Newspapers at the BPL: Reference Materials
Reference Materials
Here are links to make research on news, newspapers, and the newspaper industry easier.
Ayer Newspaper Directory 1920
Library of Congress Subject Headings
Useful for searching our catalog for books on these topics by subject
Newspaper Directories — Online
Newspaper directories are typically annuals. They note what newspapers were published each year, with circulation figures, dimensions, frequency, and intended audience. Newspaper Directories were created for prospective advertisers to learn about media markets. They may give information about publication's circulation area such as population or industries. Frequently they include tables of the Sunday press, weekly press, foreign language press, religious press, and trade papers. They often give the name of the publisher, editor, and/or advertising manager.
Newspaper directories are one of the first places to look to discover which titles were published in a given year or for a geographical area. Occasionally, these volumes document the existence of newspapers that have not been preserved, but they may just as well lead you to look for titles that you did not know existed.
- American Antiquarian Society Clarence database for locating genres and political affiliations of newspapers and periodicals
- Centennial Newspaper Exhibition 1876 includes a complete list of US newspapers and their circulation based upon Geo. P. Rowell Amercian Newspaper Directory for the year 1876
- Chronicling America U.S. Newspaper Directory 1690 to present can also be searched by ethnicity and labor related titles
- Rowell & Ayer U.S. Newspaper Directories online
Newspaper Directories — Recent
- Gale Directory Library This link opens in a new windowThe Gale Directory of Publications and Broadcast Media (2013) and Publishers Directory (2013) are among the directories included in this set. The Gale directory is the successor title to Ayer's American Newspaper Directory.
- Mondo TimesWorldwide guide to news media.
Massachusetts Resources
- Archaic Community, District, Neighborhood Section and Village, Names in MassachusettsThis site helps when a community is smaller than a town, or when a community has changed its name.
- Massachusetts Cemetery DirectoryDirectory of Massachusetts cemeteries by county.
- Town and County Map of MassachusettsWhen a town does not have a newspaper for the time period in which you are interested, this map from the State should be useful in determining the neighboring towns.
Newspaper Holdings
- WorldCat This link opens in a new windowWorldCat is the world's largest network of library-based content and services. However, not all library holdings appear in this database, including the BPL's. Using WorldCat, you can:
-Search many libraries at once for an item and then locate it in a library nearby.
-Create a personal profile that tells others about your interests.
-Build lists of library materials you can share with others.
-Post your review of an item, or contribute factual information about it such as historical context.