How Do I Access Old Newspapers?

Newspapers can be a gold mine of historical and genealogical information, but are not always easy to find and use. While many libraries and archives have some amount of physical newspapers in their collections, digitized and microfilmed versions are preferred for public use and long-term preservation. The following is an overview of accessing newspapers printed in the Kansas City area and region.

Library patrons reading newspapers on stands in a reading room

Digitized Newspapers Online

Kansas City Newspapers

Midcontinent Public Library card holders can also access small local newspapers from the late 19th and early 20th centuries via Newspapers.com.

Missouri Newspapers

Kansas Newspapers

Microform Newspapers

Note: Researchers may obtain copies of microform articles via printing, email, saving to a flash drive, or by submitting an order with the Library’s Document Delivery Department.

Major Kansas City Newspapers

Kansas City Star/Times and Kansas City Journal-Post

  • An extensive newspaper clippings collection is available for use in the Missouri Valley Room. The collection is indexed by subject (places, events, businesses, people, organizations, etc.) and dates from 1900 through 1994. MVSC staff are available to assist patrons in navigating this index and locating the appropriate microfilm and microfiche.
  • Complete runs of these newspapers are accessible in the Microfilm Department on the 3rd floor of the Central Library. Issues for each paper are arranged in chronological order.

Kansas City Call

  • Issues of the Call, Kansas City’s long-running African-American newspaper, are available in the Microfilm Department on the 3rd Floor of the Central Library.

Missouri and Kansas Newspapers

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Newspapers