Linotype operators of the Chicago Defender newspaper, 1941.

By Darren G. Poley

Newspapers are primary sources for facts and opinion concerning people and events. They can also tell us a lot about society and culture in a historical time and place. For these reasons, one of the newest databases now available to the Villanova community is one of Gale’s primary sources collections: Nineteenth Century U.S. Newspapers. It provides full-text access to an array of major 19th-century American newspapers, regional newspapers, illustrated papers, and those published by groups and interests, such as African Americans, Native Americans, women’s rights groups, labor groups, and the Confederacy.

Some of the other historical newspaper collections Falvey also provides access to online by means of its Databases A-Z list and guides on its website:

• African American Newspapers: The 19th Century (Accessible Archives)
• American Indian Newspapers (Adam Matthew Digital)
• America’s Historical Newspapers (Readex)
• Black Abolitionist Papers (ProQuest)
• Black Historical Newspapers (ProQuest)
• Catholic News Archive (Catholic Research Resources Alliance)
• Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers (Library of Congress)
• Historical Newspapers (ProQuest)
• LGBT Magazine Archive (ProQuest)
• New York Times: 1851- (ProQuest Historical Newspapers)
• Pennsylvania Gazette: 1728-1800 (Accessible Archives)
• Pennsylvania Newspaper Record: Delaware County (Accessible Archives)
• Philadelphia Inquirer, 1860-2009 (ProQuest Historical Newspapers)
• Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 1786-2008 (ProQuest Historical Newspapers)
• Washington Post Historical: 1877- (ProQuest)

Darren G. Poley is Associate Director of Research Services and Scholarly Engagement, and Theology, Humanities & Classical Studies Librarian at Falvey Memorial Library.