{"id":8049,"date":"2014-08-21T16:32:19","date_gmt":"2014-08-21T16:32:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=8049"},"modified":"2022-10-11T12:30:46","modified_gmt":"2022-10-11T16:30:46","slug":"how-to-research-old-newspaper-headlines-for-family-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/how-to-research-old-newspaper-headlines-for-family-history.html","title":{"rendered":"How to Research Old Newspaper Headlines for Family History"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/em><\/strong>: In this article, Mary\u00a0Harrell-Sesniak shows how searching for headlines in old newspapers turns up articles that provide a glimpse into our ancestors\u2019 world and their daily lives. Mary is a genealogist, author and editor with a strong technology background.
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

From iconic happenings of the past to lesser-known events, reading old newspaper headlines helps us share the day-to-day experiences of our ancestors. Reading the news that they read is one way to walk in their footsteps.<\/p>\n

For example, imagine being in Vermont on 8 November 1860, picking up your local paper, and seeing this newspaper headline announcing Abraham Lincoln as the new president.<\/p>\n

\"Glorious<\/a>
St. Albans Messenger (St. Albans, Vermont), 8 November 1860, page 2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

So why not become a newspaper headline hunter and query GenealogyBank\u2019s Historical Newspaper Archives<\/a> to see what was happening in your ancestors\u2019 lives? Knowing the events that were happening that affected their lives, and the news that they were talking about with their family and friends, helps provide a glimpse into their world and into the past.<\/p>\n

Abolishing Slavery<\/p>\n

Headline hunters weave fascinating circumstances into life stories. They\u2019re constantly on the search for a bold or unusual newspaper headline that leads to something interesting.<\/p>\n

In their search for headlines, they select major historical events, along with what was happening in the outside world during particular time periods. Sometimes they\u2019ll stumble on a major event they never heard of, leaving one to wonder why it is not included more in history books.<\/p>\n

For example, manumission (the freeing of slaves) occurred in many parts of the world long before the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution (adopted 6 December 1865) abolished slavery in the U.S.\u2014and the movement continued long after.<\/p>\n

For example, a search on the terms \u201cslavery abolished\u201d pulled up this 1794 newspaper article about the French Colonies.<\/p>\n

\"article<\/a>
Farmers\u2019 Library (Rutland, Vermont), 13 May 1794, page 3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

That search also found this 1879 article about African King Mtesa (or Mutesa) of the Kingdom of Buganda abolishing slavery throughout his dominions.<\/p>\n

\"Slavery<\/a>
Cincinnati Commercial Tribune (Cincinnati, Ohio), 13 September 1879, page 2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Women\u2019s Suffrage<\/strong><\/p>\n

Another movement not fully addressed in history books is women\u2019s suffrage, underscoring the importance of newspaper research to clarify historical events.<\/p>\n

A search on the term \u201csuffragettes\u201d found this old newspaper headline.<\/p>\n

\"article<\/a>
Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Fort Worth, Texas), 1 March 1908, page 5<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This headline reports that women were humiliated, harassed and often treated as criminal offenders. Imagine how a young girl of today would feel if she learned that her great grandmother was jailed, merely for wanting to vote!<\/p>\n

These two headlines introduce articles reporting that California granted females the right to vote in 1911, but the quest for national equality took until 26 August 1920, when the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was adopted.<\/p>\n

\"Suffrage<\/a>
Boston Journal (Boston, Massachusetts), 13 October 1911, page 12<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Tennessee<\/a>
Bellingham Herald (Bellingham, Washington), 18 August 1920, page 3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For an interesting timeline of how the women\u2019s suffrage movement progressed, see the National Women\u2019s History Museum\u2019s Woman Suffrage Timeline (1840-1920).<\/p>\n

Timely Timelines<\/strong><\/p>\n

You can locate many interesting timelines in newspapers, either as feature articles or related to historical events. Search for them using the keywords \u201ctimeline,\u201d \u201cthis day in history\u201d or \u201cfamous headlines.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"article<\/a>
Boston Record American (Boston, Massachusetts), 29 October 1961, page 39<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

You may wish to construct your own timeline with historical newspaper headlines. Pick a subject and locate pertinent newspaper headlines and their corresponding articles. Categories are only limited by your imagination.<\/p>\n