DonateLocal history research just became a lot easier in Arlington. Thanks to a gift from local historian Richard A. Duffy to the Arlington Libraries Foundation, the Arlington Advocate and other historical Arlington newspapers dating from 1871-2005 have been digitized. The Historical Arlington Newspapers online resource includes searchable full-page scans complete with photos and vintage ads.
Users can search by topic or browse by publication or date. Entire pages of the newspaper or individual images and articles are downloadable. Local history librarian Steven Prochet says, “People will be able to easily discover the life events of their loved ones, moments in Arlington history, and details related to homes and businesses in Arlington.”
Those interested in learning more about how to access Historical Arlington Newspapers are invited to attend a program on April 12 at 2:00 p.m. in the Robbins Library Community Room. For a quick overview of Historical Arlington Newspapers, see this Youtube video.
Our collection of historic newspapers includes the Arlington Advocate and the Arlington Daily News, as well as some short-lived local papers. Until now, microfilm was the only option for viewing them. Preserving the aging microfilm collection is another natural outcome of the digitization project.
Linda Dyndiuk, Head of Adult Services, selected microfilm digitization company Advantage Archives to digitize 134 years of newspapers on 177 reels of microfilm. “We looked for a vendor with deep experience not only in digitization, but also with a real commitment to building strong search features.”
Local historian Richard Duffy’s gift to the Arlington Libraries Foundation made the Historical Arlington Newspapers resource a reality. Says Duffy, “I’m very excited that so much more of Arlington’s history now can be explored from anywhere in the world. We’ve got keys to deeper learning about our town, and I’m sure that users will discover content that is both informative and entertaining.”
Says Arlington Libraries Foundation chair Patrick Hanlon, “The Foundation is honored to have the chance to support this project. Arlington’s history is central to our understanding of the Town’s present. This resource will show us what happened, as it happened. It is a wonderful step forward.”
For more information, contact Steven Prochet, Local History Librarian at arlhist@minlib.net