One of the great resources for family historians is local newspapers. These can be used to search for obituaries, accidents, lawsuits, scandals, delinquent taxpayer lists, land sales, marriages, births, environmental tragedies and other news stories which may mention an ancestor or relative. One of the main drawbacks, however, is that the researcher has to know the date of an event in order to search through microfilmed newspapers.
The program “Chronicling America” changes the way we can search newspapers. An online undertaking created by the Library of Congress, Chronicling America aims to provide to the public access to digitized and searchable historic newspapers. Chronicling America “is produced by the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP). NDNP, a partnership between the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Library of Congress (LC), is a long-term effort to develop an Internet-based, searchable database of US. newspapers with descriptive information and select digitization of historic pages,” states the Library of Congress web page.
To access the newspaper databases at Chronicling America, go to chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/. These databases include a broad range of newspapers printed between the years 1836 and 1922. On the “Search Pages” tab, you can search all titles, or just titles in a particular state for a particular range of years by using a surname or keyword. On the “All Digitized Newspapers, 1836-1922” tab, you can get a list, by state, of all of the publications in the collection. On the “US Newspaper Directory, 1690-Present” tab, you can get to an alphabetical listing of a “directory of newspapers published in the United States since 1690 [that] can help identify what titles exist for a specific place and time, and how to access them … Titles currently listed: 140,115.”
This is definitely a web site worth exploring.
The time for the release of the 1940 federal census is rapidly approaching. This census will be unsealed for public use by the National Archives in April 2012, without an index. However, three of the leading genealogy companies, Archives.com, FamilySearch.com, and
findmypast.com, recently announced that they are joining together to establish the “1940 U.S. Census Community Project.”
According to a recent FamilySearch press release, “the ambitious project aims to engage online volunteers to quickly publish a searchable, high quality name index to the 1940 U.S. Census. … The highly anticipated 1940 U.S. Census is expected to be the most popular U.S. record collection released to date. Its completion will allow anyone to search the record collection by name for free online. … The goal of the 1940 U.S. Census Community Project is to create a high quality index online linked to the complete set of census images as soon as possible. The index will allow the public to easily search every person found in the census and view digital images of the original census pages. The collection will be available online for free to the general public at Archives.com, FamilySearch.org, and findmypast.com, the sponsors of the community project. … The 1940 U.S. Census Community Project is also receiving additional support from leading societal organizations like the Federation of Genealogical Societies, National Genealogical Society and Ohio Genealogical Society.”
The National Archives estimates that the 1940 census contains 130 million names. To learn more about the project or to volunteer, visit www.the1940census.com.
History
GENEALOGY: ‘Chronicling’ changes newspaper searches
- History
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GENEALOGY: Library archives contain tons of information
Inside the archives room of the Vigo County Public Library, row after row of fragile documents, rare out-of-print books, and historic photographs are kept on shelves in a humidity and temperature-controlled room.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Historic efforts to open Center Street from Cherry to Swan
Efforts to open Center Street, from Cherry to Swan, spanned a half century or more.
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LOOKING BACK: 2002 — Valley drenched in wettest spring in 107 years
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star. -
HISTORICAL TREASURE: Some history wreathed in hair
From the unfortunate occurrence of Prince Albert’s death in 1861 came the social mores of proper mourning practices and accoutrements witnessed and endorsed by the admirers of Queen Victoria in her reign-long state of grieving.
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LOOKING BACK: 1987: League of Women Voters reorganizes
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: Here comes the bride
The newest major exhibit at the Historical Museum, which opens Tuesday, showcases wedding gowns worn by Vigo County residents.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Downtown changes featured in early 1927
During March and April of 1927 – about 85 years ago – the owners of interests in four major downtown Terre Haute theaters were negotiating to transfer their interests to representatives of Paramount Studios.
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GENEALOGY: Genealogy isn’t for the easily embarrassed
The saying goes, if you’re easily embarrassed or afraid of what you’ll find, don’t start doing genealogy.
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BRUCE’S HISTORY LESSONS: The long, lost, last — the 27th —Amendment
Our very last constitutional amendment — the 27th Amendment — was ratified this week (May 7) in 1992 when Michigan became the 38th state to approve it.
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BRUCE’S HISTORY LESSONS: The Haymarket Square Massacre
One unhappy byproduct of the Industrial Age was the growing discontent of its industrial workers, who constantly agitated for better pay and more humane working conditions.
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LOOKING BACK: 1962: Stands packed as Wiley takes county track title
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and the Tribune-Star.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Death of Terre Haute jeweler gains national headlines
Terre Haute sought national publicity in 1910 through “Boosterism,” lauding the city’s significant advancements during the decade ending Dec. 31, 1909.
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GENEALOGY: Cemetery Committee to conduct restoration workshop
The Wabash Valley Genealogy Society’s Cemetery Committee will conduct an all-day cemetery restoration workshop on Saturday at the Smith Cemetery near Youngstown, Honey Creek Township, Vigo County, Ind.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: Harmonious history
In 1923, a group of singers calling themselves the Harmony Four entertained regularly over the radio and at civic and various club events.
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BRUCE’S HISTORY LESSONS: Cleveland observes Lincoln’s funeral
The death of America’s greatest president, Abraham Lincoln, resulted in an outpouring of national mourning, the apex of which came in late April of 1865 when a specially outfitted train carried his body on a thirteen-day, 1,700-mile, eleven-city funeral procession from Washington, D.C., to his home and final resting place in Springfield, Ill.
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GENEALOGY: Many people can trace ancestry to Titanic
This month marks the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, which occurred on April 14-15, 1912.
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LOOKING BACK: 1987: ISU bowling team at nationals again
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Sullivan County mine explosion kills 8 in 1878
Shortly after 4 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 21, 1878, an enormous explosion rocked the Handford Brothers mine about one-half mile north of the Evansville & Terre Haute Railroad depot in Sullivan County.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: A common feature, but memorable
As an absolute architecture nerd, I tend to look at buildings noticing the odd ball things such as door hinges and door locks in addition to admiring the overall building.
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BRUCE'S HISTORY LESSONS: MLK’s letter written from a jail cell in Birmingham
This week (April 16) in 1963 Martin Luther King Jr. sat in a jail cell in Birmingham, Ala., having been arrested for violating a trumped-up court order that prohibited him and his followers from conducting various protest activities, most of which you can read about in the First Amendment.
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LOOKING BACK: 1962: Swope celebrates 20th anniversary
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: 1955 Babe Ruth League championship team to be feted
Currently in his 25th year as a college baseball coach, Rick Heller is in the midst of his third winning season at Indiana State and has embraced the university and the community.
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GENEALOGY: Long-awaited 1940 census is now available for the public
The long-awaited release of the 1940 census took place on April 2.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: Memories baked from scratch
On my Historical Treasure hunt, I was drawn to a pasteboard barrel 28 inches high and 18.5 inches across with the words “Calumet Baking Powder Bakes Best, Received Highest Award” on one side and “Calumet Baking Powder Always Pleases, Try It” on the other.
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BRUCE'S HISTORY LESSON: Thomas Jefferson's flights of fancy
Thomas Jefferson, born this week (April 13) in 1743, is — deservedly so — in the pantheon of American heroes.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: J.K. Emmet’s first appearance at the Terre Haute Opera House
The first season of the magnificent Terre Haute Opera House, which featured many of the world’s premier celebrities, was a resounding success.
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GENEALOGY: Black Death had a monumental effect on world
One event in the past had a monumental effect on our ancestors, indeed determining who they would be. This was the advent and spread of bubonic plague, the Black Death. The plague originated in China in 1333. It was caused by a bacterium in fleas, which were carried by rats. The plague spread out of China via trading routes with the West (the Silk Road) and especially on ships, which carried flea-infested rats and provided a closed environment for people to infect each other.
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LOOKING BACK: 1987: 'Banana king' opens Farmer's Market
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: Hunting for sugary Easter treats
Among the many varieties of the Easter egg, none is more charming than the panoramic Sugar Egg. Three were recently given to the Vigo County Historical Museum by Judy Lowe and are shown in an Easter-themed display case in the entry hall.
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BRUCE'S HISTORY LESSONS: 1820s: The power of the postmaster general
John McLean, who died this week (April 4) in 1861, was — by his early 40s — one of the most important people in America. In fact, he oversaw what was, in the 1820s, the federal government’s largest, most extensive and arguably most important responsibility.
- More History Headlines
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GENEALOGY: Library archives contain tons of information
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Remains of Veterans Found in Basement Are Buried
Fired Lingerie Employee Claims Discrimination
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Secret Service Boss: 'I Apologize'
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A Few Odd Business Sparks but Europe Gloomy
Raw Video: Tornado Appears During Wedding
Kristen Stewart says no shame in explicit love scenes
Bonus: Tan Mom Goes Nude
Daycare worker burns child’s face with chemicals
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Tornado Touches Down During Wedding
Snooki Reveals Sex of Baby
Toddler Drives Toy Into Traffic
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Creative dad makes Photoshop magic with daughters
Donald Driver, 'DWTS' Winner & Thriller Killer?
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Long Story Short: Miley Cyrus: Sex is magic
American Idol Finale Recap: Phillip Phillips and Jessica Sanchez Face Off for Last Time
PETA protesters barbeque a human
Michael McKean Struck By Car
