Start with the four coverage details
Write down the exact newspaper title, place of publication, date or date range, and edition. If any part is unknown, research it before comparing subscriptions. Modern town boundaries and familiar newspaper names may not reflect the historical situation.
Create your archive shortlist
- 1
Anchor the event
Identify what happened and the narrowest defensible date range.
- 2
Map the locality
Record town, county, state or country as they existed at the time.
- 3
Identify newspapers
Use the Library of Congress U.S. Newspaper Directory and its search tips, then use the step-by-step title-identification guide to assess likely titles.
- 4
Track title changes
Note mergers, successors, political editions and language variants with the coverage-map guide.
- 5
Compare access
Record which free, library and paid collections hold each date range with the free and library access guide.
- 6
Test before committing
Run name variants and browse a sample issue where possible.
Your coverage checklist
| Field | What to record |
|---|---|
| Research subject | Name variants, relatives, address and occupation |
| Event | Death, marriage, military report, migration, legal notice or local story |
| Place | Historic town, county and wider region |
| Date | Best estimate plus a reasonable search window |
| Newspaper | Title, aliases, edition and publication frequency |
| Repository | Free site, library database, commercial archive or microfilm holder |
| Evidence | Issues present, issues missing and date checked |
Download the coverage worksheet
Use a blank record to keep each title, issue date and access route together. It separates what a catalogue or repository reports from whether you opened the issue and inspected its pages. Open the printable worksheet or download the blank CSV template.
What to do when a search fails
A failed keyword search does not prove an issue is absent. Change one variable at a time: remove the first name, search a relative, use initials, try an address, broaden the date, alter OCR-sensitive letters or browse the issue. If the newspaper itself is absent, locate a physical or microfilm holding through a union catalogue or local library.
Check the archive before you subscribe
Subscribe only after the archive passes three checks: the right newspaper is present, the relevant issues appear to survive, and the search or browsing tools are likely to support your project. If any check fails, the next step is more coverage research, not a different payment plan.
Sources and further reading
External services and collections change. Check the provider directly before making a purchase decision.