Historical Newspapers
From LIS 460 Summer 2007
Contents |
What is Historical Newspapers?
Historical Newspapers is an amazing online database, created by ProQuest, that provides users the ability to search, view, download in PDF form, and print full-text articles, including graphics, from some of United States oldest and most respected newspapers. Currently, Historical newspapers offers articles from the following newspapers, dating as far back to 1851: The New York Times, The Atlanta Constitution, The Boston Globe, The Chicago Tribune, The Christian Science Monitor, The Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post. Recently, ProQuest has even begun adding the Hartford Courant to Historical Newspapers, which dates all the way back to 1764. Historical Newspapers is always growing in content, and over the next few years has pledged to include more newspapers that will cover national, regional, and local publications. The variety of different newspapers available provide users with differing perspectives across the United States, and a great means for comparison.
What makes Historical Newspapers so great for school is that it provides students with an excellent introduction to Primary Sources. It is the first databases to successfully digitize historical newspapers, and provide their contents to users in PDF full-text, and full-graphic formats. In addition to the actual articles, students and teachers are also introduced to Historical Photos, Advertisements of the time, letters from editors, and more. The potential for projects and collaborations though the use of Historical Newspapers is extremely high.
Similar to Biography Resource Center, all that one needs to access Historical Newspapers is a Public Library Card - though many school libraries already have subscription to this database.
How Do I Access Historical Newspapers?
As previously mentioned, to access ProQuest Historical Newspapers, all one needs is a valid MA library card. Simply follow these steps:
1. Go to the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners Homepage.
2. Click “Find Books & Magazines Online” (located on the top menu bar).
3. Enter the 14 digit number code on the back of your local library card, and click “GO.”
4. You now have the list of all accessible online databases. Scroll down and click on the ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The New York Times link, located under the heading “Newspapers.”
5. You are now logged-on to ProQuest Historical Newspapers.
What Are the Benefits of Using Historical Newspapers?
-Historical Newspapers is an excellent way to introduce students to primary sources.
-Historical Newspapers provides students with news articles from different regions around the United States, allowing for contrast and comparison projects.
-Students will become more information literate through the use of Historical Newspapers.
-No other database offers the variety and depth of information provided by Historical Newspapers.
-Historical Newspapers provides a fun, engaging, and informative way of studying History from 1851 to the present.
-Historical Newspapers (graphic version) is very visually appealing, and easy to navigate.
-ProQuest provides educators with a free PDF that specifically points out MA Curriculum Standards, in all major subjects, that can be learned through the use of Historical Newspapers, offering Lesson Plans and ideas for projects.
-Many public schools already have access to this database. They just need someone to show them how to operate it.
What Are Some Potential Drawbacks of Historical Newspapers?
-Historical Newspapers is available in two different versions: 1. With Graphics, and 2. Without Graphics. The version with Graphics is obviously more appealing, easier to navigate, and, of course, more expensive. The version without graphics is very strenuous on the eyes, and makes searching a lot less appealing. In my opinion, it is worth paying extra to have the graphics included. In addition to making the database more visually appealing, the ability to view historical photos, old Advertisements, and other graphics from the past is something all teachers and students will relish, and is worth the extra expense.
-Searching the database is actually rather tricky, and leaves a lot to be desired. ProQuest provides users with free downloadable search guides and instructions, but they take time to read and would be extremely confusing to someone without an MLS. As a result, the person who teaches students and educators how to use this program must be very well versed in Library Science terminology, and be able to communicate concepts to the audience in a way that easy to understand (such as using Boolean, Truncation, Proximity Operators, etc).
-Historical Newspapers is way too advanced for any students below high school level.
Does Historical Newspapers have a place within School Libraries?
Historical Newspapers should absolutely be taught to students at the high school level. Historical Newspapers can be used to provide a fascinating introduction to primary sources. With the ability to view newspapers as far back as 1851, suddenly studying and researching history just got a little bit more interesting. Because Historical Newspapers offers the ability to view newspapers from different regions within the United States, users are also given the opportunity to compare and contrast how different news and events effected different places. Also, a neat feature of Historical Newspapers (the Graphics Version), is that users are able to view various graphics from different time periods - such as photographs, illustrations, and advertisements - that can be compared to graphics and design principles of different time periods.
Something that truly sets apart Historical Newspapers from all other databases, and makes it even more ideal for use in school libraries, is the ProQuest Research Guide for Educators that ProQuest offers as a free download. Within this Guide (linked below in the Additional Resources Section) are Lesson Plans designed around Historical Newspapers for EVERY SUBJECT, all based upon MA Curriculum Standards and Frameworks: US History, World History, Economics, English Language Arts, Science & Technology, Health, and Art. With all of these great lessons provided, it would be a crime ignore Historical Newspapers. ProQuest has essentially created this Guide for Librarians to help promote the database within the school system.
Additional Resources
PDF about using Historical Newspapers in Schools
