Research Guides: Newspapers in Genealogy and Local History Research: Access

Access

Tens of thousands of newspapers have been published in the United States. Many are available in digital databases in partial or full-run date ranges.

Start with the largest and most popular databases at the library:

Newspapers.com

300 million + pages
11,000 titles
U.S. | U.K.
From Home w/ NYPL Card
Browse by date / locale

ProQuest Historical Newspapers

Early-Mid 20th century U.S.
EX: NY Times (1851 - Current)
Daily News (1920 - 1987 / 1997 - Current)
Asbury Park Press (1974-2011)
Chicago Tribune (1849-1990)
Los Angeles Times (1881-1988)
Louisville Courier Journal (1830-1922)
Era: ProQuest Civil War Era (1840-1865)
Race: Historical African American Newspapers
Ethnicity: Chinese Newspapers Collection (1832-1953)

America's Historical Newspapers

Sort by Locale and Date Range
18th and 19th Century
Colonial and Early America
U.S. States | Mexico | Caribbean

In particular, researchers can search the NYPL databases homepage for specific newspaper titles:

Go to Articles and Databases.
In the right sidebar, click "Scholarly Journals" (this is misleading: the link opens to the search page for ALL serial publications).
Click "Full-text Journals and Scholarly E-Books (on-site in the Library)" or "(from Home)," depending in your type of access.
In the top left dropdown menu, select "title contains all words," which expands the searchability of your search terms.
Type in the name of the newspaper - if there is digital access, the results page will indicate the database and the available date range.

For New York City newspapers, see our Guide to New York City Newspapers at New York Public Library.

Fulton History

50+ million pages
1700s - 1980s
Metro Region / Mid-Atlantic

Center for Brooklyn History

Brooklyn Public Library + Brooklyn Historical Society
30 Brooklyn newspapers
Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Long Island Star - first Long Island newspaper (when Queens and Brooklyn were part of "Long Island"). This title is only available onsite at the Brooklyn Public Library.

NYS Historic Newspapers

By County
7.5 million+ pages

Library of Congress

Chronicling America
1789-1943
46 U.S. States + Puerto Rico

Major NYC Publications

New York Post
Village Voice
NY World-Telegram (1931-1950)
UNINDEXED

NYC Neighborhood Publications

Manhattan East (1963-1983)
East Village Eye (1979-1986)
Co-op City Times (1969-1987)
Gotham Life (1906-1949)

Back when historic newspapers were only accessible in print and on microfilm, the point of entry was nonexistent unless you knew the ballpark date of a specific article you were trying to find. As a result, print indexes have been created for different newspapers and arranged according to broad searchability, or a specific type of information. Not all newspapers are indexed, with the exception of The New York Times, newspapers do not typically create their own index.

The internet has not made these indexes obsolete: inaccurate character recognition, weak search algorithms, and other technical issues sometimes make it easier to search these indexes as an alternative to the databases.

Genealogical Data

Names
Subject
Type (marriage announcements, ethnicities, etc.)
Vital Records (see the "Print Indexes" section under "Alternative Vital Records")

Examples

New York Times Index
Blacks in Selected Newspapers, Censuses and Other Sources: An Index to Names and Subjects
Genealogical Data from Colonial New York Newspapers

Locate a specific title in our print or microfilm collections by browsing the NYPL research catalog by journal or newspaper title - select "Journal Title" in the dropdown.

These PDF spreadsheets provide comprehensive lists of microfilm newspaper holdings by geography:

New York City newspapers
United States newspapers
International newspapers listed by country or by title.

And use these subject headings to browse the catalog:

Accessibility for Print Disabilities

For researchers with print disabilities, the Library has resources and services available upon request. The following services are available:

Digitization of Select Research Materials

Researchers who are homebound or have a print disability or visual impairment can explore many of our research collections online and request digitization of specific items of interest. To request the digitization service, email accessibility@nypl.org. Please note that you must be a patron of the Andrew Heiskell Library. This digitization service only includes material belonging to the research collections and does not apply to branch/circulating collections.

Screen Readers and Enlargers

Every public PC at all New York Public Library locations is equipped with JAWS, ZoomText, and Fusion softwares.

Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library

The Andrew Heiskell Library offers popular reading materials in accessible audio and braille formats, as well as free membership to the Bookshare database of over one million accessible texts. It also offers individual coaching and a large variety of group workshops on topics related to accessible technology. Check the listings on our website, call 212-206-5400, or email talkingbooks@nypl.org for details. It also hosts many networking groups, resource fairs, writing workshops, accessible art workshops, book clubs, and other events. All are listed in the quarterly newsletter, available by email, website (text or audio), or over the phone.

For more information, see the Accessibility at NYPL page.