Genealogists Unite! Going Beyond the Paywall with a Simple Search Hack

Ever wanted access to a newspaper article from before the internet existed? This post is for you.

Genealogical research is a journey of discovery, unearthing our ancestral roots and unraveling the stories of those who came before us. Delving into family history has been a trait that I share with my maternal grandfather.

"For years, our genealogical passion was hindered by the limitations imposed by paywalls on newspaper sites, leading us to pay for premium subscriptions to access resources that we believe should be available to the public."

Today, I was practically giddy when I was shown a simple search hack has forever changed the way I approach genealogical research. In this blog post, I will share my experience and reveal the hack that allowed me to transcend those paywalls, unlocking a wealth of invaluable information.

The Frustration of Paywalls: Like many genealogy enthusiasts, I turn to newspapers to find firsthand accounts, obituaries, and historical details about my ancestors. Newspaper archives hold a treasure trove of information, but accessing them often came with a price tag. Paywalls obstructed my path, limiting my ability to explore fully and making it challenging to piece together the puzzle of my family's past. I longed for a solution that would grant me unrestricted access to these invaluable resources. As a grad student making my way in the world, paying for a 25-40 dollar subscription every month isn't an option.

Tired of seeing this image? Let me help you with that.

The Game-Changing Search Hack: Ah! How did I not know this! Here I am, a self proclaimed "Elder Gen Z," thinking I know everything there is to know about Google and it's apps when BAM, I get handed the golden ticket hack I didn't know I needed... and it was there the whole time!

So. Here's what you do:

Step 1: Open up a new Google window

Step 2: Type into the search bar "news.google.com/newspapers" or click here

Step 3: Use the Google News search bar to look for whatever you want!

After Searching "1929 Economic Crash, Washington State", my search results came up with an article by the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, written on October 24th, 1949.

After clicking on the article, I have full access to not only the article, but the entire newspaper. 

If it was ever put into print, you can find it using this hack. Simple, yet unbelievably effective.

The Result

All of this talk about already-there hacks has made me reflective about my internet literacy. There's so much to know, but who's teaching it? I graduated college not too long ago, where was this knowledge when I was doing research papers? It's important to be curious and open minded these days; technology is developing at an incredible pace and if we don't stay on top of it, it will surely leave us all in the dust. All that is to say, I'm glad to have had the opportunity to get schooled by someone who is far more tech savvy than I. Because of this opportunity to be curious, I get access to the information I need and I can relay this information back to Grandpa Gregg and whoever else might need to look into the past for some answers. 

(Grandpa Gregg and I circa 2002)

Conclusion: For genealogy enthusiasts, the frustration of paywalls limiting access to historical newspaper archives can be disheartening. However, armed with the simple search hack I have shared, you can transcend these limitations and embark on a transformative genealogical journey. By mastering advanced search operators and leveraging the power of search engines, you can unlock the wealth of information hidden within newspaper sites and discover the captivating stories that lie within your family's history. So go forth, embrace this newfound knowledge, and let your genealogical adventures flourish like never before. Happy researching!