What makes a news source reliable? How can you be sure you are looking at a news article?
Visit our Research Process Guide to learn how to identify reliable news sources.
Best Databases for Newspapers
- Access NewspaperARCHIVE This link opens in a new window
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Digitized historical and recent newspapers from the US and other countries, including the Helena Independent Record.
- Google NewsSearch or browse for news articles. Also features fact checking and highlights in-depth reporting of current topics on the home page.
- Helena Independent Record This link opens in a new windowAccess the e-edition of the Helena Independent Record. Click "More" for login instructions.
- Montana NewspapersThe most comprehensive free source of digitized Montana newspapers with nearly 2.5 million pages from over 150 newspapers, spanning 1864-2018.
- New York Times This link opens in a new windowFull text access to NYTimes.com. Create an account with your Helena College email address to access the site from anywhere - including via the mobile app.
- Newsbank This link opens in a new window
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Current and archived news coverage at local, state, regional, national and international levels. Features many major U.S. newspapers, along with local and regional titles. - Wall Street Journal This link opens in a new window
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Full text of the print edition of the newspaper from 1984 to present, as well as the online edition from 2010 to 3 months ago.
Historical Newspaper Collections
- 17th and 18th Century Burney Collection Newspapers This link opens in a new window
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Newspapers, pamphlets, and other publications from 17th and 18th century English news media, including some from the American colonies, Europe and India. - 19th Century U.S. Newspapers This link opens in a new window
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19th century newspapers from urban and rural regions throughout the U.S. - American Periodical Series (1740-1940) This link opens in a new window
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200 years of American history as recorded in magazines, journals, and newspapers. - Chicago Defender Historical This link opens in a new window
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Full-text articles from The Chicago Defender, one of the nation's most influential Black weekly newspapers. Coverage from 1910-1975. - Chicago Tribune Historical This link opens in a new window
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Full-text articles from the Chicago Tribune, from 1849-1992.
- Google News Newspaper ArchiveContains digitized newspapers with coverage as far back as the early nineteenth century. Mostly U.S. newspapers, but international titles are also included, especially from Canada and Mexico.
- New York Times Historical This link opens in a new window
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Access the full text of The New York Times newspaper from 1851-2013. - Regional Business News Plus This link opens in a new window
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Business journals, newspapers, and newswires. - Washington Post Historical This link opens in a new window
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Full-text access to The Washington Post newspaper from 1877-2000.
Government Publications
- American State Papers, 1789-1838 This link opens in a new window
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Legislative and executive documents from 1789-1838, including the important period between 1789 and the beginning of the U.S. Congressional Serial Set in 1817. - Digital National Security Archive This link opens in a new window
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Declassified documents of U.S. foreign and military policy since 1945, covering a variety of major world events. - U.S. Congressional Serial Set, 1817-1994 This link opens in a new window
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Digitized copies of reports, documents, and journals of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives from 1817-1994.
Primary Sources
- Electronic Enlightenment This link opens in a new window
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Letters, documents, and other correspondence from the 1600s to 1800s, from Europe, the Americas, and Asia. Includes letters from significant historical figures and others.
- Montana Historical Society Research Centerhe Research Center is a non-circulating library, archive, and photo archive with collections available for onsite use as well as digitized materials available online.
- Sabin Americana This link opens in a new window
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Online collection of books, pamphlets, serials and other works about the Americas, from the 1500s to the early 1900s.