Search
Borrow
Help
Information for
Information about
Historical newspapers
- Does the Library hold really old newspapers?
- How do I find specific newspapers?
- How do I find really old articles on a topic?
- Where else can I access old newspapers?
- What if I don't know names of individual papers?
- See also current Newspapers guide
- Need help?
- List of main older newspaper and weekly magazine holdings:
Does the Library hold really old newspapers?
The Library holds many older/historical Australian newspapers, as well as several overseas newspapers, in microfilm format. These are kept in the Newspaper Collection microfilm cabinets in the Media room near the Research Help Desk (Ground level). To view these, use the microfilm reader/printers.
A small number of hard copy old newspapers and weekly magazines are also held in the Archives Collection. These are very fragile due to their age. To view these you need to contact the Archivist.
Are any old newspapers online?
Yes, a few. See below for details.
How do I find specific newspapers?
Search the Library Catalogue using a Title search on the name of the newspaper. For example: South Coast Times
If it is held the Catalogue will show the format (hard copy / microfilm / microfiche), location and call number, and the date range held.
How do I find really old newspaper articles on a topic?
Search Library Databases
The Library subscribes to fulltext digital archive newspaper databases. In addition there are several databases which index older newspapers and weekly magazines, providing citations (references) to individual articles. Use these to locate dates and page numbers for specific articles, then check the Library Catalogue to see if those newspapers are held in the Library.
| Database | Notes | Truncation symbol | Help |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMH Digital Archive | Fulltext and graphics of The Sydney Morning Herald backfile 1955-1990 | * | Refer to onscreen Help |
| Times Digital Archive | Fulltext and graphics of The Times (London) backfile 1785-1985. Subject coverage includes Australian colonial and commonwealth affairs | * | Gale InfoTrac search tips |
| Historic Australian Newspapers Archive | Fulltext and graphics of a range of Australian newspapers from 1803 up until 1954 | * | Refer to onscreen help |
| Auschron | Indexes contemporary newspaper articles on Australian historic events and people from the 1600s+ (1992+ indexed comprehensively, pre-1992 indexed selectively) | * | Informit search tips |
| Illawarra Index | Indexes articles about the Illawarra region from the Illawarra Mercury, South Coast Times and other local newspapers 1840s+ | * | Refer to onscreen Help |
| Australian Key Journals (Periodicals Contents Index) | Indexes articles from a selection of Australian magazines from the early 1900s up until the pre-1990s | * | Refer to onscreen Help |
| Austlit | Indexes book reviews and literary articles in major Australian newspapers from the 1800s+ | * | Austlit search tips |
See also more current newspaper related databases on the main Newspapers guide.
Consult print indexes
If none of the Library's databases cover the older newspapers or years you are looking for, try searching the print (hard copy and/or microform) indexes. Use these to locate dates and page numbers for specific articles, then check the Library Catalogue to see if the relevant newspapers are held in the Library.
Note: for indexes specific to individual newspapers also check the entries in the List of Main Historical Newspaper Holdings at the end of this guide.
| Title | Date range | Format | Call number |
|---|---|---|---|
| APAIS - indexes feature articles in major Australian newspapers | 1955-78 | Hard copy volumes | C 016.99406/1 (Level 2 Compactus) |
| ABIX - indexes newspaper articles on Australasian business | 1987-94 | Hard copy volumes and microfiche | C 016.338005/2 (Level 2 Compactus) |
| NSW Parliamentary Library Newspaper Index - indexes articles on government and public affairs | 1910-75 | Microfiche | ARC 079.944016/1 (Archives - ask at Research Help Desk) |
Where else can I access old newspapers?
Try other libraries:
Within the Illawarra
Search the catalogue of Wollongong City Library. The City Library holds a range of old Australian newspapers on microfilm, including several local and state newspapers not held by the UOW Library.
Outside the Illawarra
Search the catalogues of other libraries. For example, both the State Library of New South Wales and the National Library of Australia hold large collections of Australian and overseas newspapers and give members free remote access to historical newspaper databases.
Digital Newspaper Archiving Projects
A small number of old newspaper archives are being digitised by public libraries and made available on their web sites for free. Examples of such projects include:
- Australian Periodical Publications 1840-1845 - colonial era newspapers (National Library of Australia)
- Papers Past - New Zealand newspapers 1840-1915 (National Library of New Zealand)
- Digital newspaper projects worldwide - links from the Australian Newspaper Plan preservation project
What if I don't know names of individual papers?
Search the Library Catalogue
To identify relevant titles try searching the Library Catalogue using a Keyword search on the word newspaper* and the name of a particular region.
For example: keyword> newspaper* and (wollongong or illawarra)
Consult directory guides
For title lists of older Australian state and local newspapers check:
| Title | Call number |
|---|---|
| Newspapers in Australian Libraries: A Union List | L 079.94016/1 (Research Help Desk) |
| Union List of Local Newspapers in NSW Public Libraries | L 079.944/29 (Research Help Desk) |
| Nineteenth Century Australian Periodicals: An Annotated Bibliography | V 011.34/3 (Rare Book Collection) |
| Checklist of Nineteenth Century Australian Periodicals | C 015.94034/1 (Level 2 Compactus) |
List of main older newspaper and weekly magazine holdings
Listed below are holdings and indexing details for some of the older newspapers and weekly magazines which the UOW Library has access to in either hard copy, microform or online format.
Note:
Newspaper locations - both hard copy and microfilm copies are held in the Newspaper Collection located in the Media room near the Research Help Desk (Ground level). These items have an N location prefix.
Magazine locations - hard copy are held in the Journals Collection (Level 2). These items have an S location prefix. Microfilm copies are held in the AV Collection in the Media room. These items have an AV location prefix.
|
|
|---|
|
On the Web:
In the Library:
|
|
|
On the Web:
|
|
|
On the Web:
|
| Canberra Times |
|
On the Web:
In the Library:
|
| Daily Telegraph (Sydney) |
|
On the Web:
In the Library:
|
|
|
|
On the Web:
In the Library:
|
|
|
In the Library:
|
| New York Times |
|
On the Web:
In the Library:
|
| People (Sydney) The Magazine of Real Life Stories |
|
In the Library:
|
|
|
On the Web:
|
|
|
|
On the Web:
In the Library:
|
|
|
|
On the Web:
In the Library:
|
* For details of how to access print indexes refer to the "Consult print indexes" section above.
Need help?
Contact Research Help staff.
Content by: Archivist
Follow Me Printing
Everyone hates to queue. With this in mind, we have introduced Follow Me Printing. You can choose any free printer/copier in the Library or a printer in the Student Central labs to release your print job.
How does it work?