I am currently researching a colonial ancestor and have discovered a... service? I'm not even sure what exactly it is. But it has a bunch of different newspaper databases. It's called ReadEx. Found at university libraries and I have access to a different database if I go to my State Library (not convenient). But, I've heard of 3 different databases (2 at local university), one at state library, which I hope to help me find some relevant articles. Being a local resident, I have limited access to computer use in person.
Also, I do have a state library card, so I have access to different databases and services (in general, not just newspapers) I wouldn't otherwise have from home. But, as I say, some of their things are restricted to their facility only. And I get access to things from their website I can't get from my local library, as well. Overall, the state library card is worth getting. Free to all residents in the state.
As others have already mentioned Trove and Papers Past for Australia and New Zealand are free. We can also access free newspapers through eResources in the National Library of Australia website. Obviously not all newspapers have been digitised, but a lot of the older ones have.
Great info. I subscribe to Newspapers.com and on MyHeritage I like when they list the Old News because it usually gives enough info that I can find it elsewhere. I have also subscribed to Genealogy Bank and had often found articles there that I couldn't find on newspapers.com. So what exactly are they saying you can't do with their information? If I put an image on my post and give them credit, I can or can't do that? I gave up my subscription with them last year but they are really trying to lure me back in with a great offer!! Thanks for the info.
You can use the image in your personal research, but you can't republish the image for public distribution. In other words, you can't put it out on the web for all the world to see.
I use British newspapers via FMP as I have the top subscription. For Canada, I use provincial resources where small-town newspapers have been digitized and uploaded for free. Just a clarification, though - the British Newspaper Archive isn't free. It does allow you to download 3 pages for free when you first join, but that's it. Otherwise, it's a subscription site, owned by FindMyPast.
When Newspapers.com used to do free weekends, I'd devote several hours to getting what I could as I find the cost too high given the number of American and Canadian relatives I have vs British and Polish ones. I never found its collections for non-North American countries to be overly helpful. At some point I'll have to do a one month sub to grab what I can, but there's no way I can afford a subscription to it as well.
I have also had success writing to local historical societies and asking for copies, or ordering them via Interlibrary Loan through my public library.
Great article, Deborah! Another great hint is to check state archives, university libraries and even other state's newspaper projects. Just like manuscripts, you never know where a set of historic newspapers is going to end up! And ask a librarian, they may know where there are microfilmed newspapers that are hiding in the back! And once in a while, you get lucky and a newspaper in a surrounding area had a slow news day, and they will have republished articles from other papers, too! :) The struggle is real, but sometimes the searching makes it that much more fun when you find one.
Ugh. The cost and frustration of accessing newspaper archives is real. My best resource has been the Minnesota Newspaper Hub (MNHS website) for finding small town and weekly newspapers. Not every newspaper has yet been digitized, but the ongoing efforts to do so make it the best free source I have found.
- The Portal to Texas History - digitized newspapers from across the state, digitized by the University of North Texas. https://texashistory.unt.edu/
- The Gateway to Oklahoma History - digitized newspapers from across Oklahoma, also digitized by the folks at the University of North Texas https://gateway.okhistory.org/
I am currently researching a colonial ancestor and have discovered a... service? I'm not even sure what exactly it is. But it has a bunch of different newspaper databases. It's called ReadEx. Found at university libraries and I have access to a different database if I go to my State Library (not convenient). But, I've heard of 3 different databases (2 at local university), one at state library, which I hope to help me find some relevant articles. Being a local resident, I have limited access to computer use in person.
Also, I do have a state library card, so I have access to different databases and services (in general, not just newspapers) I wouldn't otherwise have from home. But, as I say, some of their things are restricted to their facility only. And I get access to things from their website I can't get from my local library, as well. Overall, the state library card is worth getting. Free to all residents in the state.
As others have already mentioned Trove and Papers Past for Australia and New Zealand are free. We can also access free newspapers through eResources in the National Library of Australia website. Obviously not all newspapers have been digitised, but a lot of the older ones have.
Great information thanks Deb. I have a British Newspaper Archive subscription and love that Trove in Australia is free
Great info. I subscribe to Newspapers.com and on MyHeritage I like when they list the Old News because it usually gives enough info that I can find it elsewhere. I have also subscribed to Genealogy Bank and had often found articles there that I couldn't find on newspapers.com. So what exactly are they saying you can't do with their information? If I put an image on my post and give them credit, I can or can't do that? I gave up my subscription with them last year but they are really trying to lure me back in with a great offer!! Thanks for the info.
You can use the image in your personal research, but you can't republish the image for public distribution. In other words, you can't put it out on the web for all the world to see.
Thanks for the round up. Both Australia and New Zealand have free access to older newspapers. Australia https://trove.nla.gov.au NZ https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/ and many European ones here https://www.europeana.eu/en/themes/newspapers
Ditto. I was about to jump on and say the same thing!
Wonderful round-up of newspaper sources!!
I use British newspapers via FMP as I have the top subscription. For Canada, I use provincial resources where small-town newspapers have been digitized and uploaded for free. Just a clarification, though - the British Newspaper Archive isn't free. It does allow you to download 3 pages for free when you first join, but that's it. Otherwise, it's a subscription site, owned by FindMyPast.
When Newspapers.com used to do free weekends, I'd devote several hours to getting what I could as I find the cost too high given the number of American and Canadian relatives I have vs British and Polish ones. I never found its collections for non-North American countries to be overly helpful. At some point I'll have to do a one month sub to grab what I can, but there's no way I can afford a subscription to it as well.
I have also had success writing to local historical societies and asking for copies, or ordering them via Interlibrary Loan through my public library.
Thank you for the clarification on the British Newspaper Archive.
Would that it were free!! I love using historical newspapers for my research - I've found so much useful information.
Great article, Deborah! Another great hint is to check state archives, university libraries and even other state's newspaper projects. Just like manuscripts, you never know where a set of historic newspapers is going to end up! And ask a librarian, they may know where there are microfilmed newspapers that are hiding in the back! And once in a while, you get lucky and a newspaper in a surrounding area had a slow news day, and they will have republished articles from other papers, too! :) The struggle is real, but sometimes the searching makes it that much more fun when you find one.
Ugh. The cost and frustration of accessing newspaper archives is real. My best resource has been the Minnesota Newspaper Hub (MNHS website) for finding small town and weekly newspapers. Not every newspaper has yet been digitized, but the ongoing efforts to do so make it the best free source I have found.
I use these three website quite frequently:
- The Ancestor Hunt - Primarily U.S. newspapers, but I've also used for Canadian newspapers. There are even European and World categories. Newspaper Links: https://theancestorhunt.com/newspaper-research-links.html
- The Portal to Texas History - digitized newspapers from across the state, digitized by the University of North Texas. https://texashistory.unt.edu/
- The Gateway to Oklahoma History - digitized newspapers from across Oklahoma, also digitized by the folks at the University of North Texas https://gateway.okhistory.org/