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Newspapers: Introduction to Newspapers

Introduction

Welcome to the Newspapers research guide!

Shepherd University library has access to many newspapers (mostly historical) in multiple formats (print, digital and in microfilm.)

This research guide is split into several tabbed pages for ease of navigation. Below is the list of these tabs and a short description.

Digital: all of the newspapers and newspaper databases that can be accessed online. Some of these are freely available to every patron;many require a Shepherd University username and password to read or search.

Community Reading Room: a list of the local area newspapers that were available before the COVID-19 pandemic. Many newspapers on this page still have suspended subscriptions.

Civil War Era Newspapers: a list of newspapers from the time just before, during, and just after the Civil War, covering many publications in the Southern states.

West Virginia Newspapers: Newspapers published in the state of West Virginia

Newspaper Timelines: Newspapers change their names (mastheads) over the years of their publication, merge, or cease publication. The lists on these pages detail the name changes of newspapers in Shepherd University's collection, providing newspaper "families" to assist research..

Newspaper Master List: The list containing all newspaper-related items at Shepherd

Current Daily Newspaper Status

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many of the current daily print newspapers Shepherd University had access to were and remain suspended.

Below is an example of the status of a suspended subscription.

 

Mineral Daily News and Keyser Tribune (Keyser—Mineral Co.)

Current subscription suspended (Reading Room)

 

When a subscription is renewed, the list will reflect this status as well:

Shepherdstown Chronicle (Jefferson Co.)

Renewed subscription--Current year Sept 1, 2023 start date (Reading Room)

 

Updates on whether subscriptions for daily papers are resumed will be provided when information can be confirmed.

RENEWED NEWSPAPER SUBSCRIPTIONS

  • Shepherdstown Chronicle
  • Spirit of Jefferson Farmers' Advocate
  • Journal (Martinsburg)

Subject Guide

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Frances Marshall
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Helpful Tips 1--Physical Access to Newspapers

Please ask a librarian or library staff member to retrieve the following items for you:

  • Items that are listed in storage, whether compact storage or 3rd floor storage.
  • West Virginia Archive (Rm 310) materials
  • Shepherd University Archive materials

West Virginia Archive  and Shepherd Archive materials must be requested and used in the Archive Reading Room. Please contact Ms. Frances Marshall, the Special Collections Librarian, to set up an appointment to view any papers located in either space.

              

Off-campus access to newspapers within databases (Lexis-Nexis, EBSCOHost, or ProQuest) is limited to Shepherd University students, faculty and staff. Direct links to newspapers within the databases are not provided, except for the New York Times Historical Newspaper and now the Washington Post.


Helpful Tips 2--The Meaning of Bold Dates

Some newspaper titles have multiple records associated with them in the catalog. The year will be bold and hyperlinked instead of the newspaper title.

Example:

Hampshire Review (Romney—Hampshire Co.) See also: Hampshire Review and the South Branch Intelligencer; Review (Romney)

May 22, 1884-March 25, 1903; Dec 29, 1920-July 1952

1884

1920

Helpful Tip 3--Microfilm

Most of the newspapers Shepherd University has on its Master List are on microfilm. This is a format that requires a special reader to be used to view the newspaper.

The microfilm reader at Shepherd Library is on a dedicated computer along the READ posters wall.

If you require a demonstration of the machine or assistance with it, please contact Ms. Frances Marshall, Archivist and Special Collections Librarian.

Helpful Tips 4--Off Campus Acess Availability

Off-campus access to subscription databases (like EBSCOHost) or New York Times Historical Newspaper is available to the following Shepherd University groups:

  • Current Students
  •  Faculty
  • Staff
  • Administration

 

Individuals must use their Shepherd University username and password to do so.

Below is an example of a username/password:

ex. Jdoe01

Password: 8Ch@racters