Newark Public Library

Explore local history

Discover the people, places, and stories of Newark, New Jersey.

Discover another side of Newark, New Jersey through newspapers preserved in the Newark Public Library's digital archive. Its three titles include material from 1872 to 1972.

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• Selected titles

  A selection from Newark Public Library: “Newark Evening News” and “Newark Sunday Call”.

• Free and open access

  No subscription or payment required.

• A closer look

  A familiar name or event takes on another dimension in the newspaper coverage of its time, alongside the stories that mattered to the readers of that issue.

The reporting of earlier years offers a way to explore how events were understood as they happened and how local experiences became part of the historical record. A family story, a classroom project or curiosity about a familiar place can lead to a closer look at the community and the lives of earlier generations. Explore the archive online for free, without a subscription.

Explore the collection

Titles in this collection

Browse three titles and 2,722,948 digitized pages, with material from 1872 to 1972. Through a partnership with Advantage Archives, Newark Public Library shares these sources from the past. Some years or items may be missing between the dates shown.

A family story or a question about a familiar place can lead somewhere unexpected. Browse the titles below and see which detail draws you in.

Newark Evening News

2,403,800 pages from 1883 to 1972

Newark Star-Ledger

68 pages in 1944

Newark Sunday Call

319,080 pages from 1872 to 1946

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About the Archive

About The Newark Public Library’s History Archives

The Newark Public Library offers free access to its historical newspaper collection through a partnership with Advantage Archives . This archive provides a unique opportunity to explore the rich history of Newark, New Jersey, through local newspapers that document the development of the city and its people over time.

About the Library

About The Newark Public Library

The Newark Public Library is committed to strengthening its infrastructure, resources, and services to better serve the community. The library’s Bridge Plan (2021-2023) focuses on enhancing the team, facilities, and funding, aiming to prepare for long-term growth and to create future-ready library spaces and services that inspire and meet the needs of Newark’s diverse population.

Library History

The History Of The Newark Public Library

Established as a cornerstone of the Newark community, the Newark Public Library has played a critical role in providing educational, cultural, and informational resources to its patrons. The library’s historical newspaper collection helps preserve the city’s rich heritage, offering valuable insights into Newark’s past and serving as a resource for genealogists, researchers, and history enthusiasts.

About the Community

About Newark, New Jersey

Newark, the largest city in New Jersey, boasts a vibrant history as an industrial hub and cultural center. The Newark Public Library has been a part of the city’s evolution, providing essential resources to generations of Newark residents. The library’s historical newspaper archive allows users to explore the city’s growth, from its industrial past to its current status as a dynamic urban center.

Local History

Did You Know?

Did you know that the Newark Public Library’s historical newspaper collection includes titles dating back to 1883? These newspapers offer a fascinating look into the city’s history, covering everything from local events and politics to the daily lives of Newark’s citizens.

More ways to explore and share local history

Research Guidance

Compare accounts as you trace a story

The history of Newark includes individual lives as well as events remembered by the wider community. In the digital archive shared by the Newark Public Library, begin with a name, place or date connected with the story you want to explore. 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. Use a report's date to look for earlier or later coverage where those issues are available. Compare what each account says and what it leaves out, treating a related mention as a lead rather than a complete history.

Compare each newspaper account with a nearby dated issue where available, noting what changes or stays consistent. Keep alternate versions and unresolved details visible rather than blending distinct sources into one story. Use those differences to frame a next question, not to settle the account before the sources support it.

Keep source details beside each quotation or observation. If accounts differ, preserve both references and note what remains unresolved. Let the evidence, rather than a smooth retelling, show where the sources agree and where the story is still open.

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Community Partnership

Keeping local history a community resource

This community archive is made possible by the collaboration of the Newark 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 →

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.

Stories connected to Newark Public Library

May 16, 2024

Spotlight: The Newark Public Library’s History Archive

The Newark History Archive Is A Portal To New Jersey's Past   The Newark Public Library brings a significant piece of Newark’s…

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