Online Historical Newspapers at the Library - Accessible Archives

(Updated October, 2017)

Many family history and genealogy researchers who are used to searching for articles about our ancestors in old newspapers have gotten spoiled with the increasingly robust online collections that are available for free.  

But did you know that there are other quite large collections that are available via your local library or a library that may require a little bit more drive time?

One example of such a service is Accessible Archives. They have many titles that are searchable, depending on the subscription that your library has invested in. ​

Check out their availability at your local library, state or county library, or at a college or university near you to see if Accessible Archives is available.  You will be glad that you checked out these resources that are free if accessed at a library..

Please be aware that one can obtain a subscription for personal use, but it is not free.

Here are some examples of what they have available with a link to find out the exact titles that are in each collection:
​
African American Newspapers

• The Christian Recorder (1861–1902)
• The Colored American (1837–1841)
• Frederick Douglass’ Paper (1851–1855; 1859–1863)
• Freedom’s Journal (1827–1829)
• The National Era (1847–1860)
• The North Star (1847–1851)
• Provincial Freeman (1854–1857)
• Weekly Advocate (1837–1837)
• The Freedmen’s Record (1865-1874)
• The Negro Business League Herald (1909)

America and World War I: American Military Camp Newspapers (38 newspapers)

American County Histories

• Central
• Mid-Atlantic – Parts 1 and 2
• Midwest
• New England – Parts 1 and 2
• The Southeast
• The Southwest
• The West
• Complete County List by State

The Civil War

• Part I: A Newspaper Perspective
• Part II: The Soldiers’ Perspective
• Part III: The Generals’ Perspective
• Part IV: A Midwestern Perspective
• Part V: Iowa’s Perspective
• Part VI: Northeast Regimental Histories
• Part VII: Abraham Lincoln Library Abolitionist Books

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Women’s Suffrage Collection

• The Lily. 1849-1856
• National Citizen and Ballot Box. 1878-1881
• The Revolution. 1868-1872
• The New Citizen. 1909-1912
• The Western Women Voter. 1911-1913
• The Remonstrance. 1890-1913

Frank Leslie’s Weekly
Godey’s Lady’s Book
The Liberator
History of Woman Suffrage
National Anti-Slavery Standard
The Pennsylvania Gazette
The Pennsylvania Genealogical Catalogue
The Pennsylvania Newspaper Record:  Delaware County
The Revolution
Scenes in the Life of Harriet Tubman
South Carolina Newspapers
Twelve Years A Slave
The Virginia Gazette


You can view the titles at: http://www.accessible-archives.com/collections/#ixzz3y0WT9KOM

If you have a library card you might just be able to login and search from home.

Newspapers are being digitized at an increasing rate, so search the free sites online, invest in a subscription as well, but for sure - do not forget the old standby - your library.

Good luck and happy hunting!

For more free online (not library based) links for different states, provinces, and countries - please see the Newspapers! page on this website.

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