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Finding Connecticut Newspapers in Other Institutions

Connecticut Union List of Serials and reQuest
In libraries, a union list is a list that shows all known holdings of a type of publication. The Connecticut Union List of Serials is available at many libraries throughout Connecticut. It is also available as part of reQuest, the statewide union list database available on the Internet. Limit the selection to the "reQuest Magazine Catalog" to see what newspapers are owned by libraries, historical societies and other institutions statewide. Research in reQuest and iCONN can now be combined in one search.

The lists of newspaper holdings in reQuest provide the information first in a summary, and then in detail. The summary line shows the years of the original newspapers (OR) and the years available on microfilm (FM). The details show exactly which issues or runs of newspapers exist in each format.

Newspapers in Connecticut Institutions, Updated through June 1997
Hartford: Connecticut State Library, [1997]. 3 vol. [CSL call number HistRef Conn Doc St292n news 1997 June].
The mission of the federally-funded Connecticut Newspaper Project (CNP), since its beginnings in 1988, was to identify, locate, and publish the holdings of all newspapers held by the 280 participating Connecticut institutions. This CNP publication includes the holdings of most, but not all, Connecticut academic, special, and public libraries. Newspapers are listed alphabetically by title, and under each title the names of the institution(s) having copies are given, along with the dates of the issues held. There are also separate place name and topic lists. For information on ordering a copy of this extensive guide to newspaper holdings in Connecticut, please contact the Connecticut Newspaper Project.

In addition to the title, place name, and subject listings, there are also charts of newspaper "family trees". Newspapers are known for their mergers, splits, and title changes. It is often hard to tell if one town newspaper is a continuation of the previous title, or whether the paper is a completely new publication. The "family trees", found in Volume 3, show which town newspapers evolved from, and which existed concurrently with, other town newspapers.

A further bonus is the list, "Location of Indexes to the Contents of Connecticut Newspaper Titles Indexes", which is found in Volume 5 of this work. Some Connecticut newspaper indexes have been published, others are online, and others only exist in local libraries. An on-line version, Connecticut Newspaper Indexes in Connecticut Libraries, is also available.

FirstSearch

This subscription database is accessible on the premises of the State Library. Select the WorldCat database to find out what newspapers are owned by institutions worldwide. This link can not be accessed from home.

Other Resources
Many Connecticut institutions with newspaper holdings participated in the Connecticut Newspaper Project, but not all. However, other publications list the holdings of a number of newspaper repositories, both in and out of Connecticut:

Brigham, Clarence Saunders. "Connecticut Bibliography of American Newspapers, 1690-1820." Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society 23 (1902): 254-330 [CSL call number E 172 .A35].

Brigham, Clarence Saunders. History and Bibliography of American Newspapers, 1690-1820. 2 vols. Worcester, Mass: American Antiquarian Society, 1947 [CSL call number Z 6951 .B86 1947]. Covers titles in 79 institutions. Some titles listed here may not be included in Newspapers in Connecticut Institutions.

Gregory, Winifred, ed. American Newspapers, 1821-1936: A Union List of Files Available in the United States and Canada. New York: Bibliographical Society of America, 1937 [CSL call number GIS Ref Z 6945 .A53]. Covers 57 institutions. Some titles listed here may not be included in Newspapers in Connecticut Institutions.

Gustafson, Don. A Preliminary Checklist of Connecticut Newspapers, 1755-1975. 2 vols. Hartford: Connecticut State Library, 1978. [CSL call number HistRef ConnDoc St292 chen v. 1]. Covers 995 titles in 79 institutions. Some titles listed here may not be included in Newspapers in Connecticut Institutions.

"List of Bound Newspapers in the Connecticut Historical Society." Papers and Reports Presented to the Connecticut Historical Society at the Annual Meeting, 1893, pp. 30-34 [CSL call number F 91 .C65].

Morse, Jarvis Means. Connecticut Newspapers in the Eighteenth Century. Tercentenary Publication No. 36. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1935 [CSL cal number GIS Ref ConnDoc T271h].

Originally prepared by the Connecticut Newspaper Project, Connecticut State Library, November, 1996. Revised by the History and Genealogy Unit, November, 2000, October 2005. © 2005.