Newspapers: A Primary Resource for Social Studies/History Students
WEAC Convention Oct. 27-28, 2005


Wisconsin Newspapers on the Web

Newspaper databases on the Internet offer a quick approach to doing research compared to paging through bound volumes or microfilm. One drawback, however, is the oldest material to be found is only from the 1990's. In some cases, this information can be retrieved at no cost, but there are some Wisconsin newspaper archives that require payment.


  • BadgerLink Wisconsin Newsstand (www.badgerlink.org)

  • Wisconsin daily newspaper archives online



    For older material, an excellent source can be found at the Wisconsin Historical Society's Web site. The articles found at this site are from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.


  • Wisconsin Local History & Biography Articles (Wisconsin Historical Society) (www.wisconsinhistory.org/wlhba/index.asp)



    Always check with your local sources such as the public library and local historical society. It is possible either place could have a clippings collection online. At least they might have an online index to the local newspaper.


  • Public library newspaper archives online

  • Local historical societies online



    Most of these sites do not include full-text newspaper collections but start your lobbying efforts. Form a coaltion including the schools, public library, local newspaper and local historical society to work towards adding older articles or complete editions to the Web.

    If your school district has the budget, there are even more sites on the Web you and your students can use for research.

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