On trial: Black Newspaper Collection

*The Library has access to all titles from the Black Newspaper Collection until 31st July 2024 as part of ProQuest Access 350.*

Thanks to a request from staff in HCA, and to coincide with Black History Month, I’m pleased to let you know the Library currently has trial access to the full Black Newspaper Collection from ProQuest. This superb resource contains the archives of 9 individual newspaper titles (2 of which the Library already has access to) that provide cultural perspective and insight to the events that shaped the United States in the 20th Century.

You can access Black Newspaper Collection from the E-resources trials page.
On-campus access is direct. For off-campus access you will need to connect to VPN.

Trial access ends 20th November 2019.

Black Newspapers offers primary source material key to the study of American history and African-American culture, history, politics, and the arts. The 9 titles included in this resource are:

  • Atlanta Daily World (1931-2003)
  • The Baltimore Afro-American (1893-1988)
    [The Library already has ongoing access to this title.]
  • Chicago Defender (1909-1975)
  • Cleveland Call and Post (1934-1991)
  • Los Angeles Sentinel (1934-2005)
  • New York Amsterdam News (1922-1993)
    [The Library already has ongoing access to this title.]
  • The Norfolk Journal and Guide (1916-2003)
  • The Philadelphia Tribune (1912-2001)
  • Pittsburgh Courier (1911-2002)

Each of the 9 newspaper archives provides you with unprecedented access to perspectives and information that was excluded or marginalised in mainstream sources.

Screenshot of front page of Chicago Daily Defender (The Big Weekend Edition), 6th April 1968.

This resource allows you to examine major movements from the Harlem Renaissance to Civil Rights; examine the diversity of stances during the civil rights movement, including: endorsements of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. or Malcolm X, and the debate about integration and the Negro Baseball Leagues; follow the crusade against racially restrictive housing covenants; find obituaries and coverage of community events; access thorough coverage of international events, such as apartheid in South Africa and Stephen Biko’s Nobel Peace prize nomination, often overlooked by other newspapers and generally explore everyday life.

Access Black Newspaper Collection via e-resources trials.
On-campus access is direct. For off-campus access you will need to connect to VPN.
Access is available until 20th November 2019.
Feedback welcome.
Note that the Library already has ongoing access to New York Amsterdam News (1922-1993) and The Baltimore Afro-American (1893-1988). Access to these 2 titles will continue once the trial ends.

You can access all the online newspaper archives already available at the Library via the Newspapers, magazines and other news sources guide.

Access is only available to current students and staff at University of Edinburgh.

Please note, trial access to a resource is an opportunity for our staff and students to try a resource out and give feedback on its quality and usefulness. However, if we trial a resource this is not an indication that we plan to or will be able to purchase or subscribe to the resource in the near future.

Caroline Stirling – Academic Support Librarian for History, Classics and Archaeology