3Titles
Explore publications and collections from the past.
Community History Archive Partner
Clarke County Historical Association
Berryville, Virginia
Explore this community history collection to discover the people, places, organizations, and events of Berryville.
1869 to 2007Dates represented
See individual titles for available dates.
93,272Archive pages
Historical pages reported for this collection.
Explore local history
Discover the people, places, and stories of Berryville, Virginia.
Get to know Berryville, Virginia in earlier years through the newspapers shared in the Clarke County Historical Association's digital archive. Its three titles include material from 1869 to 2007.
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Selected titles
The titles shared by Clarke County Historical Association include “Clarke Courier” and “Clarke Times-Courier”.
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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 three titles and 93,272 digitized pages, with material from 1869 to 2007. A partnership between Clarke County Historical Association and Advantage Archives makes this collection available. Some years or items may be missing between the dates shown.
Every search for the past starts with a question. Explore the titles below, follow the sources that speak to it, and see what new detail appears.
Clarke Courier
13,214 pages from 1965 to 1973
Clarke Times-Courier
60,704 pages from 1964 to 2007
The Clarke Courier
19,354 pages from 1869 to 1925
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About the Community
About The Clarke County Historical Association
The Clarke County Historical Association (CCHA) is dedicated to preserving the historical resources and records of Clarke County, Virginia. Established in 1939, CCHA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to fostering the use, understanding, and enjoyment of the county's history through stewardship and education. The association's offices are located in the historic Coiner House at 32 East Main Street in Berryville, Virginia, which also houses a research library and historical archives. In addition to its archives, CCHA owns and operates the Burwell-Morgan Mill, a fully operational 18th-century grist mill located in nearby Millwood, Virginia. The mill, a historic site, is staffed by volunteer millers who grind a variety of grains and offer tours every Saturday from May through November. The mill is closed from after Thanksgiving through the end of April.
Partner Story
The History Of The Clarke County Historical Association
Founded in 1939, the Clarke County Historical Association has grown to become the guardian of Clarke County’s historical heritage. The association's mission is to help preserve the county's historic resources and records, and to encourage their use and understanding through educational programs, exhibits, and community engagement. Over the years, CCHA has undertaken numerous projects to document and preserve the rich history of Clarke County. The association's archives contain a wealth of materials, including photographs, manuscripts, maps, and other historical documents. These resources are available to researchers, historians, and the general public, providing a comprehensive view of the county's past.
About the Community
About Clarke County, Virginia
Clarke County, located in the northern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, is known for its scenic beauty, historic sites, and rich agricultural heritage. Established in 1836, the county has a long history of farming, milling, and commerce. The town of Berryville, the county seat, features numerous historic buildings and serves as the cultural and economic hub of the region. Clarke County's history is marked by its role in the Civil War, with several notable battles and skirmishes taking place in the area. The county's preservation efforts have ensured that many of these historic sites remain intact, offering a glimpse into the past for visitors and residents alike.
Local History
Did You Know?
The Burwell-Morgan Mill, operated by the Clarke County Historical Association, is one of the oldest operable grist mills in the United States. Built in 1785, the mill continues to grind grains using traditional methods, providing a unique historical experience for visitors.
More ways to explore and share local history
Research Guidance
Keep publication context with a finding
Start with something you would like to understand about the past of Berryville. It might be a person, a neighborhood or an event remembered in your family. Use the digital archive shared by the Clarke County Historical Association 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. Note the newspaper title, issue date, and page for a useful report. Compare another account where available, and keep differences in timing or perspective visible rather than blending them into a single version.
Save the newspaper title, issue date, and page, then compare another dated account where available. Keep differences in timing and perspective visible so the source context is not lost. If the accounts disagree, record what each source supports and use the difference to shape a further search rather than smoothing them into one version.
A research trail is most useful when it leaves room for what is not yet known. Record the title, date, and page or item reference where available, along with what remains uncertain and which question you want to follow next. Those details help keep a possible connection from becoming an unsupported conclusion.
Community Partnership
Keeping local history a community resource
This community archive is made possible by the collaboration of the Clarke County Historical Association, 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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