How to Find Old Newspaper Articles Online & IRL

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Learn to find old newspaper articles in libraries, online, and in-person
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Historical newspapers are a terrific resource, whether you’re doing research, looking into your family history, or simply want to learn more about the past. However, sometimes it can seem a little difficult to find old newspaper articles. Fortunately, whether you’re looking for digitized or physical copies, there are actually a lot of different ways for you to easily find historical newspapers!

Finding Old Newspaper Articles

  • Search free online newspaper collections like the Google News archive or the Library of Congress.
  • Pay for a subscription to online archives or a specific newspaper to access their databases.
  • Check with universities, historical societies, and public libraries in your area.
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Using Free Online Collections

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  1. This search engine allows you to enter the subject you want to research to find old newspaper articles about that subject. To explore the archive search engine, open your web browser and go to news.google.com/archivesearch. [1]
    • This is the best method if you only know the subject that you want to find newspaper articles about and don’t know any specific dates.
    • This is also the most intuitive method for most people, since it’s as easy as using Google’s ordinary search engine platform.
  2. The Library has a large database of digitized articles from newspapers published in the United States from 1880 to 1922. The Library also has an exhaustive record of all newspapers printed in America from 1690 to the present, although not all of the articles from these newspapers are digitized. [2]
    • The Library makes its newspapers available in PDF form, meaning you can download them and save them for offline reading.
    • This is the best method for someone doing research on the general history of newspapers in America.
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  3. The Olden Times features articles about major historical events, as well as print advertisements and personal information such as births and obituaries. This method is best for someone who’s only interested in newspaper articles about specific, well-known historical events. [3]
    • Note that The Olden Times does not contain full newspapers; they only feature snippets of articles from certain dates.
  4. Trove is an online newspaper database run by the National Library of Australia. As a result, the site features over 200 million digitized newspaper articles from papers published in Australia. [4]
    • This method is best for anyone doing research on Australian history or anyone looking for newspaper articles from a non-American perspective.
  5. Elephind is an easy-to-use search engine that features millions of newspaper articles from thousands of worldwide publishers. This website is best for researchers who are interested in finding newspapers from a variety of different international perspectives.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Paying for Online Access

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  1. NewspaperArchive boasts the largest online database of historical newspapers published since the mid-18th century. You can subscribe to NewspaperArchive by paying a $10 monthly subscription fee. [5]
    • This is a good option for someone who wants to do newspaper research all year round, since the subscription lasts for an entire year (even though you make a monthly payment).
  2. Many major newspapers scan digital copies of their historical publications and make them accessible to their subscribers. This is the best option for anyone who also wants to receive modern newspapers in addition to historical articles. [6]
    • Note that some newspapers, like the Boston Globe, will require you to pay a small fee to access some of their historical articles.
  3. Ancestry.com is principally designed to help people find information about their lineage and flesh out their family tree. However, the site also features access to digitized historical newspapers dating back to the 1700s. [7]
    • You can purchase a $20 monthly subscription or purchase an annual subscription at the rate of $13 a month.
  4. The British Library features a large database of digitized newspapers from Great Britain and Ireland that you can pay to access through the British National Archives website. Most of these newspapers are from the 19th century, but the database features a large number of 20th century newspapers as well.
    • This method is best for people interested in newspapers published in the British Isles in particular.
    • Note that you can also visit the British National Archives in person to view their newspaper collections for free.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Finding Physical Newspaper Articles

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  1. University libraries will often keep old copies of newspapers as part of their research collections. These copies will either be full-size or available in microform. [8]
    • You may need to register with the front desk of the library if you’re not a student at that university. Most libraries will allow you to register for a one-day visitor’s pass so you can still use their resources.
  2. Large public libraries may also keep copies of old newspaper articles, especially in their genealogy departments. Most of these newspapers will probably be available in microform or microfiche. [9]
    • Some larger public library systems, such as the New York Public Library, may also offer digital copies of old newspaper articles you can access online.
  3. If you’re only interested in articles from local newspapers or about the history of your area, the historical society for your city or town is probably your best bet. Call the main office of the society to schedule an appointment to look at whatever newspapers they have in storage. [10]
    • You will probably need to navigate the society’s catalogue or finding aid in order to select specific newspapers from particular dates that you’d like to see.
  4. Thrift stores that collect old books and magazines may also have old newspapers for you to buy. This is very hit-or-miss, though, so only resort to this if all your other efforts to find physical newspapers haven’t worked out. [11]
    • Examples of thrift stores that may sell old newspapers include Goodwill and the Salvation Army.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How can I find old newspapers online for free?
    Gerald Posner
    Author & Journalist
    Gerald Posner is an Author & Journalist based in Miami, Florida. With over 35 years of experience, he specializes in investigative journalism, nonfiction books, and editorials. He holds a law degree from UC College of the Law, San Francisco, and a BA in Political Science from the University of California-Berkeley. He’s the author of thirteen books, including several New York Times bestsellers, the winner of the Florida Book Award for General Nonfiction, and has been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in History. He was also shortlisted for the Best Business Book of 2020 by the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing.
    Gerald Posner
    Author & Journalist
    Expert Answer
    Unfortunately, many private companies like the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and Chicago Tribune have monetized archives that are blocked by a paywall. See if you can get a cheap trial subscription to one of these services and plan to do your research during the period when your subscription is active.
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  • Question
    Can you do research in the library?
    Gerald Posner
    Author & Journalist
    Gerald Posner is an Author & Journalist based in Miami, Florida. With over 35 years of experience, he specializes in investigative journalism, nonfiction books, and editorials. He holds a law degree from UC College of the Law, San Francisco, and a BA in Political Science from the University of California-Berkeley. He’s the author of thirteen books, including several New York Times bestsellers, the winner of the Florida Book Award for General Nonfiction, and has been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in History. He was also shortlisted for the Best Business Book of 2020 by the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing.
    Gerald Posner
    Author & Journalist
    Expert Answer
    Absolutely! The critical thing to remember is that not everything is digitized—we can do a lot online, but we can't do it all. If you can get to a place where physical documents and archives might be stored relevant to what you're writing about, you should definitely go for it. It's a treasure trove!
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeSwowUeunI#t=22s
      2. ↑ https://www.loc.gov/rr/news/oltitles.html
      3. ↑ https://www.labnol.org/internet/old-newspaper-articles/18689/
      4. ↑ http://www.theancestorhunt.com/blog/the-5-best-free-sites-for-online-newspaper-research-for-genealogy#.XTIAcnt7lPY
      5. ↑ https://www.labnol.org/internet/old-newspaper-articles/18689/
      6. ↑ https://www.labnol.org/internet/old-newspaper-articles/18689/
      7. ↑ https://www.labnol.org/internet/old-newspaper-articles/18689/
      8. ↑ https://guides.temple.edu/c.php?g=77769&p=504008
      9. ↑ https://www.nypl.org/blog/2011/07/18/researching-and-finding-historical-newspapers-nypl
      1. ↑ https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS1590
      2. ↑ https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2018/10/26/Pre-Revolution-newspaper-donated-to-New-Jersey-Goodwill/9171540573356/

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