The Nineteenth Century Newspaper Collection is a wonderful miscellany of newspapers from around the country, dating from 1803 to 1898 but particularly strong from 1820 to 1870. Though sometimes researchers privilege full runs of newspapers for research value, these assorted single issues have interesting uses too, and can provide a fascinating survey of a wide variety of American experiences. Westward expansion, American religious experience, the rise of consumer culture, rural to urban migration, immigration--all of these research topics and more can be explored by delving into this absorbing cross-section of American life. The diverse advertising sections of these newspapers, with various notices for runaway slaves, farm implements, or ladies' clothing across the century, give a captivating glimpse at the formation national identity. And for scholars interested in newspapers as material objects, this newspaper cross-section provides numerous examples of different paper, printing, presentations, and reader annotation.
This collection is perfect for an in-class, small-group, "lab" assignment in using primary sources. A class discussing the Industrial Revolution in America, for example, can look at ten different single issues over a brief timespan, search for evidence of technology's impact on society throughout the newspaper, and regroup to discuss what is found. The possibilities for this collection's use are many and various--browse the finding aid for ideas!