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Newspapers

Newspaper Collections & Databases at KFL

This guide suggests ways to find current and historical newspapers available primarily at the Kraemer Family Library. Our collection is primarily available digitally.

Important sources for newspapers of all time periods (current and historical) are collected together in databases that contain many different sources. These databases contain many newspapers or periodicals and from there they can then be searched. Searches can be done by publication title, keyword, location, date, and other criteria. However, it varies by database.

One significant difference among these databases is how you can view the text. For current newspaper coverage, most databases provide text-only (no photos, illustrations, or original formatting). Some databases of historical papers include the original formatting and the option of full-page viewing which can be really fun to view!

 

This guide will help you:

How can you use newspapers as primary sources?

Primary sources are direct from the time period in which they were created. These sources can give researchers insights into thoughts, feelings, actions, attitudes, culture, and more during a specific time. Newspapers don't have to be primary sources though. They can just be useful sources in any research.

Some of the benefits of using newspaper articles include:

  • Seeing how people viewed an event when it happened
  • Providing multiple points of view about an issue
  • Letting researchers to trace the historical development of subjects over time
  • Examining issues in the context of their time
  • Giving a snapshot of a time period detailing how people lived, and what they purchased which is helpful for writers, playwrights, historians, etc.

Whether they are being used as a primary or a secondary source, newspapers can be a valuable source of information.