This post is part of an ongoing series where IHB staff share their go-to tools for research.
Here at IHB, we use a variety of research databases as we work to produce accurate text and documentation for new historical markers and to provide review reports of markers already up around the state. These databases give us access to a wide array of source material, including birth and death records, census lists, original maps, and countless newspaper, journal, and magazine articles. Such sources can be essential as we try to substantiate facts for a given marker.
While the type of database we use often depends on the nature of the work we are doing at a particular time, one of our favorite tools during the research process is NewspaperARCHIVE.com.
NewspaperARCHIVE.com is a fully searchable online digital archive that is home to tens of millions of newspaper pages. With over 5,000 titles at present, some dating as far back as the 1600s, the archival database is a great place to go when trying to find information on a particular person, place, or event in history. This database is especially helpful because it allows researchers to narrow their topics by keyword, date, location, and newspaper title. Currently, it includes over 270 newspaper titles from around the Hoosier state. Looking for a much broader pool? You’re in luck! The database also features a plethora of national titles and international titles from countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Jamaica, among others.
As historians, many of us here at the Bureau love delving into microfilm records of old newspapers. However, the immediate access to such material afforded by NewspaperARCHIVE.com has made the tool one of our greatest friends. Although access to searches requires a paid subscription, the Indiana State Library (ISL) has added NewspaperARCHIVE.com to its list of free databases if used within the building.
Interested in learning more about IHB’s favorite research tools? Be sure to check back as we continue to update this series on our blog. And, for further information, consult IHB’s Research Checklist.