In this lecture, attendees will discover how to leverage historical news items to provide vital social context and local history for their family narratives. While obituaries and marriage notices are standard genealogical fare, this session demonstrates a methodical approach to identifying more obscure entries—such as society news, legal actions, and advertisements—to reveal glimpses into an ancestor’s daily life. Participants will learn how these stories serve as catalysts for further research, pointing toward overlooked records in land, probate, and court archives. The presentation also provides practical strategies for locating and accessing newspaper collections through digital indexes, interlibrary loans (ILL), and specialized library repositories, ensuring researchers can effectively integrate newsprint evidence into their genealogical proof.

Experience level: beginner