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Community History Archives

Community History Archive Partner

Allegany Public Library

Allegany, New York

Explore this community history collection to discover the people, places, organizations, and events of Allegany.

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4Titles

Explore publications and collections from the past.

1896 to 1976Dates represented

See individual titles for available dates.

29,809Archive pages

Historical pages reported for this collection.

Explore local history

Discover the people, places, and stories of Allegany, New York.

Get to know Allegany, New York in earlier years through the newspapers shared in the Allegany Public Library's digital archive. Its four titles include material from 1896 to 1976.

You can open the archive using the link below.
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  • Selected titles

    The collection from Allegany Public Library includes “Allegany Citizen” and “Times Herald”.

  • Free and open access

    No subscription or payment required.

  • 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 four titles and 29,809 digitized pages, with material from 1896 to 1976. A partnership between Allegany Public Library and Advantage Archives makes this collection available. Some years or items may be missing between the dates shown.

Explore the titles below for a closer look at the places, people and everyday life of earlier generations.

Allegany Citizen

29,781 pages from 1896 to 1976

National Tribune

8 pages in 1903

Portville Star

8 pages in 1954

Times Herald

12 pages in 1942

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About the Archive

About The Allegany Public Library's History Archives

The Allegany Public Library proudly provides free access to a comprehensive digital archive of historical newspapers. In partnership with Advantage Archives , this archive spans several decades, covering the years from 1896 to 1976, and offers a wealth of local history for research and genealogy enthusiasts. The digital archive includes:

  • The Allegany Citizen (1896-1976)
  • The National Tribune (1903)
  • The Times Herald (1942)
  • The Portville Star (1954)

This digital archive unlocks the past, bringing the stories of the people, places, and events of Allegany to the present. The project was made possible through community-based partnerships and grants, ensuring that our collective history remains accessible and discoverable. These primary source documents provide firsthand accounts, offering a unique perspective on history as it happened.

Allegany Public Library photo 1

About the Library

About The Allegany Public Library

The Allegany Public Library is dedicated to serving the community's educational needs and pleasures through their extensive collections, including books, audiobooks, periodicals, reference materials, DVDs, and videos. The library offers free high-speed internet access and friendly service to all patrons. Fun and engaging programs such as children's story hour and the Americorps after-school program for teens are among the highlights of the library's offerings. As an essential educational resource, the Allegany Public Library fosters community engagement and promotes literacy through various programs and services. The library's commitment to accessibility and providing a welcoming environment ensures that all patrons have the tools they need for research, learning, and connecting with the world.

Allegany Public Library photo 2

Library History

The History Of The Allegany Public Library

The present Allegany Public Library was the brainchild of a group of dedicated citizens in 1962. Although Mr. Fred W. Forness had previously left funds to the village for a library, these were returned due to various challenges. In the fall of 1962, a committee was formed to establish a library, with the Town Board granting space on the second floor of the Town Hall. Numerous volunteers contributed time, labor, money, and books, enabling the library to open in November 1963 with 650 library cards issued in the first ten days and almost 400 books withdrawn in the first week. After meeting local tax support requirements, the library was granted a temporary charter on October 5, 1965, joining the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System, which loaned 1000 books to the new library. By 1970, the library needed first-floor access to accommodate senior citizens. When the First National Bank moved to a new building, it generously donated its old building to the village for the library. Volunteers and high school students relocated the books, and after successful renovations, the library received its permanent charter in September 1970. On December 3, 1971, an Open House celebrated the culmination of the community’s efforts, marking the establishment of a fully chartered library that has since become a significant contributor to the educational and cultural life of Allegany.

About the Community

About Allegany, New York

Allegany, New York, is a picturesque town known for its rich history and vibrant community spirit. Located in Cattaraugus County, Allegany offers a blend of scenic beauty and historical significance. The town's history is captured in its local newspapers, now digitized and accessible through the Allegany Public Library’s archives, providing a snapshot of time and preserving the stories of the people who have shaped its development. Allegany’s strategic location and community-based partnerships have fostered a strong sense of cultural heritage and economic development, making it a key part of the region’s history.

Local History

Did You Know?

  • Allegany is home to the Rock City Park, known for its massive rock formations and scenic trails, attracting visitors from all over the region.
  • The town's name, Allegany, is derived from the Native American word meaning "lovely" or "beautiful."
  • Allegany was once a significant stop on the Erie Railroad, which contributed to its growth and development in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

More ways to explore and share local history

Research Guidance

Trace a name across nearby issues

Start with something you would like to understand about the past of Allegany. It might be a person, a neighborhood or an event remembered in your family. Use the digital archive shared by the Allegany Public 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.

If a name does not appear, try an alternate spelling or a related term, then read around any match. Note the issue date and page so a result stays connected to its context. Use those details to follow a story without treating one search result as a complete answer.

Build a trail through the past that someone else can follow: record the title, date, page or item reference, and a link when available. Keep historical quotations distinct from your own interpretation. If accounts disagree, note what each source supports before deciding how the details fit together in a family or community story.

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Community Partnership

Keeping local history a community resource

This community archive is made possible by the collaboration of the Allegany Public 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
Read All About It

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.

Newest published articles

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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