Georgia Public Library Service Expands Online Access to Historic Newspapers

Digitized newspaper pages from The Pembroke Journal from 1969, which covered Bryan County.
August 6, 2024

Georgia Public Library Service (GPLS), in partnership with public libraries statewide, has completed the digitization of over 46,000 pages of newspapers from 1907-1972, which can be accessed for free through the Georgia Historic Newspaper (GHN) archive. 

These newspapers document history in Clayton, Wheeler, Baker, Wilkinson, and Bryan counties, which were previously unrepresented areas in the digital archive. The newspapers provide a rich resource for genealogical and local history research and ensure that more Georgians can access their communities' history.

This digitization is part of a larger effort to improve access to a more comprehensive selection of Georgia’s historical and cultural newspapers, after Georgia Public Library Service discovered the Clayton County Library System and 19 counties in the state did not have any digitized newspapers. Since 2006, Georgia’s public libraries have funded over 1.1 million of the 2.4 million pages of digitized content in the Georgia Historic Newspapers portal. 

“Each year at Georgia Public Library Service, we fill historical gaps in our state’s story,” said Josh Kitchens, director of Archival Services and Digital Initiatives at GPLS. “With the digitization of these materials, all library systems and five new counties are now represented in the Georgia Historic Newspaper project.”

Digitized pages from The Pembroke Journal from 1969, which covered Bryan County.

Below is a list of the newly digitized newspaper titles, the period they document, and a link to the collection:

"Preserving our local history is a core mission of the Clayton County Library System. We are grateful for Georgia Public Library Service's support in this project to make our local history accessible to all," said Scott Parham, director of Clayton County Library System.

Through Georgia Historic Newspapers, anyone with an internet connection can freely access newspapers that are both full-text searchable and can be browsed by date, city, county, and type. Georgia Historic Newspapers is a project of the Digital Library of Georgia (DLG) and utilizes the Library of Congress’ open source tool, Chronicling America, for online delivery. 

Digitization through Archival Services and Digital Initiatives at GPLS is supported with federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Project selection was conducted by GPLS in consultation with Clayton County Library System, Statesboro Regional Public Libraries, Middle Georgia Regional Library, De Soto Trail Regional Library, and Ocmulgee Regional Library System.

About Georgia Public Library Service

Georgia Public Library Service empowers libraries to improve the lives of all Georgians by encouraging reading, literacy, and education through the continuing support and improvement of public libraries. Georgia Public Library Service is a unit of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. GPLS's digitization initiative, Archival Services and Digital Initiatives, encourages public libraries and related institutions across Georgia to participate in The Digital Library of Georgia, an initiative of GALILEO. www.georgialibraries.org

About the Digital Library of Georgia

Based at the University of Georgia Libraries, the Digital Library of Georgia is a GALILEO initiative that collaborates with Georgia’s libraries, archives, museums, and other institutions of education and culture to provide access to key information resources on Georgia history, culture, and life. This primary mission is accomplished through the ongoing development, maintenance, and preservation of digital collections and online digital library resources. DLG also serves as Georgia’s service hub for the Digital Public Library of America and as the home of the Georgia Newspaper Project, the state’s historic newspaper microfilming project. Visit the DLG at dlg.usg.edu.