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The Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library
Masthead and illustration from Harper's Weekly, August 1, 1863. E f#345 1863 v.7. Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library. Duke University.

Newspapers

In general, the newspaper holdings of the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library consist of original newspapers printed prior to 1870. The early newspapers in the Duke Library collections have been described and enumerated in A Checklist of United States Newspapers (and Weeklies before 1900) in the General Library (1932). While most states are represented to some degree, the strength of the collection is in newspapers from southern states and the District of Columbia. The American Newspaper Repository Collection (acquired in 2004) dates from 1852 through 2004 and consists of approximately six thousand bound newspaper volumes and more than 11,000 unbound newspaper items, most of which came, directly or indirectly, from the British Library.

Collection Guides / Finding Aids

Collection Policies

Additions to the American Newspaper Repository Collection will be made according to the following criteria:

  • Major national, regional, or ethnic newspapers;
  • Newspapers that have not been saved in their original format by other libraries;
  • Newspapers that contain significant special features—such as works of art, full color illustrations, original literary compositions, etc.—that are not adequately conveyed in microform reproductions.

Contact Information

Due to the complexity of the newspaper holdings of the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, potential users of the newspaper collections are strongly urged to contact the library in advance of a visit.

For general information about finding materials in the library's collections and how you can use them, requesting permission to reproduce, or other information as well as reference questions about the holdings in this area:

E-mail: special-collections@duke.edu
Phone: (919) 660-5822
FAX: (919) 660-5934

If you are getting in touch via e-mail, please be sure to include your return e-mail address in the body of the message, since it sometimes gets stripped from the header in transit. Also, if you expect a response, make sure to include a phone or fax number or postal address where we can reach you, since sometimes it is difficult or impossible to respond via e-mail. Thank you!