Use newspapers to add color and personality to your family histories. They can provide a lot of information beyond the basics of births, deaths and marriages.
Some of the digitized newspapers on the Internet:
Paper of Record
(Sadly, for now, this site has disappeared under the wing of Google)
British Colonist 1858-1910
A searchable archive of more than 100,000 newspaper pages.
Terrace, British Columbia 1926-2008
Searchable. The Eleanor Muehle Newspaper Archive on the site of the library in Terrace, B.C.
Prince George, British Columbia 1909-1961
Prince George Citizen and other titles.
Quesnel, British Columbia 1908-1967
Quesnel Cariboo Observer.
Vanderhoof, British Columbia 1926-2009
Searchable. The Bill Silver Digital Archive features the Nechako Chronicle and Omineca Express, courtesy the Vanderhoof Public Library.
White Rock Sun and Semiahmoo Sun, 1956-1966
Courtesy the White Rock Museum and Archives. Uses Flickr technology.
Alberta Newspapers 1885-2001
Not word searchable, but this collection is outstanding.
Lethbridge Herald 1905-1955
The leading newspaper in the southern Alberta city.
Newspaper Archive
Newspapers from Manitoba and Alberta, 1905-2007.
Ancestry.com
Includes Lethbridge and Winnipeg
Manitoba Newspapers 1859-1920
Publications from several communities in the province.
Toronto Star 1894-2007
Every issue is available in PDF format (requires Acrobat).
Ottawa Citizen 1860-1999
Historic newspapers on the Google news site.
Montreal Gazette 1870-1989
Historic newspapers on the Google news site.
Quebec 1826-1978
Provided by the Bibliotheque et Archives nationales du Quebec.
Newfoundland and Labrador 1884-1924,1984-1995
Twillingate Sun and Le Gaboteur.
Nova Scotia newspapers
A variety of titles on one site
Canada Gazette 1841-1997
Official publication of the federal government.
British newspapers 1800-1900
Extensive collection, pay site
Freiburger Zeitung
More than 150 years of history from Freiburg, Germany
American Newspaper Repository
Dedicated to the preservation of original copies
Chronicling America
Library of Congress site
World Vital Records
Many digitized newspapers
Footnote
Many digitized newspapers
Modern research:
FPInfomart.ca
Obituaries from many newspapers
Regina obituaries since September 2000
Library and Archives Canada - newspaper indexes
Links to thousands of newspapers worldwide
Obituary Daily Times
Recent obituaries from British Columbia
Recent obituaries from several provinces
Recent obituaries on Ancestry.ca
If you cannot find a digitized version of a newspaper, most are on microfilm. To gain access:
Try inter-library loan, or major collections such as the B.C. Archives, Saskatchewan Archives and the Glenbow Alberta Institute.
Check library catalogues at universities.
You can also buy copies of microfilms.
Newspapers on microfilm at the B.C. Archives
Newspapers on microfilm at the University of Victoria
Finding aids:
Union List of Canadian Newspapers held by Canadian Libraries
(Published in book form in 1977; later editions on microfiche)
Provincial resources, such as Alberta Newspapers 1880-1982, by Gloria M. Strathern
Most countries have press guides
Research hints:
Check Google for newspapers online. Also check local libaries and archives, because they might be aware of digitization projects.
Check local libraries and archives for indexes to the newspapers.
You’ll have more luck if your ancestors were in smaller communities, were WASP males, and were active in business or crime.
Check every story for references to your family. You might find them in lists of people involved in fall fairs, social clubs or sports events.
Look for basic information about the community. Is business in a slump? Are farmers suffering? That may help explain an unexplained move by your ancestors.
If you’re scanning quickly, note regular positioning of features. Obits may always be on page two, or at the start of the classifieds, making it easier to find them quickly.
Don’t forget church newspapers, ethnic newspapers, specialized publications. In the Union List, these are listed under the city of publication.
Some key newspapers in Western Canada:
Victoria Daily Colonist (today, the Times Colonist): Founded 1858
Vernon News: Founded 1891
Kelowna Courier: Founded 1904
Penticton Herald: Founded 1910
Vancouver Sun: Founded 1912
Vancouver Province: Founded 1898. For earlier, see the News, founded 1886.
Winnipeg Free Press: Founded 1874
Brandon Sun: Founded 1882
Regina Leader-Post: Leader founded 1907, Post founded 1904. For earlier, see the Standard, founded 1891.
Saskatoon Star-Phoenix: Star Founded 1912, Phoenix founded 1902.
Calgary Herald: Founded 1885.
Edmonton Journal: Founded 1903. For earlier, see the Bulletin, founded 1880.
Updates? Corrections? Better examples? Send an e-mail to Dave
Updated May 4, 2010
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