10Titles
Explore publications and collections from the past.
Community History Archive Partner
Nissen Public Library
Saint Ansgar, Iowa
Explore this community history collection to discover the people, places, organizations, and events of Saint Ansgar.
1878 to 2022Dates represented
See individual titles for available dates.
107,986Archive pages
Historical pages reported for this collection.
Explore local history
Discover the people, places, and stories of Saint Ansgar, Iowa.
Explore the past of Saint Ansgar, Iowa through newspapers in the Nissen Public Library's digital archive. Its ten titles include material from 1878 to 2022.
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Selected titles
Nissen Public Library shares titles including “Enterprise Journal” and “St. Ansgar Enterprise”.
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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.
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 ten titles and 107,986 digitized pages, with material from 1878 to 2022. This collection is shared through Nissen Public Library's partnership with Advantage Archives. Some years or items may be missing between the dates shown.
A familiar name or place can be the beginning of a story. Explore the titles below to see where that connection leads.
Enterprise Journal
1,458 pages from 2019 to 2020
Enterprise Journal
2,212 pages from 2021 to 2022
St Ansgar Enterprise
41,272 pages from 1878 to 1987
St Ansgar Enterprise
3,620 pages from 1988 to 1991
St Ansgar Enterprise Journal
12,436 pages from 1991 to 2004
St Ansgar Enterprise Journal
3,422 pages from 2014 to 2017
St. Ansgar Enterprise
32,838 pages from 1885 to 1939
St. Ansgar Enterprise Journal
1,332 pages from 2018 to 2019
St. Ansgar Enterprise Journal
9,394 pages from 2004 to 2014
The St Ansgar Enterprise Journal
2 pages in 2015
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About the Library
About The Nissen Public Library
The Nissen Public Library serves the residents of St. Ansgar and the surrounding communities. The library provides equitable access to information and services to promote enlightened citizenship, enrich personal lives, and encourage lifelong learning. Supporting the American Library Association's "Library Bill of Rights" and the "Freedom to Read" documents, the library is dedicated to fostering a love of reading and lifelong learning. In 1925, Mrs. Karen Nissen bequeathed a generous sum to the town of St. Ansgar to establish a public library named the "Nissen Library." The initial location was procured on Main Street, east of the Champlin oil station, and construction began. Miss Iola Lund was elected as the first librarian in September 1927. However, disaster struck in September 1929 when the nearby filling station exploded, causing the death of its owner, Mr. Parker, and the destruction of the library. The books were temporarily moved to a room in the Klindt Hotel. Following this setback, plans for a new building were discussed. After considering various locations, a lot owned by R.C. Mueller was selected. The new building was designed to house the council rooms, a restroom, and the library. Construction went forward, and in 1930, the current library building was erected. The Nissen Public Library has since continued to serve the community, adapting to meet the needs of its patrons while preserving its historical legacy.
About the Community
About St. Ansgar, Iowa
St. Ansgar, located in Mitchell County, Iowa, is a charming community with a rich history and a strong sense of community. Founded in the mid-19th century, St. Ansgar has grown into a vibrant town known for its friendly atmosphere and active civic life. The town offers a variety of amenities, including parks, schools, and healthcare facilities, making it an ideal place to live and visit. St. Ansgar’s historical significance is evident in its well-preserved buildings and active historical societies. The town's close-knit community is reflected in numerous local events and festivals that celebrate its history and bring residents together. The Nissen Public Library plays a crucial role in this community, providing access to educational resources and fostering a love of reading and learning among its residents.
More ways to explore and share local history
Research Guidance
Follow a story beyond the first mention
A family name, a familiar street or a story passed down through generations can lead to a closer look at the history of Saint Ansgar. The digital archive shared by the Nissen Public 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.
When a promising newspaper lead runs out, check the dates and titles represented before trying another name, place, or nearby issue. Keep unsuccessful searches with useful findings; gaps in coverage can limit what a search reveals. Use the dates and references to shape your next question, not as proof a missing result never existed.
As you piece together a story from the past, note where each detail came from and why it matters. Include the title, date, and page or item reference. Mark uncertain identifications and unanswered questions so a promising connection does not become an unsupported fact.
Community Partnership
Keeping local history a community resource
This community archive is made possible by the collaboration of the Nissen 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.
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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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