Newspapers
Databases for Finding Historical Newspaper Content
The following databases provide access to full-text content in historical newspapers.
ALBERTA & CANADA FOCUS
- Southern Alberta Newspaper Collection This link opens in a new windowA full-text keyword searchable collection of selected historical newspapers published in Southern Alberta. Includes Cardston News (1925-1958), Kainai News (1968-1991), and a selection of other newspaper content.
- Canada NewspaperARCHIVE This link opens in a new windowSearch full-page image/ text for a selection of Canadian newspapers. Alberta content includes: Lethbridge Herald (1904-2016), Medicine Hat News (1894-2017), Medicine Hat Times (1889-1894), Fort MacLeod Gazette (1883-1902), Drumheller Mail (1917-1998), Edmonton Bulletin (1896-1904).
- Globe and Mail (1844-2018) This link opens in a new windowAccess the full-page newspaper archive of The Globe and Mail from June 1844 to 2018.
- Calgary Herald Archive This link opens in a new windowExplore The Calgary Herald archives, which captures the history of Calgary's distinct and entrepreneurial community.
- Peel's Prairie Provinces - Newspapers [Free Access]The historic newspaper collection features over 175 titles and range in date from 1870 to 2018. From this page, you can search for titles by language, province, or city. By clicking on the title you will be taken to the digitized issues where you can further search the full text and filter by year.
- Early Alberta Newspapers [Free Access]Full-text of a selection of early Albertan newspapers (1880 to 2001).
- BC [British Columbia] Historical Newspapers [Free Access]The BC Historical Newspapers project features digitized versions of historical papers from around the province. The titles, which range from the Abbotsford Post to Westward Ho!, date from 1865 to 1994.
- Google Newspapers Archive [Free Access]A diverse selection of primarily North American newspaper content. Includes Edmonton Journal (1913-1986), Calgary Herald (1929-1987), and Lethbridge News (1886-1900).
- Maclean's Magazine Archive [via EBSCOhost] This link opens in a new windowCoverage from 1905 to 2015 with cover-to-cover processing presents each issue in its entirety as originally published.
UNITED STATES FOCUS
- Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers, Library of Congress [Free Access]Search America's historic newspaper pages from 1836-1922 or use the U.S. Newspaper Directory to find information about American newspapers published between 1690-present. Includes Benton, MT Record (southern terminus of the Whoop-Up Trail) and The River Press (Benton, MT).
- Nineteenth Century U.S. Newspapers This link opens in a new windowNineteenth Century U.S. Newspapers provides an as-it-happened window on events, culture, and daily life in nineteenth-century America that is of interest to both professional and general researchers. With 1.8 million pages available, the collection features publications of all kinds, from the political party newspapers at the beginning of the nineteenth century to the mammoth dailies that shaped the nation at the century's end. Major newspapers stand alongside those published by African Americans, Native Americans, women's rights groups, labour groups, and the Confederacy.
GREAT BRITAIN FOCUS
- Times Digital Archive This link opens in a new windowSearch and access the entire text of 200 years of The Times (London), the "world's newspaper of record" covering all major international historical events. Does not include the Sunday Times. Coverage: 1785-1985
- Sunday Times Digital Archive This link opens in a new windowSunday Times newspaper from 1822 to 2006. Contains over 800,000 pages of analysis and commentary on the weekly news and society at large.
- Telegraph Historical Archive This link opens in a new windowOver one million pages of content; includes Sunday edition from inception in 1961; insight into domestic and international affairs and culture over a timespan of nearly 150 years.
Finding & Accessing Newspapers on Microfilm
How do I find microfiche/microfilm in the collection?
The majority of the microform (microfilm/microfiche) collection is listed in the Library's online catalogue and can be searched in the same way you would search for a book. Copy down the call number and proceed to Level 11 to locate the fiche or film in the cabinets located on the east end of the floor (by the Prentice Institute).
Where are the microfiche/microfilm readers?
The microform (microfilm/microfiche) readers and ST Viewscan scanners are adjacent to the Woodworth Microform Collection on Level 11.
Where can I get help with using microfilm and microfiche?
Ask for assistance at the Library Services Desk on Level 10 during opening hours.
Subject Indexes to Newspapers
Indexes provide title, date, section, and page number details for articles on a specific subject. You can use this information to locate articles in chronologically arranged microfilm, print or digitized versions of the newspaper.
- The New York Times Article ArchiveOnline (1851+).
- Saskatchewan News IndexFind historical news stories published in Saskatchewan newspapers from 1884 to 2004.
- BC Newspaper Index, 1991-2007Selective index of The Province, Vancouver Sun and Times-Colonist. This index is a continuation of the B.C. Newspaper Index (1900-1990).
- Canadian News Facts [Print Resource]Coverage: 1967-2001
- Checklist of indexes to Canadian newspapers held by Library and Archives Canada [Electronic Resource]Indexes to Canadian newspaper titles. Coverage spans from the 18th century to the present date.
Reminder Regarding Digitized Newspapers
The article Illusionary Order: Online Databases, Optical Character Recognition, and Canadian History, 1997–2010 by Ian Milligan appears in Canadian Historical Review (Vol. 94, Number 4 / December 2013) and provides important reminders about limitations inherent in digitized historical newspaper content.
Local Historical Newspapers - Southern Alberta
The following titles are examples of historical newspapers published in Southern Alberta.
- Calgary HeraldMicrofilm (1888-2010)
- Cardston NewsOnline & Microfilm (Sept/1925-June/1958)
- Claresholm ReviewOnline (1907-1916)
- Claresholm Review-AdvertiserOnline (1916-1928)
- Kainai NewsOnline & Microfilm (1968-1991)
- Lethbridge HeraldOnline (1905-2017); Microfilm (1905+)
- Lethbridge NewsOnline & Microfilm (Dec/1885-Dec/1906)
- Lethbridge TelegramOnline & Microfilm (1914-18)
- Lomond PressOnline (August, 1916 to 9 September, 1926)
- Macleod GazetteMicrofilm (July/1882-89; 1891-1906)
- Macleod TimesOnline (1920-1930)
- Medicine Hat NewsMicrofilm (Dec/1889-1982 some gaps)
- Medicine Hat TimesMicrofilm (Nov/1885-1889)
- Medicine Hat WeeklyMicrofilm (1890-1917;1920-47;1949)
- Milk River ReviewOnline (1948-1961)
- Nanton NewsOnline (1903-1971); Microfilm to 1988; various newer print
- Oyen NewsOnline (1914-1935)
- Pincher Creek EchoMicrofilm (1900; 1903-1906)
- Raymond LeaderOnline (1911-1917)
- Raymond RecorderOnline (1925-1956)
- Raymond RustlerOnline (1909-1911)
- Taber Free PressOnline (1907-1910)
- Taber TimesOnline (1911-1971)
Southern Alberta Newspaper History
"Southern Alberta newspaper history" by Dr. W. J. Cousins appears on p.5 of the February 12, 1974 issue of the Lethbridge Herald. It provides insight into the nature of historical newspapers in rural Alberta communities. [Click to open article in new browser window]
Lethbridge Herald History & Origins
The article "Media Probe - The Lethbridge Herald: Factors Involved in Joining Chain" by Georgia G. Fooks appears in the Canadian Journal of Communication (1979) and explores the orgins and significance of this local newspaper.