Use newspapers to add color and personality to your family histories. They can provide a lot of information beyond the basics of births, deaths and marriages.
Finding aids:
Union List of Canadian Newspapers held by Canadian Libraries
(Published in book form in 1977; later editions on microfiche)
Alberta Newspapers 1880-1982, by Gloria M. Strathern
Some key newspapers in Western Canada:
Victoria Daily Colonist (today, the Times Colonist): Founded 1858
Vernon News: Founded 1891
Kelowna Courier: Founded 1904
Penticton Herald: Founded 1910
Vancouver Sun: Founded 1912
Vancouver Province: Founded 1898. For earlier, see the News, founded 1886.
Winnipeg Free Press: Founded 1874
Brandon Sun: Founded 1882
Regina Leader-Post: Leader founded 1907, Post founded 1904. For earlier, see the Standard, founded 1891.
Saskatoon Star-Phoenix: Star Founded 1912, Phoenix founded 1902.
Calgary Herald: Founded 1885.
Edmonton Journal: Founded 1903. For earlier, see the Bulletin, founded 1880.
Don’t forget:
Church newspapers, ethnic newspapers, specialized publications
In the Union List, these are listed under the city of publication.
To gain access to newspapers:
Try inter-library loan, or major collections such as the B.C. Archives, Saskatchewan Archives and the Glenbow Alberta Institute.
Check library catalogues at universities.
You can also buy copies of microfilms.
Newspapers on microfilm at the B.C. Archives
Newspapers on microfilm at the University of Victoria
Some research ideas:
Check local libraries and archives for indexes to the newspapers.
You’ll have more luck if your ancestors were in smaller communities, were WASP males, and were active in business or crime.
Check every story for references to your family. You might find them in lists of people involved in fall fairs, social clubs or sports events.
Look for basic information about the community. Is business in a slump? Are farmers suffering? That may help explain an unexplained move by your ancestors.
If you’re scanning quickly, note regular positioning of features. Obits may always be on page two, or at the start of the classifieds, making it easier to find them quickly.
Historic research:
Paper of Record
Ancestry.com includes Lethbridge and Winnipeg
Toronto Star 1894-2002
NewspaperArchive.com
Alberta newspapers in the Heritage Digitization Project collection
American Newspaper Repository dedicated to the preservation of original copies
Modern research:
FPInfomart.ca
Regina obituaries since September 2000
Library and Archives Canada - newspaper indexes
Links to thousands of newspapers worldwide
Obituary Daily Times
Updates? Corrections? Better examples? Send an e-mail to Dave
Updated April 3, 2008
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