6Titles
Explore publications and collections from the past.
Community History Archive Partner
Alexander Hamilton Memorial Free Library
Waynesboro, Pennsylvania
Explore this community history collection to discover the people, places, organizations, and events of Waynesboro.
1851 to 2009Dates represented
See individual titles for available dates.
925,392Archive pages
Historical pages reported for this collection.
Explore local history
Discover the people, places, and stories of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania.
Get to know Waynesboro, Pennsylvania in earlier years through the newspapers shared in the Alexander Hamilton Memorial Free Library's digital archive. Its six titles include material from 1851 to 2009.
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Selected titles
Alexander Hamilton Memorial Free Library shares titles including “Blue Ridge Zephyr” and “Waynesboro Record”.
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Free and open access
No subscription or payment required.
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A closer look
An earlier generation comes into view through the stories its newspapers chose to report, placing familiar names and events within the concerns of their time.
Historical newspapers can connect a family name with the events and everyday concerns of an earlier time, offering more than a date or a name on its own. Bring a family connection, a question about a familiar place or an interest in local history, and see where the sources lead. Explore the archive online for free, without a subscription.
Explore the collection
Titles in this collection
Browse six titles and 925,392 digitized pages, with material from 1851 to 2009. A partnership between Alexander Hamilton Memorial Free Library and Advantage Archives makes this collection available. Some years or items may be missing between the dates shown.
A familiar name or place can be the beginning of a story. Explore the titles below to see where that connection leads.
Blue Ridge Zephyr
2 pages in 1904
Daily Record
2 pages in 1914
Evening Review
2 pages in 1882
Record Herald
891,324 pages from 1918 to 2009
Village Record
18,032 pages from 1851 to 1900
Waynesboro Record
16,030 pages from 1901 to 1921
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About the Archive
About The Alexander Hamilton Memorial Free Library’s History Archives
In partnership with Advantage Archives , the library has digitized a substantial collection of local newspapers, allowing the community to explore their collective history and discover "history as it happened." The Community History Archive is essential for research, genealogy, and local history exploration. This digital archive serves as a practical online access point, providing a “portal to your community’s past” where you can discover the people, places, and events that shaped Waynesboro. The archive includes:
- The Village Record (1851-1900)
- The Waynesboro Record (1901-1921)
- The Record Herald (1918-2009)
This comprehensive archive allows users to access primary sources and firsthand accounts, bringing the past to the present and offering a snapshot of time as recorded by individuals who witnessed it. This initiative highlights the library’s commitment to greater access to historical content and ensures that local history is free and open to all.
About the Library
About The Alexander Hamilton Memorial Free Library
The mission of the Alexander Hamilton Memorial Free Library is to enrich the lives of the citizens of the greater Waynesboro area by providing free access to materials, information, programs, and services through well-maintained collections, qualified staff, up-to-date technology, and partnerships with other libraries. The Alexander Hamilton Memorial Free Library is a cornerstone of the Waynesboro community, dedicated to providing educational resources and fostering a love of learning. Located at 45 East Main Street, Waynesboro, PA 17268, the library offers a welcoming space for residents to connect, engage, and discover. In addition to its extensive digital archives, the library hosts various programs and events, supported by the Friends of the Library group. This group of dedicated volunteers plans activities and manages the library’s bookstore, with all proceeds going towards library improvements and community programs.
Library History
The History Of The Alexander Hamilton Memorial Free Library
The Alexander Hamilton Memorial Free Library has a rich history that mirrors the growth and development of Waynesboro. The library is housed in the historic Alexander Hamilton House, a two-story, five-bay Georgian-style brick house built around 1816 by John Bittinger. The house was purchased by Alexander Hamilton in 1842 and remained in the family until 1943, when Hamilton’s granddaughter, Jane Stover-Yost, bequeathed it to the Borough of Waynesboro for the town's first permanent public library. The library’s commitment to accessibility and shared responsibility in preserving history is evident in its extensive digital archives, created in partnership with Advantage Archives. These archives provide a valuable cultural asset, ensuring that the history of Waynesboro is discoverable and accessible to all.
About the Community
About The City of Waynesboro
Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, is a town with a deep historical background. Founded in 1817, the town quickly became a center of trade and industry. The completion of the railroad in the 19th century spurred rapid growth, transforming Waynesboro into a bustling community. Today, Waynesboro is home to a vibrant community and serves as a hub for local commerce and culture. The town's historical significance is preserved through various cultural institutions, including the Alexander Hamilton Memorial Free Library, which plays a crucial role in making local history accessible to all.
Local History
Did You Know?
Did you know that Alexander Hamilton, the namesake of the Alexander Hamilton Memorial Free Library, arrived in Waynesboro with nothing but a few belongings in a handkerchief? He walked from Chester County and became a prominent land speculator and wagon maker. They also wrote a little play about him...you might have heard about it.
Partner Story
Hours
Monday: 10:00am - 6:00pm Tuesday: 10:00am - 7:00pm Wednesday: 10:00am - 6:00pm Thursday: 10:00am - 6:00pm Friday: 10:00am - 3:00pm Saturday: 9:00am - 4:00pm
More ways to explore and share local history
Research Guidance
Follow a story beyond the first mention
Start with something you would like to understand about the past of Waynesboro. It might be a person, a neighborhood or an event remembered in your family. Use the digital archive shared by the Alexander Hamilton Memorial Free Library to follow that question into the historical record. When using historical newspapers, try alternate spellings and nearby dates, then read the surrounding page to place a local story in its time. Compare later reporting or another available title to explore different perspectives rather than treating one account as the whole story.
When a promising newspaper lead runs out, check the dates and titles represented before trying another name, place, or nearby issue. Keep unsuccessful searches with useful findings; gaps in coverage can limit what a search reveals. Use the dates and references to shape your next question, not as proof a missing result never existed.
As you piece together a story from the past, note where each detail came from and why it matters. Include the title, date, and page or item reference. Mark uncertain identifications and unanswered questions so a promising connection does not become an unsupported fact.
Community Partnership
Keeping local history a community resource
This community archive is made possible by the collaboration of the Alexander Hamilton Memorial Free Library, its community, and Advantage Archives. Together, these partnerships preserve local sources and give people a way to explore, learn from, and share the history around them.
Advantage Archives covers ongoing archive hosting, storage, development, and maintenance. The institution and its community do not pay a subscription, seat license, annual support contract, or other recurring archive-service charge. Local history remains a community resource, not a subscription to maintain.
Would you like to see more of your community's history preserved and accessible? Start a conversation with your library, newspaper publisher, historical or genealogical society, museum, or school about the materials they would like to share and a possible partnership with Advantage Archives.
Learn about partnerships
Stories, research tips, and archive news
Read All About It connects archive research with the people and institutions preserving local history. Explore partner and community stories, project updates, research ideas, and perspectives on digitization, education, and working with primary sources. Use the articles as a starting point for your next question or a new way to share a discovery.
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Why Microfilm is still important in 2023
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Unveiling the Hidden Mysteries: Exploring Cold Cases and Unconventional Clues
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This Week in History: March 31st through April 6th
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This Week in History: March 24th through March 30th
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March 18, 2025
It’s Your Community’s History, So Why Rent Something You Own?
We believe that history belongs to the communities where it was made - not locked behind paywalls or inaccessible due to budget restrictions. Subscription-based services and large content aggregators are generally more concerned with "content" and less concerned with the history that content contains. Their models typically involve a reoccurring charge for a plan that renews annually or licensing agreements with the library based on population served or circulation numbers. You are essentially Renting Access To YOUR History.
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