13Titles
Explore publications and collections from the past.
Community History Archive Partner
Bear Lake County Free Library
Montpelier, Idaho
Explore this community history collection to discover the people, places, organizations, and events of Montpelier.
1880 to 2010Dates represented
See individual titles for available dates.
203,082Archive pages
Historical pages reported for this collection.
Explore local history
Discover the people, places, and stories of Montpelier, Idaho.
Get to know Montpelier, Idaho in earlier years through the newspapers shared in the Bear Lake County Free Library's digital archive. Its thirteen titles include material from 1880 to 2010.
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Selected titles
The collection from Bear Lake County Free Library includes “Bear Lake Booster” and “The Paris Review”.
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Free and open access
No subscription or payment required.
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A closer look
Newspaper pages connect individual accounts with a wider story, preserving how events were reported and presented to the readers of the day.
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 thirteen titles and 203,082 digitized pages, with material from 1880 to 2010. A partnership between Bear Lake County Free 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.
Bear Lake Booster
1,650 pages from 1939 to 1941
Bear Lake County News
13,284 pages from 1922 to 1937
Bear Lake Gazette
414 pages from 1985 to 1986
Daily News
4,776 pages from 1920 to 1922
Montpelier Examiner
34,832 pages from 1896 to 1937
News Examiner
108,090 pages from 1937 to 2010
Post
1,034 pages from 1899 to 1908
South Idaho Independent
2,548 pages from 1885 to 1892
The Bear Lake County News
8 pages in 1922
The Bear Lake Democrat
1,970 pages from 1880 to 1885
The Montpelier Examiner
96 pages in 1902
The Paris Post
33,932 pages from 1908 to 1969
The Paris Review
448 pages from 1919 to 1920
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About the Library
About The Bear Lake County Free Library
The Bear Lake County Free Library is dedicated to serving the community as an information access and technology center. It is committed to providing popular and current materials, along with lifelong learning resources that enrich the lives of residents. The library serves as a vital gathering place for learning, community engagement, and social connection. Our mission, encapsulated in the phrase "Preserving Yesterday — Enriching Today — Inspiring Tomorrow," reflects our commitment to fostering an interest in reading and learning, and assisting the community in accessing information.
Library History
The History Of The Bear Lake County Free Library
Established with the goal of fostering a love for reading and learning, the Bear Lake County Free Library has evolved to meet the needs of its community. The library offers a rich collection of historical and contemporary resources that serve as a testament to its dedication to education and engagement. Through its efforts, the library has become a hub for local residents, providing essential services and a welcoming environment for individuals and families alike. The continued growth of the library reflects its enduring mission and the commitment of its staff and volunteers to support the Idaho community's needs.
About the Community
About The Bear Lake County Area
Bear Lake County, located in the scenic region of Idaho, is known for its rich history and community spirit. The library plays a pivotal role in the area by offering access to information and resources that foster education and personal growth. The library's programs and services help residents connect with one another while exploring new ideas and learning opportunities. With its strong emphasis on community engagement, the Bear Lake County Free Library is truly a cornerstone of local culture, bringing together residents of all ages in a shared space dedicated to knowledge and exploration.
Local History
Did You Know?
Did you know that the library offers a wide variety of resources beyond books? In addition to traditional library services, the library provides access to technology, community events, and programs that encourage lifelong learning and creativity. The library is proud to be a welcoming space where everyone can gather, learn, and make new friends, embodying its mission to be "the BEST little library anywhere."
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 Montpelier. It might be a person, a neighborhood or an event remembered in your family. Use the digital archive shared by the Bear Lake County 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.
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.
Community Partnership
Keeping local history a community resource
This community archive is made possible by the collaboration of the Bear Lake County 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.
May 7, 2025
Why Microfilm is still important in 2023
Preserving documents on microfilm has been a popular method of storage for many years, and it still holds many benefits today. Here…
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May 7, 2025
Don’t Search For An Obituary By Only Searching For An “Obituary”
In the quest to trace our roots and understand our heritage, obituaries often serve as a crucial starting point. Obituaries are undoubtedly…
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April 9, 2025
Unveiling the Hidden Mysteries: Exploring Cold Cases and Unconventional Clues
Even the most esteemed police forces in the county encounter perplexing cold case files. These unsolved mysteries often leave investigators and genealogists…
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April 1, 2025
This Week in History: March 31st through April 6th
Discover History in The Community History Archives. This week in history, there is absolutely nothing to talk about… April Fools! April…
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March 24, 2025
This Week in History: March 24th through March 30th
Discover History in The Community History Archives. It has officially been a year since I started writing This Week in History,…
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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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