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Genealogy: Newspapers

A guide to genealogical research resources with an emphasis on Kentucky and resources available at UK and nearby libraries.

Newspaper Sources

Online newspapers are available from a number of sources, including ancestry.com. At the University of Kentucky, you will find the largest collection of Kentucky newspapers available on microfilm. These newspapers are in the process of being digitized. In addition, UK Libraries subscribes to several online newspaper archival collections. Here are a number of resources available to UK affiliates and in-house users. Microfilm can be requested through your local library's interlibrary loan service, as well. They are valuable genealogy tools because they include births, weddings, divorces, obituaries, local news and social events.


See Your Guide to Using  Newspapers for Genealogical Research for tips and ideas.

Finding Microfilmed Newspapers

Search InfoKat Discovery for a specific newspaper.

  • Use the title of the paper (if known), e.g., Lexington Leader
  • Use the Subject search if the city, county, state or country is known, such as Lexington newspapers or France newspapers (restrict by using "that contain my query words" and "in subject" in the drop-down below the search box).


     

Search the UK Libraries Microfilm Holdings Database for a specific Kentucky newspaper or browse by county or city.
Not all Kentucky newspapers available for viewing are included in this database, however (e.g., The Lexington Herald-Leader and the Courier-Journal  are not included); if you do not find the Kentucky newspaper you need, check with the Reference Desk or Periodical Desk in Young Library; if we do not own the paper, a librarian or you can check WorldCat to see if another library has the issue you need.

In addition, Ask Us for a book set to the microfilmed newspapers listed by city/town and specifying the available date ranges.

The microfilmed newspapers are available for viewing by appointment. Copiers and digital downloads are available.

Ask Us for assistance.

Guide to Published U.S. Newspapers

Can't find the full-text of the newspaper you need? Not sure what newspaper(s) cover(s) the time-frame and location you are exploring? Use the index below to confirm the paper(s) you need. You can then see if you can borrow the microfilm from a library that holds the newspapers. See

 

Holdings:
View complete holdings information
 
 

at the bottom of each newspaper record for holding libraries.

University of Kentucky affiliates can request microfilm through the Libraries' Interlibrary Loan service.