Guides
For more information on finding newspapers, please consult our Guide to Finding Newspapers:
Major Digital Collections of U.S. Newspapers
For the major metropolitan newspapers of the post-Civil War era, and especially the twentieth century, the best place to begin is:
- ProQuest Historical Newspapers
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Dozens of major metropolitan newspapers, like the New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, major African American newspapers like the Chicago Defender, and more. Especially strong coverage of the 20th century. Click here to see a complete list.
For pre-twentieth century American newspapers, the two best collections are:
- America's Historical NewspapersHundreds of titles, with especially strong coverage of the eighteenth- and nineteenth-centuries, but also strong coverage of the early twentieth-century. Includes the following sub-collections: Early American Newspapers, Series I through VII, X, XIII, and IV (1690-1922); Hispanic American Newspapers (1808-1980); African American Newspapers, Series I-II (1827-1998); Ethnic American Newspapers from the Balch Collection (1799-1977); and Caribbean Newspapers (1718-1876). Newspapers were primarily sourced from the American Antiquarian Society and the Center for Research Libraries. Part of the Archive of Americana.
- Nineteenth Century U.S. NewspapersHundreds of titles covering the entire continent, from both urban and rural communities, with substantive runs of some major nineteenth century newspapers like the New York Herald, the Cleveland Daily Herald, the Chicago Inter Ocean, the Milwaukee Sentinel, and the Rocky Mountain News. The new interface includes a term frequency graphing app, similar to Google’s NGram Viewer. (It’s difficult to assess the real value of this feature since the collection’s OCR text is hidden, and the page scan quality varies wildly from completely illegible to crisp, two-bit reproductions.) Click here to view a complete list. Part of Gale Primary Sources: Newspaper and Periodical Databases (formerly Gale NewsVault).
Western Europe: Digital Collections
- British Library NewspapersNewspapers from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, 1732-1950, with strongest coverage of the nineteenth-century. Especially valuable for its collection of provincial newspapers, many of which are here digitized through 1950. Click here to view a title list. Library has Part I: 1800-1900 (47 newspapers, including the Illustrated Police News, the Morning Chronicle, and the Graphic, as well as radical papers like the Northern Star, and the Examiner); Part II: 1800-1900 (22 newspapers, including the London London Standard and the Morning Post); Part III: 1741-1950 (35 newspapers, including the Leeds Intelligencer, the Hull Daily Mail, the Northampton Mercury, the Poor Law Unions’ Gazette, and the Westmoreland Gazette); and Part IV: 1732-1950 (23 newspapers including Stamford Mercury to what is possibly the oldest magazine in the world still in publication, the Scots Magazine, the 23 newspapers including the Aberdeen Journal and Dundee Courier). Part of Gale Primary Sources: Newspaper and Periodical Databases (formerly Gale NewsVault).
- Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century Burney Newspapers CollectionDigitized from the largest collection of English language, seventeenth and eighteenth century newspapers in the world. Newspapers mostly from British Isles, but includes titles from mainland Europe, India, North, and Caribbean. Part of Gale Primary Sources: Newspaper and Periodical Databases (formerly Gale NewsVault).
- Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century Nichols Newspapers CollectionPrimarily London newspapers, ca. 1672 to 1737. Complement's the Burney Collection. Part of Gale Primary Sources: Newspaper and Periodical Databases (formerly Gale NewsVault).
- Gallica: Les principaux quotidiensFrench newspapers from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
- ZEFYS: Historische Zeitungen-ZeitungsinformationssystemAlmost 200 German newspapers of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
- digiPress: Das Zeitungsportal der Bayerischen StaatsbibliothekDigitized newspapers from the Bavarian State Library.
- The Irish Newspaper ArchiveSubscription CANCELED. Currently comprises 33 newspapers covering 1763-present.
- Le Gazetier révolutionnaire: Ressources numériques sur la presse révolutionnaireDigital collection of French language newspapers published during the French Revolution.
- Le Gazetier universel: Ressources numériques sur la presse ancienneFederated collection of early modern French newspapers (pre-1789) drawn from over 30 newspaper digitization projects.
Western Europe: Major Titles (Digitized)
- The International Herald Tribune Historical Archive, 1887-2013What eventually became the international edition of the New York Times. Part of Gale Primary Sources: Newspaper and Periodical Databases (formerly Gale NewsVault).
- The Times Historical Archive, 1785-2011The Times of London. The Sunday Times available on a separate platform. Part of Gale Primary Sources: Newspaper and Periodical Databases (formerly Gale NewsVault).
- The Sunday Times Historical Archive, 1822-2006The Sunday edition of the London Times. The daily edition is available on a separate platform. Part of Gale Primary Sources: Newspaper and Periodical Databases (formerly Gale NewsVault).
- The Daily Mail Historical Archive, 1896-2016The London Daily Mail. Part of Gale Primary Sources: Newspaper and Periodical Databases (formerly Gale NewsVault).
- The Telegraph Historical Archive, 1855-2016The London Daily Telegraph. Part of Gale Primary Sources: Newspaper and Periodical Databases (formerly Gale NewsVault).
- The Financial Times Historical Archive, 1888-2010Part of Gale Primary Sources: Newspaper and Periodical Databases (formerly Gale NewsVault).
- The Illustrated London News Historical Archive, 1842-2003Part of Gale Primary Sources: Newspaper and Periodical Databases (formerly Gale NewsVault).
- ProQuest Historical ObserverThe London Observer, 1791-2003. Part of ProQuest Historical Newspapers.
- ProQuest Historical Guardian1821-2003. The Manchester Guardian. Part of ProQuest Historical Newspapers.
- The Independent Historical Archive, 1986-2016One of the few major British newspapers not to align itself with a political party. Part of Gale Primary Sources: Newspaper and Periodical Databases (formerly Gale NewsVault).
- ProQuest Historical Irish TimesDaily Irish Times, 1859-2022; and Weekly Irish Times, 1876-1958. Part of ProQuest Historical Newspapers.
- Neues Deutschland Archive, 1946-2017Neues Deutschland began publication in 1946 as the official newspaper of the East German Communist Party (Sozialistische Einheitspartei Deutschlands). Since the Wende, the newspaper has remained a socialist organ, even as its circulation has plummeted. Part of EastView Global Press Archive.
- ProQuest Historical Le Monde1944-2000. Part of ProQuest Historical Newspapers.
Western Europe: Microform Collections
- Pressearchiv zur Geschichte Deutschlands sowie zur internationalen Politik, 1949-1960 byCall Number: ILLISBN: 3598338503Publication Date: 19954,677 fiche.
Western Europe: Catalogs and Guides
- Dictionnaire des journaux, 1600-1789An exhaustively annotated bibliography of early modern French language newspapers.
- German-Language Newspaper Access in North AmericaUnion catalog of German language newspapers available in North American libraries (including digitized copies). Lists German language newspapers published anywhere in the world, with emphasis on Germany and United States.
- Newsplan: IrelandNewsplan was similar to the United States Newspaper Project in that its goal was to identify, catalog, and preserve newspapers across the United Kingdom and Ireland. Most projects produced union catalogs of each region's newspaper holdings.
- Newsplan: East Midlands and East Anglia (England)Newsplan was similar to the United States Newspaper Project in that its goal was to identify, catalog, and preserve newspapers across the United Kingdom and Ireland. Most projects produced union catalogs of each region's newspaper holdings.
- Newsplan: London and the South East (England)Newsplan was similar to the United States Newspaper Project in that its goal was to identify, catalog, and preserve newspapers across the United Kingdom and Ireland. Most projects produced union catalogs of each region's newspaper holdings.
- Newsplan: ScotlandNewsplan was similar to the United States Newspaper Project in that its goal was to identify, catalog, and preserve newspapers across the United Kingdom and Ireland. Most projects produced union catalogs of each region's newspaper holdings.
- Newsplan: South West (England)Not currently available. Newsplan was similar to the United States Newspaper Project in that its goal was to identify, catalog, and preserve newspapers across the United Kingdom and Ireland. Most projects produced union catalogs of each region's newspaper holdings.
- Newsplan: West Midlands (England)Not currently available. Newsplan was similar to the United States Newspaper Project in that its goal was to identify, catalog, and preserve newspapers across the United Kingdom and Ireland. Most projects produced union catalogs of each region's newspaper holdings.
- Newsplan: Yorkshire and Humberside (England)Not currently available. Newsplan was similar to the United States Newspaper Project in that its goal was to identify, catalog, and preserve newspapers across the United Kingdom and Ireland. Most projects produced union catalogs of each region's newspaper holdings.
- Waterloo Directory of English Periodicals and Newspapers, 1800-1900Detailed directory providing publication histories, title changes, editors, subject or political affiliation, and holding libraries. Updating database.
- ZDB: Zeitschriften DatenbankGerman union catalog of periodicals, including newspapers.
Eastern Europe: Digital Collections
- The Current Digest of the Russian Press Digital Archive, 1949-2011English-language translations of articles from the Soviet and Russian news media. Published in Columbus Ohio as a tool for teachers and researchers. Part of Eastview Central and Regional Russian Newspapers.
- Russian Central NewspapersPart of EastView.
- Newspapers of the North Caucasus, Abkhazia and South OssetiaPart of EastView.
- JPRESS: Historical Jewish PressJewish newspapers from around the world. Heaviest representation from Eastern Europe, Middle East, North Africa, and North America. Almost 400 titles so far.
Eastern Europe: Major Titles
- Pravda Digital ArchiveSt. Petersburg, Russia, 1919-2009.
- The Izvestiia Digital Archive, 1917-2010Began as the official newspaper of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. Part of Eastview Central and Regional Russian Newspapers.
- The Sovetskaia Kul’tura Digital Archive, 1929-2013Russian weekly newspaper. Published as: Rabochii i Iskusstvo (1929-1930); Sovetskoe Iskusstvo (1931-1941); Literatura i Iskusstvo (1942-1944); Sovetskoe Iskusstvo (1944-1952); Sovetskaia Kul'tura (1953-1991); and Kul'tura (1991-current). Part of Eastview Central and Regional Russian Newspapers.
- Neues Deutschland Archive, 1946-2017Neues Deutschland began publication in 1946 as the official newspaper of the East German Communist Party (Sozialistische Einheitspartei Deutschlands). Since the Wende, the newspaper has remained a socialist organ, even as its circulation has plummeted. Part of EastView Global Press Archive.
- Gudok Digital Archive, 1918-2019Part of East View.
Eastern Europe: Microform Collections
- Newspapers from the Russian Revolutionary Era byCall Number: FILM 057.1 NELibrary has reels 1-74: Journal de St. Pétersbourg / Journal de Pétrograd (classified separately under FILM 914.705 JNZ and FILM 914.705 JO); reels 75-91: Russkīi︠a︡ vi︠e︡domosti; reels 92-94: Krasnai︠a︡ gazeta (morning edition); reels 95-96: Krasnai︠a︡ gazeta (evening edition); reel 97: Nash vi︠e︡k; reels 98-100: Rusʹ; reels 101-103: Tovarishch; reels 104-105: Drug; reel 106: Nasha zhiznʹ; reel 107: Nasha zhiznʹ. Strana; reel 108:. Strana; reel 109: Dalʹnevostochnoe obozri︠e︡nīe. Dvadt︠s︡atyĭ vi︠e︡k; reels 110-118: Bi︠e︡dnota; reel 119: Birzhevyi︠a︡ vi︠e︡domosti; reel 120: Kooperativnoe di︠e︡lo; reels 121-125: Krasnoi︠a︡rskīĭ rabochiĭ; reels 126-133: Molot; reels 134-135: Petrogradskai︠a︡ pravda; reel 136: Prizyv; reels 137-139: Rabochiĭ kraĭ; reels 140-141: Vi︠e︡stnik vremennago pravitelʹstva; reels 142-143: Volna; reels 144-267: Novoe vremi︠a︡; reels 268-283: Moskovskīi︠a︡ vi︠e︡domosti; reel 409: Prozhektor; reel 410: Novyi Put; reels 411-412: Nasha Niva; reels 413-414: Odesskii Listok; reels 415-416: Delo Naroda; reels 416-417: Odeskiia Novosti; reel 418: Gromadski golos; reel 419: Astrakhanskii Listok; reel 420: Derevenskaia Kommuna, and Nasha Niwa; reel 421: Volia Truda; reel 422: Derevenskaia Pravda, and Nova Bukovina, and Vladivostok; reels 423-439: Zakaspiiskoe Obozrenie. For more titles consult microfilm guide.
Eastern Europe: Catalogs and Guides
- Slavic Reference Service Research GuidesThe Slavic Reference Service at University of Illinois Library is the definitive place to find information on all aspects of Eastern Europe and Eurasian bibliography, including newspapers. Research guides are organized by nation, and then by source type.
- Russian Newspapers at the Library of CongressCatalog of over 1,600 Russian newspapers, dating back to eighteenth century.
- Digitized Polish Historical NewspapersGuide to locating digitized Polish and Polish-American newspapers. Includes information about the state of newspaper digitization in Poland.
Asia: Digital Collections
- ProQuest Historical Chinese Newspapers12 English language, Chinese newspapers and periodicals: the Canton Times (1919-1920); the China Critic (1939-1940, 1946); the China Press (1925-1938); the Chinese Repository (1832-1851); Millard's Review of the Far East (1917-1953); the Missionary Recorder (1868-1940); the North-China Herald (1850-1941); the Peking Daily News (1914-1917); the Peking Gazette (1915-1917); the Peking Leader (1918-1919); the Shanghai Gazette (1919-1920); and the Shanghai Times (1914-1921).
- South Asian Newspapers (World Newspaper Archive)Currently includes nine newspapers from south Asia, covering late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Click here to view a complete title list for South Asian Newspapers (World Newspaper Archive). Part of the World Newspaper Archive.
- NewspaperSGAlmost fifty Singaporean and Malaysian newspapers, majority in English. Coverage is primarily late nineteenth century and early-to-mid twentieth century. Some issues (especially post-1989) are embargoed. Click here to view a complete list of titles in NewspaperSG.
Asia: Major Titles
- Japan Chronicle OnlineDaily ed. (1929-1940), Weekly ed. (1900-1941), and the Commercial Supplement (issued irregularly 1915-1941).
- Kabul Times Global Press ArchivePart of the digital collection, Afghan Central Press. Covers the years 1962-2023.
- ProQuest Historical Times of India1838-2008. Part of ProQuest Historical Newspapers.
Asia: Microform Collections
- China Coast NewspapersCall Number: FILM 079.51 C42Includes: Hong Kong News (1941-1945), Hong Kong Mercury and shipping gazette (1866), Daily advertiser (1871), Daily advertiser and shipping gazette (1872-1873), Hong Kong Times, Daily advertiser and shipping gazette (1873-1876), North China newspapers of the late Ch’ing period, Chinese Times, Tientsin (1886-1891), Peking and Tientsin Times (1894-1902), China Times, Peking (1901), Pekinger Deutsche Zeitung (1901), Chinese Public Opinion, Peking (1908-1909), Peking Daily News (1909), Peking Post (1909), Wei-hai-wei Lyre (1901), Wei-hai-wei gazette (1901), The Canton register and price current (1827-1833), Canton register (1843), Chinese courier and Canton gazette (1831-1833), The Canton Press (1835-1844).
Asia: Catalogs and Guides
- A Research Guide to China-Coast Newspapers, 1822-1911 byCall Number: 016.07951 K58RPublication Date: 1965Annotated bibliography of the newspapers, along with a history of China Coast newspapers, and a description of these newspapers as historical sources.
- Japanese Periodicals and Newspapers in Western Languages: An International Union List byCall Number: Q.011.340952 N923JISBN: 0720109345Publication Date: 1979
- Slavic Reference Service Research GuidesThe Slavic Reference Service at University of Illinois Library is the definitive place to find information on all aspects of Eastern Europe and Eurasian bibliography, including newspapers. Research guides are organized by nation, and then by source type.
- South Asian Newspapers at the Library of CongressLists newspapers from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Fiji, and Maldives, in all vernacular languages (including English). Organized by country. English language newspapers listed separately.
- Singapore National Library Newspapers on MicrofilmCatalog of the Singapore National Library's collection of newspapers on microfilm. Many reels have been digitized and are accessible through NewspaperSG.
Newspapers of the Middle East
Major Titles
- Al-Ahram Digital Archive, 1876-2014Prior to 1960 was widely regarded as one of the most important Arabic newspapers. Since 1960 it has been government-controlled. Part of East View Global Press Archive.
- Baghdad Observer Digital Archive, 1967-1996Official English-language newspaper of the Iraqi government.
- JPRESS: Historical Jewish PressJewish newspapers from around the world. Heaviest representation from Eastern Europe, Middle East, North Africa, and North America. Almost 400 titles so far.
- ProQuest Historical Jerusalem Post1932-2008. Part of ProQuest Historical Newspapers.
Newspapers of Africa
Digital Collections
- African Newspapers (World Newspaper Archive)Currently includes about 65 newspapers from Africa, covering late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Click here to view a complete title list for African Newspapers (World Newspaper Archive). Part of the World Newspaper Archive.
- JPRESS: Historical Jewish PressJewish newspapers from around the world. Heaviest representation from Eastern Europe, Middle East, North Africa, and North America. Almost 400 titles so far.
Major Titles
- Rand Daily MailThe Rand, South Africa Daily mail, 1902-1985.
- Die Transvaler Digital ArchiveSouth African daily newspaper, 1938-1987. Part of East View's Global Press Archive.
Americas (Non-U.S.): Digital Collections
- Latin American Newspapers (World Newspaper Archive)335 newspapers from twenty-two countries in nineteenth century and early twentieth century Latin America. The nineteenth century runs tend to be spotty, while twentieth century runs are nearer complete (and the collection contains no issues past 1923). Click here to view a complete title list for Latin American Newspapers (World Newspaper Archive). Part of World Newspaper Archive.
- Caribbean Newspapers, 1718-1876Series I features 81 newspapers from 22 countries: Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Grenada, Guadaloupe, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, Nevis, Puerto Rico, St. Bartholomew, St. Christopher, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Tobago, Trinidad, the Virgin Islands, and also Bermuda. All newspapers are in Western European languages: English, Spanish, French, and Danish. Digitized from the collections of the American Antiquarian Society. Click here to view a complete list of newspapers in Caribbean Newspapers. Part of America's Historical Newspapers.
Americas (Non-U.S.): Major Titles
- El Mercurio, 1914-1922The Santiago, Chile Mercurio. Part of Readex's World Newspaper Archive.
- ProQuest Historical Globe and Mail1844-2021. Toronto Globe and Mail. Part of ProQuest Historical Newspapers.
- ProQuest Historical Ottawa Citizen1865-2010. Includes the weekly edition for the years 1851-1865, and its preceding title, the Packet (1846-1851). Part of ProQuest Historical Newspapers.
- ProQuest Historical Toronto Star1894-2019. Part of ProQuest Historical Newspapers.
Americas (Non-U.S.): Microform Collections
- Revolutionary Mexico in Newspapers, 1900-1929Call Number: ILLGuide in HPNL. Microfilm quickly available from CRL.
- Latin American Anarchist and Labour Periodicals, 1880-1940 byCall Number: FILM 331.098 L3492Publication Date: 1999180 reels. See microfilm guide for more information. Click here to view a complete title list for Latin American Anarchist and Labour Periodicals, 1880-1940.
Americas (Non-U.S.): Catalogs and Guides
- Latin American & Caribbean: Research Guide: NewspapersGuide created by Library subject specialists on Latin America, the Caribbean, and Iberia. Emphasizes current newspapers, with some information on historical newspapers.
- NewspaperCat: Catalog of Digital Historical NewspapersCatalog digitized newspapers from the United States and Caribbean countries. Includes interactive map.