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Historic Newspapers from the British Library
The Blair Collection
The British Library offered the hard copy of post-1850 American newspapers to various libraries around the world. One library to take part in this global initiative is the Richard Bland College Library in Petersburg, Virginia. More information on the British Library's Disposal of Overseas Newspapers program is available online.
RBC students review historical newspapes from the Blair Collection
Left to right: Michael Jenkins, Nichole Olmeda, Erin Cammer, Desiree Landry and Erin Morgan
Receipt of these newspapers from the British Library was spearheaded and arranged by Dr. John Blair, Professor of History at Richard Bland College of The College of William and Mary. Dr. Blair and his involvement in this important program are referred to in Nicholson Baker's 1991 book entitled Double Fold: Libraries and the Assault on Paper; please note that this link will you bring you to an excerpt of Mr. Baker's book at the New York Times web site where online registration may be required.
The following chart represents the newspapers obtained by Dr. John Blair. Please keep in mind that the dates listed below provide general holdings information and do not reflect potentially missing issues.
Newspaper Title Place of Publication Dates Aurora of the Valley Newbury, Vermont 1854 - 1868 The Boston Chronicle Boston, Massachusetts 1767 - 1768 The Boston Post Boston, Massachusetts 1888 - 1896;
1919The British-American Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1887 - 1890;
1893 - 1901;
1904 -1918The British Californian San Francisco, California July 1903
June 1911
1913 - 1921
incomplete runThe Connecticut Courant Hartford, Connecticut 1795 The Daily Dispatch Richmond, Virginia 1861 - 1864 Daily Evening Bulletin San Francisco, California 1855 - 1871 The Daily Patriot Madison, Wisconsin 1854 - 1871 Dunlop & Claypole's American Daily Advertiser Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1794 - 1795 The Evening Post New York, New York 1859 - 1861;
1864 - 1875The Farmer's Herald (later the Berkshire Herald) Stockbridge, Massachussetts 1813 - 1815 The Federal Gazette Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1797 - 1798 The Federal Spy Springfield, Massachussetts 1813 - 1815 Gleason's Pictorial Drawing-Room Companion Boston, Massachusetts 1851 - 1859 The Massachussetts Centinel Boston, Massachusetts 1784-1785 New-York Daily Tribune New York, New York 1851 - 1864
incomplete runThe New York Herald New York, New York 1866 - 1899
incomplete runThe Pacific Commercial Advertiser Honolulu, Hawaii 1856-1868 The Salem Gazette Salem, Massachussetts 1782-1783
This collection of newspapers is stored at Richard Bland College in the Humanities and Social Sciences building. The collection has been inventoried, shelved, and cataloged by Richard Bland College library staff under the supervision of Dr. Virginia Cherry, Library Director.
Organizing the Blair Collection
Circulation Desk Specialist Amy Shay helps with the initial inventory
Dr. Virginia Cherry reviews the collection
Custodial Supervisor Cliff Walker stops by for a visit
and helps demonstrate the size of the newspapers
Dr. Virginia Cherry hard at work
Student worker Rachelle Feitig also helps
Library staff fill the shelves...
...and still have more newspapers to arrange on shelves
Dr. Virginia Cherry takes a well-deserved break!
Page created August 22, 2005
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