Local Newspapers And Online Sources Make A Powerful Team

When it comes to digging up our roots, local newspapers and online sources make an unbeatable team. Genealogists consider these to be goldmines, packed with stories, details, and glimpses into the past that help us piece together our family puzzle.

Local newspapers can give us the day-to-day happenings, while online sources like archives reveal vast amounts of history. In this blog post, I’ll show how together, they’re the ultimate combination for uncovering the stories that make up our family tree.

My Local Newspaper

In my area, The Sentry is one of several local newspapers that arrives weekly in the mail, free of charge. Each issue features an article by the executive director of the South Portland Historical Society, sharing historical insights about local people, places, or events.

This week’s article highlights George W. Brown. Although he holds no personal significance in my research, the story reminded me of a resource I had neglected – the Internet Archive. Have you ever used Internet Archive? If not, you’re in for a treat!

The article mentioned a book called Leading Citizens of Cumberland County, which piqued my interest as it ties into my husband’s roots in the area. Eager to dive in, I searched for the book using WorldCat.

Using WorldCat And Internet Archive

The first result was the exact book I was looking for and it’s available for free. Given its 1896 publishing date, there are no copyright concerns. I clicked the “Access Free” button and found myself at a copy of the book on the Internet Archive.

Internet Archive is a nonprofit digital library offering millions of free resources—books, movies, software, music, websites, and more. It’s also home to the Wayback Machine, which we’ll discuss shortly.

After locating George W. Brown’s biography in the book, I searched the index for surnames relevant to my research. I found several that I added to my list to research later.

Now, you don’t have to go through WorldCat or Google to find resources on Internet Archive. They have a search bar, so you could just start there if you wanted. You’ll be amazed at the wide range of things they offer. With a free account, you can also upload the book to your computer if you think you might be using it often.

What You’ll Find at Internet Archive

• Books: Access millions of digitized books, including rare and out-of-print titles. These can provide historical context or specific mentions of your ancestors.
• Magazines and Newspapers: Explore collections of magazines and newspapers from different eras, regions, and topics. These can provide the social and historical context of your ancestors’ lives.
• Audio Recordings: Discover a wide assortment of audio recordings, including music, radio shows, and interviews. These can provide a sense of the culture and entertainment your ancestors experienced.
• Video and Film: Watch historical films and documentaries that can give you a visual glimpse into the past.
• Web Pages: The Wayback Machine archives old versions of websites, which can help find defunct sites or past information on current sites. Keep reading for more on this.
• Software: Browse collections of classic software and games.
• Images: Delve into collections of photographs, illustrations, and other images that can provide images of different periods in history.
• Genealogical Records: Access collections of historical records, including census data, birth and death records, and more.

Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine

Now, what is the Wayback Machine? If you’ve ever gone to an old website just to find it doesn’t exist anymore, the Wayback Machine may help. I can’t guarantee every defunct website will be there, but there’s a good chance it will. It’s located at the top of the Internet Archive homepage.

Just enter the website’s URL and see if it can locate it for you. I’ve used it a few times and successfully found old links.

Internet Archive also has the Open Library, a place to digitally read or borrow millions of books. You may find books associated with your ancestors that help fill in the context of their lives, such as history, laws, and other topics.

Using Digital Libraries for Research

In addition to the Internet Archive, there are other digital libraries, such as HathiTrust and Google Books, which can also provide valuable information for your research. These offer access to books, periodicals, and other publications that may contain references to your ancestors or the historical context of their lives.

For example, HathiTrust contains an extensive collection of digitized materials from major libraries around the world. Google Books allows you to search and preview millions of books, including some that may be relevant to your genealogy research.

Tips for Effective Research

When using online resources for genealogy research, keep the following tips in mind:

• Take notes: As you gather information, keep organized notes to track your research and any follow-up actions you may need to take.
• Cross-reference sources: Verify information from one source with other sources to make sure it’s accurate.
• Explore forums and communities: Genealogy forums and online communities can help share tips and connect with others researching similar lines.
• Stay open to surprises: You may uncover unexpected information or connections during your research. Embrace these discoveries and see where they lead you.

Finally

By combining local newspapers and online sources, you can gain free access to collections and stories that mention your ancestors. You never know where that one nugget of information will come from to piece together your family history.

Happy researching!

Genealogy tip: Keep a running list of all the websites you use in your genealogy research. You are building a toolbox that will make you a better researcher.

If you need help with your family history research, just click below for a free, 30-minute, no-obligation consultation. I’d love to hear about your latest project!