How to Find Old Newspaper Articles
Gone are the times when one had to sift through microfiche and microfilm to locate an old newspaper article. Technological advancements have allowed many old newspaper articles to be scanned and saved to online databases. Old articles can now be accessed from the comfort of your home.
- Have a clear idea of the research topic. The more information you have, the better the search engine can return relevant results. For example, if you are trying to find articles related to a relative, know the first name, last name and location.
- Search using the Google News Archives. Google News Archives is a robust source of old newspaper articles. Simply input search terms, and you will be presented with relevant articles. Click on the links to be taken to an electronic version of the article. Some links may require payment to view.
- Try other online article databases. Some online article databases may be free. Others, such as Newspaper Archive, charge a nominal monthly fee for database use. The website, Free Newspaper Archives in the US, offers a free search of various newspaper archives.
- Visit newspaper websites. Existing newspapers archive historic content. "The New York Times" offers limited free access to its online archives. Any article published before 1923 and after 1986 is free to read, up to 100 articles a month. Anything outside that period costs $3.95 to view. Pictures can be viewed at an extra charge.
- Visit your library. Many libraries have access to extensive article archives and databases. It is usually free to browse the article archives on a library computer.