, editorials, articles, sermons, essays and other documents written by antislavery movement activists
- For more information, consult Black Abolitionist Papers, 1830-1865 : A Guide to the Microfilm Edition
Black Literature, 1827-1940
- Contains fiction, poetry, book reviews, and literary notices
- Originally published in 900 Black periodicals and newspapers
Business and economic development (1975-1980)
- Consumer affairs (1975-1980)
- Education (1970-1980)
- Employment (1970-1972, 1975-1980)
- Environment (1970-1972, 1975-1980)
- Government (1970-1972, 1975-1980)
- Health (1970-1972, 1975-1980)
- Housing and urban renewal (1970-1972, 1975-1980)
- Law and order (1970-1972, 1975-1980)
- Minority economic development (1970-1972)
- Political development (1970-1972, 1975-1980)
- Race relations (1970-1972)
- Social relations (1975-1980)
- Transportation (1970-1972, 1975-1980)
- Urban News File (1973-1974, 1975[incomplete])
- Welfare and poverty (1970-1972, 1975-1980)
Early English Newspapers
- 17th and 18th century English newspapers makes available scarce and deteriorating texts that provide researchers insight into events that might be glossed over in a history book. [Gale Homepage]
- For more information consult Early English Newspapers: Bibliography and Guide to the Microfilm Collection
The Hampton University Peabody Newspaper Clipping File 1873-1940
- 789 microfiche of newspaper clippings concerning Afro-American history, politics, education, and culture, 1873-1940
- For more information consult the index listed on the CAT record
The Harbottle Dorr Collection of Annotated Massachusetts newspapers, 1765-1776
- 12 year archive from pre-Revolutionary Boston
- 3,280 pages of annotated newspapers, plus the appended documents and Dorr's own indexes to the four volumes he compiled." [UMI Research Collections - Massachusetts Historical Society Collections]
- For more information, consult the Index to Harbottle Dorr Collection of Annotated Massachusetts Newspapers (1765-1776)
Herstory
- Collection of women's newspapers, journals and other publications from the 1950s to the 1970s, assembled by the Women's History Research Center
- For more information, consult Guide to the Microfilm Edition of Herstory
Newsbank Urban Affairs Library
- Microfiche copies of newspaper articles from 150 U.S. newspapers on these topics
- Use the related Index to locate specific articles
The Right Wing Collection of the University of Iowa Libraries, 1918-1977
- Serials and ephemera covering the period 1918-1977 from right-wing collections at several universities [Library of Congress]
- The Right Wing Collection of the University of Iowa Libraries, 1918-1977: A Guide to the Microfilm Collection
Selection of Titles from the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
- Full-text of African-American newspapers, periodicals, and books that would be otherwise very difficult to obtain in their original editions
- One of the most significant primary resources for the serious study of African-American history in all of its aspects, with source materials on slavery, slave trade, race, abolitionism, social life, customs, and literature
- For more information, consult the indexes:
  - Selection of Titles from the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
  - Index to the Schomburg Clipping File
South Carolina Newspapers, 1732-1782
- South Carolina newspapers held by the Charleston Library Society
- For more information, consult the index listed in the CAT record
The Tuskegee Institute news clippings file [microform]
- Guide to the microfilm edition of the Tuskegee Institute news clippings file
Underground Newspaper Collection
- Includes more than 435 diverse titles, many from the alternative press movement of the 1960s
- Consult the guide to see which issues are on microfilm, Underground Newspaper Collection (microform) (index)
The Underground & Alternative Press in Britain (1974-1975)
- Contains alternative and underground newspapers
- For more information, consult index listed in the CAT record
Voices from Wartime France, 1939 -1945:
- Clandestine Resistance and Vichy Newspapers from the British Library at Colindale, London
- Offers the complete French holdings of the British Library Newspaper Library at Colindale, London
- For more information, consult Primary Source Media

Newspapers in Other Collections

American Newspapers, 1821-1936, A Union List of Files Available in the United States and Canada. Call # Z6945.A53, Arts and Humanities Ready Reference Collection, 2nd Floor Pattee

History and Bibliography of American Newspapers, 1690-1820. Call # Z6981.B56, Arts and Humanities Reference Collection, 2nd Floor Pattee

Newspapers in Microform (2 series, one for U.S. newspapers and one for foreign newspapers.). Call # Z6945.U5 N43, News and Microforms Library, Ground Floor, West Pattee

U.S. Newspaper Program: National Union List. Detailed holdings for newspapers in U.S. Libraries. Call # Z6945.U52, News and Microforms Library, Ground Floor, West Pattee

Catalog of the Newspaper Library (British Museum) Call # Z6945.B87, Arts and Humanities Reference Collection, 2nd Floor Pattee

Web Pages for Major Collections

Center for Research Libraries. Especially strong holdings in foreign newspapers
Library of Congress. Newspapers and Current Periodicals Reading Room
State Historical Society of Wisconsin. The 2nd largest collection of newspapers in the U.S. Includes strong Canadian holdings, as well as labor and ethnic history
American Antiquarian Society. Strong collection in early American newspapers
British Newspaper Library. An excellent source for U.K., European and newspapers from the former British colonies

Newspapers as Historical Sources

Many early newspapers were highly partisan and often affiliated with a political party. It is useful to know more about the newspaper you are reading to place the information in context.

American Journalism History: An Annotated Bibliography
Bibliographic essays listing sources on different periods in American history

Ayer Directory of Periodicals
Annual publication 1880-1982. For newspapers listed it provides circulation data, and political leanings
Call # Z6951.A97. Volumes are in the Annex

Encyclopedia of American Journalism
Essays on prominent individuals, and news publications
Call # PN 4855.P26 1983, Social Sciences Library, 2nd Floor Paterno

Encyclopedia of the British Press, 1422-1922
Brief entries on prominent news individuals and publications
Call # PN5114.E53 1992, Social Sciences Library, 2nd Floor Paterno

Newspapers: A Reference Guide
Contains a section on histories of specific newspapers
Call # Z6951.S35 1987, Arts and Humanities Reference Collection, 2nd Floor Pattee

Newspaper Indexes: A Location and Subject Guide for Researchers.
Call # Z6951.M635, Arts and Humanities Reference, 2nd Floor Pattee.

Newspapers by Category

U.S. Newspapers by Date

Chronological Tables of American Newspapers, 1690-1820
Call # PN4858.L38, Arts and Humanities Reference Collection, 2nd Floor Pattee

(1850) Catalogue of the Newspapers and Periodicals Published in the United States, showing the Town and County in Which the Same are Published, how Often Issued, Their Character, and Circulation, U.S. Census Area, Social Sciences Library, 2nd Floor Paterno

(1861) The American Newspaper Directory and Record of the Press: Containing an Accurate List of all the Newspapers, Magazines, Reviews, Periodicals, etc. in the United States & British Provinces of North America, also, AConcise General View of the Origin, Rise and Progress of Newspapers. Call # FILM D50 Reel 67 no. 5, News and Microforms Library, Ground Floor, West Pattee

(1884) History and Present Condition of the Newspaper and Periodical Press of the United States : with a Catalogue of the Publications of the Census Year. U.S. Census Area, Social Sciences Library, 2nd Floor Paterno

(1880 - 1982) Ayer Directory of Periodicals. Annual publication. Call # Z6951.A97. Volumes are in the Annex

N. W. Ayer & Son's American Newspaper Annual (Volumes from 1869-1919). Lists newspapers for the year by state. Includes information on political affiliation and circulation estimates

Newspapers by Specific Groups

African-American Newspapers and Periodicals: A National Bibliography. Call # PN4882.5.A367 1998. Arts and Humanities Reference Collection, 2nd Floor Pattee

Encyclopedic Directory of Ethnic Newspapers and Periodicals in the United States. Call # Z6953.5.A1W94 1976, Arts and Humanities Reference Collection, 2nd Floor Pattee

German-American Newspapers and Periodicals, 1732-1955: History and Bibliography. Call # Z6953.5.G3A7, Arts and Humanities Reference Collection, 2nd Floor Pattee.

Hispanic Periodicals in the United States: Origins to 1960: A Brief History and Comprehensive Bibliography. Call # Z6953.5 S66 K36 1999, Social Sciences Reference Collection, 2nd Floor Paterno

Native American Periodicals and Newspapers, 1828-1982: Bibliography, Publishing Record, and Holdings. Call # Z1209.2.U5D36 1984, Pattee Stacks Level 2

Union Catalogue of Arabic Serials and Newspapers in British Libraries. Call # Z6958.A6A93, Arts and Humanities Reference Collection, 2nd Floor, Pattee

Women's Periodicals and Newspapers from the 18th Century to 1981: a Union List of the Holdings of Madison, Wisconsin, Libraries. Call # Z7965.H3 1982, Pattee Stacks Level 2

Newspapers by Subject

From Radical Left to Extreme Right : Current Periodicals of Protest, Controversy, or Dissent--U.S.A. (1967). Call # Z7165.U5 M8, Pattee Stacks Level 2

History and Annotated Bibliography of American Religious Periodicals and Newspapers Established from 1730 through 1830 : with Library Locations and Microform Sources. Call # PN 4888.R4A43 1994, Arts and Humanities Reference Collection, 2nd Floor Pattee

The Immigrant Labor Press in North America, 1840s-1970s: an Annotated Bibliography. Call # Z6953.5.A1H63 1987, Pattee Stacks Level 2

Undergrounds: a Union List of Alternative Periodicals in Libraries of the United States and Canada. Call # Z6944.U5D3, Arts and Humanities Reference Collection, 2nd Floor Pattee