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Have you started researching on Newspapers.com? If not, you’re in for a treat! With over 11,000 newspapers dating as far back as the 1700s, this resource is a treasure trove for family historians. Even with the limitations of OCR (optical character recognition) technology, Newspapers.com offers exciting possibilities to uncover your ancestors' stories.
Here’s how to get started and a few tips to make the most of your searches.
Why Newspapers.com is a Genealogist’s Goldmine
Newspapers provide a unique glimpse into the lives of your ancestors. From obituaries and marriage announcements to local news and scandals, you never know what you might uncover! For example, while searching for my Townley ancestors in Cincinnati, Ohio, I found fascinating details, including an article about a supposed family estate in England. Though the story wasn’t directly about my family, it added rich context to my research.
Getting Started Searching on Newspapers.com
Enter Your Ancestor’s Name: Begin with a simple search for your ancestor’s full name. If I type in “Richard Townley,” I’ll get a list of potential matches.
Filter Your Results: Narrow your search by:
Location: Select a specific state or region. For example, choosing “Ohio” reduced my results significantly.
Date Range: Use the sliders or type in specific years to focus on your ancestor’s active time period.
Refine with Advanced Search Options: Use the advanced search to target a city or region. If your location isn’t available, you might need to try a broader area.
Zoom in on Articles: Once you select a result, Newspapers.com takes you straight to the article. Use the zoom tools to read the text clearly and uncover valuable details.
Tips for Effective Searches
Name Variations:
Newspapers often abbreviate or misspell names. For instance, I found an article about Richard Townley listed as “Dick Townley,” a nickname I didn’t know he had. Searching by surname alone can help uncover hidden gems.
Occupations and Keywords:
While Newspapers.com doesn’t allow combined searches for names and occupations, experimenting with different keywords can yield useful results. Chronicling America, another newspaper site, might work better for occupation-based searches.
Common Surnames:
If your ancestor’s last name is something like “Meadows” or “Park,” you’ll need to get creative. These words can appear as generic terms rather than surnames, so focus on locations or other distinguishing details.
↪️ What more help building your family tree?
Check out these free family history research guides.
Save and Share Your Discoveries
When you find an article worth keeping, use the scissors icon to create a “clipping.” Here’s how:
1. Select the scissors icon and highlight the article you want to save.
2. Give it a title (e.g., “Catherine Townley Funeral Article”).
3. Save the clipping to your account or share it directly via email, social media, or an embeddable link.
Pro Tip: Your saved clippings will appear in your search results, making it easy to revisit your discoveries later.
A Personal Discovery
One of my favorite finds on Newspapers.com was an article about Richard Townley, a sergeant in the Cincinnati police force, who was stabbed in the line of duty. I never knew about this incident until I stumbled upon it during a surname search. This unexpected detail added depth to his story and made me appreciate his bravery.
Start Exploring Today
Newspapers.com is an incredible tool for discovering your ancestors' stories. Whether you’re looking for family milestones or colorful local events, you’ll find plenty to enrich your family history.
Have questions about Newspapers.com? Drop them in the comments below, and I’ll cover them in future tutorials. And don’t forget to watch the accompanying video for even more tips on using this resource to uncover your ancestors’ stories!
