Looking for Clues in Yesterday’s News

Newspapers have been published in the United States for almost 300 years and are important tools in researching family trees because they are filled with historical and genealogical accounts of our families. Although today many abstracts and indexes to newspapers are published, chances are no one has abstracted from the papers you need.

Poring over newspapers is a time-consuming project. Some of my earliest research involved reading 1890s Indian Territory newspapers, wherein I discovered mention of a great-grandfather, including the fact he served as a juror on a juicy, sex-scandal case. I must confess there was more than genealogical curiosity in that scandalous “white slavery/sex” trial story.

In newspapers can be found birth, death, divorce, marriage and anniversary notices. Obituaries usually contain valuable information about ancestors. If your grandparents or great-grandparents lived to an old age and celebrated wedding anniversaries, the local paper probably published an item in the social or social section. Family reunions were often written up, too, and those articles included the names of spouses, children and places of residence. It’s possible they could provide the names of some family members you otherwise would be unaware of.

Ads in old newspapers might have items about your ancestors’ professional activities or membership in fraternal organizations, churches and political party activities.

Locating old newspapers is not easy, but worth the effort especially if your ancestors lived in small towns. For current American newspapers and those published since 1936, consult Ayer’s Directory of Publications or Editor & Publisher’s Yearbook. These directories, available at most public libraries, are arranged alphabetically by state and then by town and give the name and address of the newspaper.

For dates from 1821 to 1936 use “American Newspapers, 1821-1926: A Union List of Files Available in the United States and Canada” by Winifred Gregory. From 1689 to 1820, consult “History and Bibliography of American Newspapers” by Clarence S. Brigham.

“Newspapers in Microform,” published by the Library of Congress, is invaluable. It will tell you what is available on microform--and locations.

Once you learn a newspaper was published in the locale where and when your ancestors lived, you can write to state libraries or state historical societies. These repositories can tell you if copies of that newspaper exist and where they are located.

Union lists of newspapers for most states are available. They provide detailed information on specific libraries, historical societies, newspaper offices and private collections.