Newspapers provide
a wide range of information about society. The news that is reported
in newspapers has changed over time. In the latter part of the eighteenth
century, a newspaper's main function was to report news that was happening
at a distance. Therefore, in addition to local news, you will find excerpts
of articles and reports from newspapers in other regions of the country
and the world. Most early newspapers are on microfilm and are available
in public libraries and college libraries throughout the country.
Using the research
tools listed below, you will be able to locate the titles of newspapers
published in any state or town in America. Once you have the titles,
you can ask a Reference Librarian for assistance in locating actual
copies of the newspaper on microfilm.
Chronological
Tables:
Chronological
Tables of American Newspapers, 1690-1820
Chronological
Tables of American Newspapers will assist you in locating the names
and existence of newspapers in America from 1690-1820. This is useful
if you are doing research in a specific time period and want to see
what newspaper existed in a particular region of the country. Once you
locate a list of newspapers, you can then use the other sources below
to determine the scope of the paper, its character and the availability
of copies on microfilm.
Bibliographies
and Histories:
History
and Bibliography of American Newspapers 1690-1820
Similar
Sources to Consult:
Early American Newspapers on Microfilm
The Press & the American Revolution
History and
Bibliography of American Newspapers provides detailed bibliographic
citations about newspapers including which libraries hold original copies
as well as when newspapers existed and a brief description of their
history. It is arranged by state and then by town within each state.
