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Community History Archives

Community History Archive Partner

Salem Public Library

Salem, Massachusetts

Explore this community history collection to discover the people, places, organizations, and events of Salem.

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1Title

Explore publications and collections from the past.

1880 to 1890Dates represented

See individual titles for available dates.

25,642Archive pages

Historical pages reported for this collection.

Explore local history

Discover the people, places, and stories of Salem, Massachusetts.

Explore the past of Salem, Massachusetts through newspapers in the Salem Public Library's digital archive. The archive includes Salem Evening News, with material from 1880 to 1890.

You can open the archive using the link below.
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  • Selected title

    Salem Public Library shares “Salem Evening News”.

  • Free and open access

    No subscription or payment required.

  • Ways to explore

    Begin with a question of your own. Keep any date or description shown with your notes so you can return to the material.

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

Explore Salem Evening News through 25,642 digitized pages, with material from 1880 to 1890. This collection is shared through Salem Public Library's partnership with Advantage Archives. Some years or items may be missing between the dates shown.

A family name, place or date can help you decide where to begin.

Salem Evening News

25,642 pages from 1880 to 1890

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About the Archive

About The Salem Public Library’s History Archives

The Salem Public Library provides free and open access to local history through its Community History Archive, offering researchers, genealogists, and community members the ability to explore primary sources that document the people, places, and events of Salem, Massachusetts. Through a partnership with Advantage Archives , the archive serves as a searchable platform that delivers practical online access to historical newspapers and materials at no cost. The collection is complemented by the library’s extensive Local History resources, which span from the 19th century through the present and include newspapers, city directories, yearbooks, photographs, and digitized books that reflect “history as it happened” in Salem. These materials provide firsthand accounts and serve as a valuable educational resource that supports genealogy, research, and community engagement.

Salem Public Library photo 1

Local History

Local History Resources

  • The Salem City Directories (1866–1891 and later)
  • The Salem High School Yearbooks (1937–2015)
  • The Salem Local History Books (19th–20th centuries)
  • The Salem Maps and Atlases (varied years)
  • The Salem Postcards and Photographs (varied years)
  • The Salem World War I and II Collections (1910s–1940s)

The archive and associated collections provide access to local primary source documents, including directories that detail residents and businesses, yearbooks capturing student life, and digitized books covering genealogy, vital records, and early settlement history. Image collections and maps offer additional insight into Salem’s built environment and community development, allowing users to discover a detailed snapshot of time and engage with the city’s collective history through a digital archive.

About the Library

About The Salem Public Library

Salem Public Library, located at 370 Essex Street in Salem, Massachusetts, serves as a central educational resource and community hub that supports lifelong learning, research, and engagement. As part of the North of Boston Library Exchange (NOBLE) network, the library provides access to a wide range of books, digital resources, research databases, and community programs. Its services include public computers, Wi-Fi, educational programming, and specialized reference support, including assistance with genealogy and local history research. The library plays an important role in making information accessible and discoverable for residents and visitors alike.

Library History

The History Of The Salem Public Library

The Salem Public Library was established in 1887 when the Bertram family donated their Italianate mansion, originally built in 1855 for sea captain John Bertram, to the city for use as a public library. The library officially opened to the public in 1889 and has since remained a key institution within the community. Its roots reflect Salem’s long tradition of knowledge sharing, which dates back to earlier institutions such as the Salem Social Library founded in 1760. Over time, the library expanded its collections and services while maintaining its commitment to providing free access to information and preserving local historical resources.

About the Community

About Salem, Massachusetts

Salem, Massachusetts is a historic coastal city known for its significant role in early American history and maritime trade. Founded in 1626, it became an important seaport and commercial center in the 18th and 19th centuries. The city is widely recognized for the Salem witch trials of 1692, an event that continues to shape its cultural identity and historical interpretation. Today, Salem preserves its rich heritage through museums, archives, historic districts, and cultural institutions that help document and share the stories of its past while supporting ongoing community engagement.

Local History

Did You Know?

Did you know that Salem’s official city archives contain records dating back to 1634, including letters from figures such as George Washington and Samuel Adams? These preserved documents provide a rare and direct connection to early American history and reflect the city’s longstanding commitment to preserving and providing access to primary source materials.

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 Salem. The digital archive shared by the Salem 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.

Review collection titles

Community Partnership

Keeping local history a community resource

This community archive is made possible by the collaboration of the Salem 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
Read All About It

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.

Newest published articles

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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