Public History A Shared Conversation with the Past: HIST 3410: Primary Sources by era

Thanks to state libraries, special collections, museums, and historical societies, and also to genealogists and local history buffs, some newspaper content in the public domain that used to exist only on microform has been uploaded to the web and made available.

These are often, but not always, topically specific collections of articles rather than a chronological sequence of entire newspapers. 

Microform newspapers in library basements

The old fashioned and still incredibly useful way to get old newspapers is to go to a local library and look it up on microfilm or microfiche (slightly different kinds of microform machine.)

How does microform work?

These machines enlarge tiny scans of the original back to readable size, and you can usually print off pages. They are rarely indexed except for the title of the newspaper and the date. So you need to know what you're looking for or be prepared to skim a lot. 

How do I find what I'm looking for?

Search the web archives of newspapers with a long history for article titles, click them, and get the exact date to look for. Search on the web for newspaper title keywords year to get started. For example, New York Times shipping san francisco 1959. Only major national newspapers will be indexed online - smaller ones can't afford to do it.

Where do I go? 

• You can of course use any public library where you live, and once you've gotten a library card there, you can usually get an access card for other library systems in the region by asking at the circulation desk. 
• As Empire State University faculty, staff, or students, you are entitled to use any SUNY or New York state community college library. You will need your SUNY Empire photo ID. You can also call CUNY libraries to see what arrangements they require for you to use their facilities - usually they require confirming your identity and adding a barcode to your SUNY Empire photo ID. Many other academic libraries also allow community members to come in and use their resources on site.
• All New York State residents are entitled to use the New York State Library in Albany and branches of the New York Public Library in New York City - bring your driver's license or government photo ID.

Always call ahead if you want to use microform because the person who knows how to use the machine will have to set it up and instruct you.