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Historical Newspaper Collection, 1721-1965

Overview of the Collection

Title
Historical Newspaper Collection
Dates
1721-1965 (inclusive)
Quantity
158 Linear feet of shelf space
Collection Number
SC 002 (collection)
Summary
The Historical Newspaper Collection includes approximately 440 titles. The collection contains newspapers that are both domestic and international in scope, with dates ranging from the eighteenth century to the twentieth century. Washington State papers are strongly represented.
Repository
Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Terrell Library Suite 12
Pullman, WA
99164-5610
Telephone: 509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu
Access Restrictions

This collection is open and available for research use.

Languages
English
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Historical Note

"If all the printed sources of history for a certain century or decade had to be destroyed save one, that which could be chosen with the greatest value to posterity would be a file of an important newspaper." (Clarence Saunders Brigham, 1947)

Faced with the rural isolation of the town of Pullman, Washington State College librarians actively sought to build and maintain a newspaper collection that represented historical, national, and international scope. The Historical Newspaper Collection represents only a fraction of the University’s newspaper collection--in general, these items were singled out as a “special collection” because they were determined to have particular historical significance. These items were originally gathered from a wide variety of sources, and acquisition occurred over a period of ninety years. The majority of the collection was obtained though gifts, and through exchanges with other libraries.

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Content Description

The Historical Newspaper Collection includes approximately 440 titles. The collection contains newspapers that are both domestic and international in scope, with dates ranging from the eighteenth century to the twentieth century. Washington State papers are strongly represented. Titles found in this collection are generally single issues or short interrupted runs.

For researchers interested in newspapers as material objects, the collection includes a wide variety of examples of paper, printing, and occasional evidence of use (such as annotations, stamps, and other markings).

Prior to the transfer of these items to MASC, the "Historical Newspaper File" was treated as a small special collection within the general collections of the WSU Libraries. It was organized in a numerical system by file number, and information about the collection was maintained in a card catalog, which served as the sole means of intellectual access. The collection was referred to by WSU librarians as the "Shoebox Series" because of the boxes in which the catalog cards were stored. This catalog was transferred to MASC along with the newspapers and is included in the collection.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

These newspapers vary widely in physical condition; in many cases the paper is fragile and cannot be safely photocopied, but the collection is available for on-site research use.

Preferred Citation

[Item Description]

Historical Newspaper Collection, 1721-1965 (SC 002)

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Location Key (MASC Staff Use):

A and B: MASC Basement open shelving (East)

C: MASC Basement open oversized shelving (West)

Stacks: MASC Ground Level book stacks

Acquisition Information

This collection was transferred to MASC from the general collections of the WSU Libraries in 2004. In 2020, about 36 feet of Eastern Washington newspapers were transferred to MASC from the Spokane Public Library's Northwest Reading Room, and added to this collection (Stacks 8-18).

Processing Note

This collection was processed by Katrina Paxton and Cheryl Gunselman in 2004-2005.

Separated Materials

Not all of the items from the former collection were selected for inclusion in this Historical Newspaper Collection. Items that had been removed from individual manuscript collections were restored to their context in those collections; photocopies and other reproductions were not selected, with the exception of a few reprinted items; dates from 1960 onward were excluded. In a few cases, items were generally excluded on the basis of condition, when they were badly damaged and it was not feasible that they could be made sufficiently stable for use.

Related Materials

Many other newspaper resources, in various formats, are available through the Washington State University Libraries. For example, approximately a quarter of the titles in this collection are also available on microfilm at the Holland/Terrell Library. To explore the general library collections for these resources, use the WSU Libraries' online catalog. The catalog supports various types of searching, including title, keyword, and subject.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Geographical Names

  • Alaska -- Newspapers
  • Australia -- Newspapers
  • England -- Newspapers
  • Idaho -- Newspapers
  • Montana -- Newspaper.
  • Oregon -- Newspapers
  • United States -- Newspapers
  • Washington (State) -- History, Local
  • Washington (State) -- Newspapers

Finding aid prepared by Katrina Paxton and Cheryl Gunselman
2016

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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