8Titles
Explore publications and collections from the past.
Community History Archive Partner
Solon Economist
Solon, Iowa
Explore this community history collection to discover the people, places, organizations, and events of Solon.
1882 to 2018Dates represented
See individual titles for available dates.
117,946Archive pages
Historical pages reported for this collection.
Explore local history
Discover the people, places, and stories of Solon, Iowa.
Explore the past of Solon, Iowa through newspapers in the Solon Economist's digital archive. Its eight titles include material from 1882 to 2018.
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Selected titles
The collection from Solon Economist includes “Solon Economist” and “The News”.
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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 eight titles and 117,946 digitized pages, with material from 1882 to 2018. This collection is shared through Solon Economist's partnership with Advantage Archives. Some years or items may be missing between the dates shown.
Explore the titles below for a closer look at the places, people and everyday life of earlier generations.
Solon Economist
101,538 pages from 1921 to 2018
Solon Economy
14,484 pages from 1897 to 1921
Solon Reaper
136 pages from 1882 to 1887
Solon Reporter
152 pages from 1888 to 1901
The Coralville News
140 pages in 1963
The Leader
24 pages in 1991
The News
16 pages from 1892 to 1894
The Solon News
1,456 pages from 1920 to 1921
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About the Community
About The Solon Economist
The Solon Economist has been a cornerstone of the Solon community, providing news and insights since its inception. It has served as a vital source of information, reflecting the community's growth and changes over the years. The newspaper's commitment to covering local events, issues, and stories has made it an essential part of Solon’s collective memory. Through its partnership with Advantage Archives, the Solon Economist continues to play a crucial role in preserving and sharing the community’s history.
Partner Story
The History Of The Solon Economist
The Solon Economist has a rich history dating back to its early days as a local newspaper. Over the decades, it has chronicled significant events and everyday happenings in Solon and the surrounding areas. The archive project, which includes titles like The Solon Reaper, The Solon Economy, and The Solon News, highlights the evolution of local journalism and its impact on the community. Each title in the archive provides a unique perspective on the times, capturing the voices and experiences of the past.
About the Community
About Solon, Iowa
Solon, Iowa, is a vibrant community known for its strong sense of local pride and history. Founded in the mid-19th century, Solon has grown into a dynamic town that values its heritage while embracing modern development. The town’s rich history is reflected in its well-preserved architecture and the strong connections among its residents. Solon is a place where community spirit thrives, and the local newspaper has always played a significant role in fostering that sense of togetherness.
Local History
Did You Know?
• The Solon Reaper, one of the earliest newspapers in Solon, provides a fascinating glimpse into the town’s history during the late 19th century. • Solon is known for its annual Beef Days celebration, a tradition that brings together residents and visitors to enjoy local food, music, and entertainment. • The Solon Economist has documented key historical moments, including the growth of local schools, businesses, and infrastructure developments in Solon and the surrounding areas.
More ways to explore and share local history
Research Guidance
Trace a name across nearby issues
A family name, a familiar street or a story passed down through generations can lead to a closer look at the history of Solon. The digital archive shared by the Solon Economist 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.
If a name does not appear, try an alternate spelling or a related term, then read around any match. Note the issue date and page so a result stays connected to its context. Use those details to follow a story without treating one search result as a complete answer.
Build a trail through the past that someone else can follow: record the title, date, page or item reference, and a link when available. Keep historical quotations distinct from your own interpretation. If accounts disagree, note what each source supports before deciding how the details fit together in a family or community story.
Community Partnership
Keeping local history a community resource
This community archive is made possible by the collaboration of the Solon Economist, 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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