Special Collections and University Archives' (SC/UA) newspaper holdings date chiefly from the eighteenth through the mid-nineteenth centuries. Over a thousand titles, published in New Jersey, Philadelphia, and New York City, form the bulk of the collection. Among the rarest titles represented is the New Jersey Freeman, an 1840s abolitionist newspaper. The repository also holds what is arguably New Jersey's first newspaper, the manuscript Plain Dealer (1775-1776) issued at Bridgeton.
SC/UA newspaper holdings include paper and microfilm, as follows:
- Loose Newspaper Collection (Call number: Ac. 3193): consists of scattered paper issues of a given newspaper from various years. In many cases, just one or two issues of a newspaper exist.
- Bound Newspaper Collection (Call number: Ac. 9980): consists of bound paper issues, generally one or two volumes per title.
How to find and request loose and bound newspapers
- Newspapers are searchable by title in QuickSearch, but please note that newspaper records in QuickSearch do not reflect SC/UA’s exact holdings, but rather the run of the newspaper.
- You will need to contact us with the newspaper title, call number, and date/issue of the newspaper(s) you are interested in. We will consult an on-site index and let you know if we hold the particular issue(s).
- Most loose and bound newspapers are stored off-site and require at least two business days to request delivery to our Reading Room.
How to find and request newspapers on microfilm
- Newspapers on microfilm are searchable by title in QuickSearch but please note that microfilm newspaper records in QuickSearch do not always reflect SC/UA’s exact holdings, but rather the run of the newspaper.
- Newspapers on microfilm in locations STACKS or ANNEX are not held by SC/UA. Inquiries regarding these newspapers should be directed to Rutgers University Libraries’ Ask A Librarian
Additional Resources
- New Jersey Digital Newspaper Project: A collaboration of the Rutgers University Libraries, the New Jersey State Archives and the New Jersey State Library, funded by a grant from the National Digital Newspaper Program, supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Digitized Historical New Jersey Newspapers are available on the Library of Congress Chronicling America website.
- Complete list of digitized Historical New Jersey Newspapers
- Directory of New Jersey Newspapers, 1765-1970: An essential guide for researchers using New Jersey newspapers by William C. Wright and Paul A. Stellhorn (New Jersey Historical Commission, 1977). This work groups newspaper titles by place, states the papers' dates of publication and title changes, and lists repositories holding each title. A copy of the Directory is available at the New Jersey Room reference desk.
- Newspapers Research Guide: An indispensable guide to newspaper sites, with online searchable archives, as well as to physical collections of newspapers. Includes a section on New Jersey newspapers.