We all know that newspapers are gold mines for information about our ancestors.   Old newspaper databases hold gems worth digging for.  But were you aware of that just stopping with the regular newspapers, daily and weekly, often leaves facts yet to be found.  There are at least three other kinds of newspapers that you should be using.

1. Foreign language and other ethnic newspapers.  If your ancestor identified with a specific ethnicity, then you should check out newspapers published for that ethnicity.  The great thing about these newspapers is that they not only carried news about the local area but also people who used to lived there.  Because they have a smaller audience, you are more likely to find greater details in stories and obituaries that aren’t included in hometown daily newspapers. Also consider that English may not have been the first language spoken by a particular ethnic group.  How common were foreign language newspapers?  German newspapers reached more than 1,000 by 1890, but following WWI this number dwindled drastically.  Don’t overlook African-American newspapers.  Just like the foreign language newspapers, they cover local as well as news of people who used to live in the area.
2. Religious newspapers.  While various churches kept great records of baptisms and weddings, this wasn’t the only things that churches recorded.  Some actually published newspapers.  For example, the Archdiocese of New Orleans published the Morning Star and Catholic Messenger, a weekly newspaper.  Where can you find religious newspapers?  Look for them in church archives, state libraries, and state historical societies.
3. School newspapers.   While many school newspapers were used to help students improve their writing skills, school newspapers can have lots of biographical information, especially if the school is a residential school.  This could take the form of essays or even society columns.  But don’t stop with the school newspaper where your ancestor attended.  What schools did his or her siblings attend?  You’ll find school  newspapers in school archives, state historical societies, and local historical societies.

A great source for newspapers in general is The Newspaper Hunt website at http://www.theancestorhunt.com/.  This site has links to 26, 300 free newspapers, including many foreign language newspapers published in the U.S.   –[Source: “3 Kinds of Newspapers Every Genealogist Should Know,” Amy Johnson Crow, 5 July 2018]