I have been – for several weeks now – thinking that I needed to get to the library to do newspaper research. Then about two weeks ago found myself saddened that that was unlikely to happen given the current health crisis. As far as I was aware at that point, the only currently accessible copies of the newspaper I wanted were on microfilm.
But occassionally, good deeds do come back around.
Last year, I wrote a letter of support for that library to get a grant to have their newspapers digitized. Lo and behold: the digitization of the newspapers I needed was completed and they are officially online! The library made the announcement yesterday!
I could not be more elated! I love diving head first into historic records and reading what people were thinking back in the day! Letters, newspapers, you name it! In my time in museums, I have spent hours diving into census records, newspapers, estate accounts, personal letters, and anything else I can get my hands on. The local papers can be even more interesting than the bigger papers like the Boston Globe because they have sections like “General Locals” which describe which neighbors had visitors, who was hosting parties, who needed an extra hand, and who found the neighbor’s dog.
So thank you, thank you, thank you for posting that these newspapers are now online! I cannot say enough how much you have saved my sanity in this time where I cannot get to a physical building to do research! Thank you!