12Titles
Explore publications and collections from the past.
Community History Archive Partner
Killgore Memorial Library
Dumas, Texas
Explore this community history collection to discover the people, places, organizations, and events of Dumas.
1898 to 2019Dates represented
See individual titles for available dates.
147,052Archive pages
Historical pages reported for this collection.
Explore local history
Discover the people, places, and stories of Dumas, Texas.
Explore the past of Dumas, Texas through newspapers in the Killgore Memorial Library's digital archive. Its twelve titles include material from 1898 to 2019.
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Selected titles
The titles shared by Killgore Memorial Library include “Dumas Dollar Day News” and “The Sunray Dispatch”.
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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.
Reporting from the time can reveal how people described the events, work and concerns of their day, placing a local story within the history unfolding around it. Whether you are tracing a family connection, exploring a local event or sharing history with a class, there is more to discover than names and dates alone. Explore the archive online for free, without a subscription.
Explore the collection
Titles in this collection
Browse twelve titles and 147,052 digitized pages, with material from 1898 to 2019. This collection is shared through Killgore Memorial Library's partnership with Advantage Archives. 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.
Dumas Dollar Day News
353 pages from 1951 to 1955
Dumas Sunday News
394 pages from 1949 to 1950
Moore County Daily News
6,913 pages from 1961 to 1964
Moore County News
23,627 pages from 1927 to 1971
Moore County News Press
109,081 pages from 1971 to 2019
North Plains Press
5,448 pages from 1965 to 1971
Sunray Oil Dispatch
249 pages from 1935 to 1936
The Dumas Evening News
527 pages in 1937
The Dumas Weekly Headlight
4 pages in 1898
The Moore County Pioneer
205 pages from 1909 to 1912
The North Plains Progress
10 pages in 1924
The Sunray Dispatch
241 pages from 1936 to 1937
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About the Archive
About The Kilgore Public Library’s History Archives
This extensive collection of local newspapers provides invaluable insight into the history and development of Moore County, capturing over a century of events, stories, and community life. The digitization of these newspapers was made possible thanks to the generous support of the Ladd and Katherine Hancher Library Foundation.
About the Library
About The Kilgore Public Library
The Kilgore Public Library stands as a beautiful memorial to the hundreds of early citizens who established and supported its beginnings. Over the years, the Library has become an integral part of Kilgore's cultural and historical landscape, reflecting the community's dedication to learning and history.
Library History
The History Of The Kilgore Public Library
The Kilgore Public Library's journey began six years before its French Provincial structure was completed. The Kilgore Business and Professional Women’s Club initiated the project with just ninety dollars and no books, kept alive by donations and fundraising events. Initially operating from a room in the local hospital, the library eventually moved to a room in the old Texas Theatre, loaned by Mr. Liggett Crim. Under the leadership of Mayor Roy H. Laird, the City supported the project, leading to the construction of a permanent building in 1939. Designed by Dallas architect George M. Marble, the French Provincial building cost $45,000, with $20,000 provided by the Public Works Administration. Marble considered the library one of his most prized accomplishments, successfully fighting to keep its distinctive architectural features intact. In 1978, a bond issue enabled a 4,500 square foot addition, designed to complement the original structure. The Texas Historical Commission recognized the library's cultural significance by designating it a historical site in 1990. From its humble beginnings to its current grandeur, the Kilgore Public Library remains a testament to the community's rich history and dedication to learning.
About the Community
About The City of Kilgore, Texas
Kilgore, Texas, located in the heart of East Texas, is known for its rich oil history and vibrant community. Founded in 1872, Kilgore experienced significant growth during the East Texas Oil Boom in the 1930s. The city is home to the East Texas Oil Museum and the Kilgore College Rangerettes, the world's first collegiate drill team. Kilgore's downtown area features the World's Richest Acre Park, commemorating the historic oil boom that transformed the city and contributed to its enduring legacy.
Local History
Did You Know?
Did you know that Kilgore, Texas, is home to the Kilgore College Rangerettes, the world's first collegiate drill team? Founded in 1940, the Rangerettes have performed at major events across the country, including presidential inaugurations and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, showcasing Kilgore's rich cultural heritage.
More ways to explore and share local history
Research Guidance
Keep publication context with a finding
A family name, a familiar street or a story passed down through generations can lead to a closer look at the history of Dumas. The digital archive shared by the Killgore Memorial Library offers a place to begin. 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 Killgore Memorial 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
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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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