LibGuides: History: Newspapers and other primary sources

Primary Sources from British History Online

British History Online
A collection of primary sources from the 11th century up to the 20th century covering the UK and Ireland. Covers subjects such as administration and law, economy, parliament, colonalism and urban issues.

Research tools

Times Digital Archive (1785 - 2014) Learning Center
This learning center for the Times Digital Archive contains sample topics and searches, general search tips, information on generating and refining a research question and guidance on how to use newspapers as sources.

Historical Newspaper Archives

Irish Newspapers

Irish Times 1995-present
Irish Times Digital Archive - 1859-2022 A fully searchable digital archive containing every page of The Irish Times published since the newspaper's foundation.
Irish Newspaper Archives Database of national and regional newspapers. Over 100 newspapers are included in the archive with some dating back as far as the eighteenth century.
Radical Newspaper Archive The Radical Newspaper Archive is a collection of over 115 Irish radical and political newspapers, journals, pamphlets and bulletins. Access via The Irish Newspaper Archive; click on the link on the top right of the page

British Newspapers

Times Digital Archive - 1785-2014
The Guardian (1821-2003) & The Observer (1791-2003)
British Newspaper Archive The Free To View Collection, of the British Newspaper Archive, includes 3.5 million pages of newspapers, spanning 1798 - 1900, from the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Isle of Man, Guernsey and Antigua. Please note that users need to register for an account in order to access "free to view" resources. Ensure the "free to view" filter remains ticked as you search

American Newspapers

Nineteenth Century U.S. Newspapers The database provides digital images of both full pages and clipped articles of hundreds of 19th century U.S. newspapers. For each issue, the newspaper is captured cover-to-cover, providing access to every article, advertisement and illustration.
New York Times 1851-2020 This historical newspaper provides online, easily-searchable first-hand accounts and unparalleled coverage of the politics, society and events of the time.
Washington Post 1877-2008 This historical newspaper provides genealogists, researchers and scholars with online, easily-searchable first-hand accounts and unparalleled coverage of the politics, society and events of the time.
Chicago Defender - 1909-2010 Full-text coverage. This historical African American newspaper provides online, easily-searchable first-hand accounts and unparalleled coverage of the politics, society and events of the time.
Chicago Tribune 1849-1999 Full-text coverage. This historical newspaper provides online, easily-searchable first-hand accounts and unparalleled coverage of the politics, society and events of the time.

Archival microfilm collections

Irish Folklore Collection The library holds Ms.1 – Ms.1840 of the Main Manuscript Collection of the National Folklore Collection (original held in UCD)
Madden Ballads Reproductions of the collection in Cambridge University library of 18th and 19th century songs and ballads, collected by Sir Frederic Madden.
Tithe Applotment Books [for counties Clare, Limerick and Tipperary] The Tithe Applotment Books are a vital source for genealogical research for the pre-Famine period, given the loss of the 1821-51 Census records. They were compiled between 1823 and 1837 in order to determine the amount which occupiers of agricultural holdings over one acre should pay in tithes to the Church of Ireland. Accompanied by a printed guide. Microfilmed from the collection in the Public Record Office of Ireland. The Tithe Applotment Books 1823 -1837 are available online through the National Archives website.
Modern Ireland cabinet papers of the Stormont administration, 1921-72, "CAB/4" : from the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, Belfast
The British in Ireland : Series 1: Colonial Office Class CO 904 (Dublin Castle Records) Great Britain Table of Contents: Part 1:Anti-government organisations, 1882-1921 Part 2: Police reports, Jan.1892-Dec.1897 - Part 3: Police reports, Feb.1898-Dec.1913 - Part 4: Police reports, 1914-1921 Part 5: Public control and administration, 1884-1921 Part 6: Judicial proceedings, enquiries and miscellaneous records,1872-1926 Part 7: Sinn Fein and Republican suspects 1899-1921.
Lamhscribhinni Gaeilge = Gaelic manuscripts This collection, ranging from the fourteenth to the twenty-first century, covers subjects such as literature, genealogy, hagioraphy (lives of the Saints), spirituality, law, medicine and dinnseanchas (place-lore)
Lamhscribhinni Gaeilge Cholaiste Phadraigh, Ma Nuad Irish manuscripts in Maynooth College Library

The Library holds a large number of newspaper titles on microfilm which include national and regional newspapers.

Please email your request to use the Microfilm Readers, along with the reels you would like to view to library@mic.ul.ie

Northern Ireland collection

Northern Ireland Pamphlets

A collection of pamphlets about Northern Ireland. The pamphlets can be requested at the issue desk on the first floor of the library. They can only be consulted in the library.

219 pamphlets in total.

Oral History collections

MIC Oral History Interview Collection This collection is only visible within Mary Immaculate College. Register as a new user to view this collection.
MIRR Digital Archive Collections
Bailiúchán Coimseartha Béaloidis (Folklore)
Irish Life and Lore collections

History: Newspapers and other primary sources