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Community History Archives

Community History Archive Partner

Waynesboro-Wayne County Library

Waynesboro, Mississippi

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

Institution Website
12Titles

Explore publications and collections from the past.

1844 to 2009Dates represented

See individual titles for available dates.

160,310Archive pages

Historical pages reported for this collection.

Explore local history

Discover the people, places, and stories of Waynesboro, Mississippi.

Explore the past of Waynesboro, Mississippi through newspapers in the community archive shared by the Waynesboro-Wayne County Library. Its twelve titles include material from 1844 to 2009.

Free access is available at the institution

Bring the names, dates, or questions you hope to investigate when you consult the collection.

Confirm access arrangements before planning an in-person visit.

  • Selected titles

    The collection from Waynesboro-Wayne County Library includes “Dixie Press” and “Weekly Aurora”.

  • In-person access

    Visit or contact the institution for access details.

  • Ways to explore

    Follow a story connected with Waynesboro through the sources that fit your question, rather than expecting one record to tell it all.

Historical newspapers can connect a family name with the events and everyday concerns of an earlier time, offering more than a date or a name on its own. Bring a family connection, a question about a familiar place or an interest in local history, and see where the sources lead.

Explore the collection

Titles in this collection

Browse twelve titles and 160,310 digitized pages, with material from 1844 to 2009. A partnership between Waynesboro-Wayne County Library and Advantage Archives makes this collection available. Some years or items may be missing between the dates shown. The title list can help you plan in-person research. Contact the institution to confirm access before your visit.

Explore the titles below for a closer look at the places, people and everyday life of earlier generations.

Dixie Press

1,272 pages from 1902 to 1904

Jasper County News

2,340 pages from 1917 to 1923

Jasper County Review

2,706 pages from 1891 to 1910

Newton County Index

8 pages in 1899

Newton Dispatch

8 pages in 1888

Newton Free Press

16 pages in 1885

Newton Weekly Ledger

508 pages from 1871 to 1872

The Wayne County News

5,450 pages from 1935 to 1979

Wayne County News

147,722 pages from 1918 to 2009

Wayne County Observer

8 pages in 1915

Waynesboro Beacon

264 pages from 1902 to 1903

Weekly Aurora

8 pages in 1844

Visit or contact the institution for access details.

About the Library

About The Waynesboro-Wayne County Library

The Waynesboro-Wayne County Library is dedicated to providing open access to a wide range of resources and services that meet the informational, educational, and cultural needs of the community. Offering a comprehensive collection of books, digital resources, and programs, the library fosters a love of reading and lifelong learning for all ages. It also serves as a vital center for technological learning and historical preservation, helping to ensure that the people of Wayne County are connected to both current technology and their local history.

Waynesboro-Wayne County Library photo 1

Library History

The History Of The Waynesboro-Wayne County Library

Founded with the mission to serve the people of Wayne County, the Waynesboro-Wayne County Library has become a central institution in the community. Over the years, the library has expanded its services and collections to meet the changing needs of its patrons, from providing access to the latest technology to preserving historical documents. The library continues to collect and digitize local newspapers and records, ensuring that future generations have access to the history of Wayne County. Through its partnerships and dedication, the library remains committed to preserving the past while preparing the community for the future.

About the Community

About Wayne County, Mississippi

Wayne County, located in southeastern Mississippi, is a region rich in history and culture. Known for its agricultural roots and close-knit communities, Wayne County has developed over the years while maintaining its small-town charm. The Waynesboro-Wayne County Library plays a significant role in preserving the county's history, providing residents and visitors with access to historical archives that document the development and growth of the area over the past century and beyond.

Local History

Did You Know?

Did you know that the Weekly Aurora , one of the oldest newspapers in the area, was first published in 1844? These historical newspapers offer a unique glimpse into the early days of Wayne County, capturing the events and stories that shaped the community.

More ways to explore and share local history

Research Guidance

Plan a question for your research visit

If you are exploring a family or community question connected with Waynesboro, note the names, places, and dates you hope to investigate. Ask the Waynesboro-Wayne County Library to confirm which materials may be consulted and what to prepare. Keep the answer tied to the collection details the library shares, and leave unconfirmed names or dates open until you can examine a source.

Keep the inquiry focused: share the name, place, approximate period, and source type you are seeking, then ask what preparation the institution recommends. Record the response alongside the period and source type you hope to consult, so a confirmed visit detail stays distinct from a possible lead.

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. Record the source details the institution confirms and the steps needed to consult them. Label a possible lead as unverified until you have examined the source itself.

Review collection titles

Community Partnership

Keeping local history a community resource

This community archive is made possible by the collaboration of the Waynesboro-Wayne County 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.
Read article
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