Researching in old newspapers no longer means sitting at a microfilm reader for hours on end, winding through a seemingly endless string of news stories and advertisements. Today, the results we seek could be a matter of minutes away, thanks to the many digitization projects that have placed millions of newspaper pages on the Internet. But what are the pitfalls? This presentation takes you through the digitization process, from hard copy to your computer screen. It is designed to help you achieve the best results from your work. (Note: Dave Obee has worked in newspapers for 50 years, has researched with them for 50 years, and has been behind a major digitization project. This talk draws from real experience.)
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Excellent summary on the use of newspapers. Great tips on how to use the resources even for those who are already familiar with them
Very good information.
Great insight to optimize your search results in old newspapers. Also appreciated the endorsement of using old newspapers to research lead on new DNA matches- my hottest current challenge for our family right now, as we have just discovered a mis-attributed parentage thruugh recent DNA testing!!
For 21 yrs I was the Historian/Genealogist in the Seymour Public Library, History Room, Auburn, N.Y., Cayuga County. From the first day people came to the desk with the question “Are the bound vols. of the newspapers indexed.” So began a project of mine to do that beginning with the oldest on the shelves. It would never be finished but it was a start. I had to use some very old programs with limitation, then to Excel. It help keeping the vols in a little better condition over the years.
It was heartening to listen to someone who appreciates newspapers. So many people just scroll and glance to see what they should know/be afraid of. He was spot on about trying to know politicians’ positions. Locally, there are not enough reporters to do it. Fund newspapers that do not push an agenda or people will believe what they “read” from unknown sources.
Excellent! I always enjoy Dave Obee’s presentations…wherever I hear them.
Great hints about using newspapers for research.
Terrific to hear this information directly from a longtime editor and publisher of an important Canadian paper! My local paper, the Seattle Times, is on the same important mission to tell the world of the importance of local newspapers and yes! I do subscribe to that paper. Interestingly both of my local papers and now only available in digital form since in my area, the capital of Washington state, Olympia, we have an almost complete lack of “paperboys” meaning home delivery is no available!