Missouri Online Historical Newspapers Summary

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(This page's most recent update is June 2026)

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Missouri has several free online collections for searching historical newspapers. Many states use the Library of Congress Chronicling America site as their main central online site for searching old newspapers. Currently, Missouri has quite a few newspapers available on that site. There are free online newspapers also available on other sites, and collections are available on subscription sites. Below is a list of where the titles are stored and the link so that you can access them.

There are over 4,700 newspapers that have been published in the Show-Me State – certainly not all of them are searchable online. But there are several that are indeed available. So go for it – find your Missouri ancestors and all the interesting articles that capture the stories of their lives.

Please note that I have not always entered the dates that are included in the collections, as I suspect they will change as more items are digitized. Also, I suspect that some of these links may change over time – so if there is a dead link – please use your favorite search engine to find their new location.

(Recently added links are in BOLD)

Missouri Historical Newspapers

Free Sites:

Statewide Collections:

Chronicling America – Missouri 

Google News Archive

State Historical Society of Missouri Digital Newspapers

Index to Selected Missouri Newspapers, 1808-1929

  • Boonville Weekly Advertiser (Jan 2, 1880-Dec 30, 1927)
  • Boonville Eagle (May 2, 1868-July 12, 1878)
  • Boonville Observer (March 13, 1844-December 27, 1856)
  • Boonville Western Emigrant (January 10, 1839-March 26, 1840)
  • Columbia Missouri Intelligencer (May 4, 1830-December 12, 1835)
  • Columbia University Missourian (September 14, 1908-August 1, 1916)
  • Columbia Missourian (August 2, 1916-December 31, 1929)
  • Columbia Statesman (1843-1886)
  • Fayette Missouri Intelligencer (June 29, 1826-April 9, 1830)
  • Franklin Missouri Intelligencer (April 23, 1819-June 16, 1826)
  • Jackson Independent Patriot (December 23, 1820-December 15, 1826)
  • Jackson Missouri Herald (August 13, 1819-August 26, 1820)
  • Jefferson City Inquirer (September 10, 1840-January 26, 1861)
  • Jefferson City Jeffersonian Republican (April 30, 1831-August 10, 1844)
  • Jefferson City People’s Tribune (October 4, 1865-December 26, 1883)
  • Jefferson City Daily Tribune (January 1, 1875-December 30, 1926)
  • Jefferson City Weekly Tribune (January 2, 1884-December 31, 1884; January 4, 1888-December 27, 1888)
  • Liberty Tribune (April 4, 1846-January 29, 1869)
  • St. Louis Missouri Argus (May 22, 1835-July 4, 1840)
  • St. Louis Missouri Gazette (July 26, 1808-March 6, 1822)
  • St. Louis Missouri Republican (March 20, 1822-December 23, 1828)

County and Library Collections:

Grundy County
Grundy County Library

  • Daily Evening Republican Star (1885-1886)
  • Daily Evening Republican (1884-1902)
  • Daily Star Journal (1953-1953)
  • Grand River Republican (1869-1872)
  • Grundy County Gazette (1901-1950)
  • Grundy County Gazette (1907-1910)
  • Laredo Tribune (1904-1905)
  • Rambler (1956-1957)
  • Republican Times And Grundy County Gazette (1952-1964)
  • Republican Times (1951-1952)
  • The Republic (1927-1927)
  • Trenton Republican Times (1927-2016)
  • Trenton Republican Tribune (1904-1927)
  • Trenton Republican (1894-1894)
  • Trenton Republican-Times (2016-2018)
  • Trenton Times News (1907-1908)
  • Trenton Times Republican (1872-1878)
  • Trenton Times Weekly News (1908-1911)
  • Trenton Times (1902-1927)
  • Trenton Tribune (1891-1897)
  • Trenton Weekly News (1908-1908)
  • Trenton Weekly Republican Tribune (1903-1926)
  • Trenton Weekly Republican (1890-1903)
  • Trenton Weekly Times (1901-1923)
  • Trenton Weekly Tribune (1890-1902)
  • Western Pioneer (1851-1852)

Putnam County
Putnam County Library

  • Chronicle (1915-1915)
  • Lucerne Standard (1890-1917)
  • New Century (1878-1885)
  • Powersville Record (1906-1915)
  • Putnam County Journal (1906-1917)
  • Putnam County Leader (1897-1898)
  • Putnam Journal (1903-1903)
  • Putnam Ledger (1877-1877)
  • Unionville Democrat (1890-1890)
  • Unionville Republican And Putnam County Journal (1926-2012)
  • Unionville Republican (1873-1978)
  • Unionville Weekly Argus (1860-1860)
  • Unionville Weekly Republican And Putnam County Ledger (1877-1877)
  • Unionville Weekly Republican (1865-1887)
  • Worthington Gazette (1924-1925)

Chillicothe Constitution Tribune Archives

Jefferson County Newspaper Index

  • Jefferson County Leader
  • Jefferson Democrat

Scenic Regional Library (Franklin, Gasconade, and Warren counties) 

  • Licht-Freund –  1843-1845
  • Hermamaner Volksblatt u. Gasconade Zeitung –  1872-1873
  • Hermanner Wochenblatt –  1872-1873
  • Franklin County Record –  1874-1890
  • Hermanner Volksblatt –  1875-1879, 1923-1928
  • Hermann Advertiser and Advertiser-Courier –  1875-1922
  • Pacific Our County Paper –  1882-1887
  • Franklin County Tribune –  1887-1919, 1927-1966
  • Pacific City Herald –  1889-1891
  • Pacific Transcript –  1895-1921, 1923-1933
  • Warrenton Herald –  1898-1905
  • Sullivan Sentinel –  1901-1914
  • Warrenton Volksfreund –  1902-1918
  • Warrenton Banner –  1902-1968
  • New Haven Leader –  1903-1918
  • Sullivan News –  1910-1952, 1955-1966
  • Washington Citizen –  1924-1939,1943-1965
  • St. Clair Chronicle –  1927-1977
  • Die Gasconade Zeitung –  1873-1874
  • Der Missionar –  1881-1883
  • Franklin County Observer –  1893-1926
  • Marthasville News –  1896-1897
  • Gasconade County Republican –  1897-1898,1903-1905,1918-1921,1925-1966
  • Tribune-Republican –  1897-1919, 1927-1966
  • Marthasville Record –  1901-1966
  • Union Republican Headlight –  1904-1919
  • Bland Courier –  1904-1951, 1963-1966
  • Union Republican Tribune –  1919-1922
  • The Gerald Journal –  1922-1928, 1962-1965
  • The Washington Missourian –  1939-1964

Springfield-Greene County Library – Ozarks News and Historical Newspaper Index

  • Advertiser
  • Daily News
  • Gateway Heritage
  • Greene County Commonwealth
  • Leader & Press
  • Missouri Municipal Review
  • Missouri Weekly Patriot
  • News-Leader
  • OzarksWatch
  • Springfield Business Journal
  • Springfield Newspaper
  • The Leader
  • The Ozarks Mountaineer

Student Collections:

Avila University – Kansas City

Francis Howell Central High School – St. Charles

Lincoln High School – Kansas City

Lindenwood University – St. Charles

Maryville University – St. Louis

Missouri Southern State University – Joplin

Missouri State University – Springfield

Missouri University of Science and Technology – Rolla

Missouri Western State University – St. Joseph

Northwest Missouri State University – Maryville

Parkway Central High School – Chesterfield

Southeast Missouri State University – Cape Girardieu

St. Louis Community College – Forest Park

St. Louis Community College – Meramec

St. Louis Country Day School – St. Louis

St. Louis University – St. Louis

St. Louis University High School – St. Louis

    University of Central Missouri – Warrensburg

    University of Missouri – Columbia

    University of Missouri – Kansas City

    University of Missouri – St. Louis

     Washington University – St. Louis

    Miscellaneous Collections and Indexes:

    Independent Voices – Alternative Press

    • Underwood
    • Both Sides Now
    • Heresy II
    • Leavenworth Brothers Offense/Defense Committee
    • Other Voice
    • Pawns Pawn, The
    • River Styx
    • Veterans Voice
    • Woodpecker

    Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Newspapers 1933-1941

    Small Town Papers

    Old Fulton Postcards

    Please check out the Obituaries page for Obituary Indexes, transcriptions, and other death/obituary information from historical newspapers.

    Other Free Sites:

    Chillicothe

    Independence

    Jefferson City

    Kansas City

    Springfield

    St. Louis

    Subscription or Pay Sites:

    Ancestry.com:

    There are currently 53 publications available on this site. See all the titles at Ancestry – Missouri Newspapers

    Genealogy Bank:

    There are currently 609 publications available on this site. See all the titles at Genealogy Bank – Missouri Newspapers

    Newspaper Archive:

    There are currently 240 publications available on this site. See all the titles at Newspaper Archive – Missouri

    Newspapers.com:

    There are currently 2,207 publications available on this site. See all the titles at Newspapers.com – Missouri 

    And Finally:

    You also need to visit the State Historical Society site from time to time, which can tell you what is occurring in the state with regard to online newspaper availability. 

    Please note – even more may be available via a local or state library where a library card is required. And of course, there is always microfilm for those that have not been made available online as yet.

    For more links for different states, provinces, and countries, please see the Newspaper Links page on this website.

    For all Free Missouri Collection Links in 24 Genealogy Categories, go to the By Location Page, click on Missouri, and then click on the category of interest. Good Luck and Happy Hunting!

    Online Newspaper Research FAQs

    Why is online newspaper research so challenging?

    It’s challenging due to imperfect Optical Character Recognition (OCR), inconsistent indexing, variations in spelling and nicknames, differing journalistic styles over time, and the sheer volume of fragmented, often paywalled, collections. Finding what you need truly feels like a treasure hunt!

    What can I do to overcome these OCR errors?

    Many researchers utilizing online newspaper archives may not be aware that word searches are performed against a database generated by analyzing whether minute sections of the newspaper are black or white. It is the shape of the collected dots that may (or may not) look like a letter.

    To improve search accuracy when encountering OCR errors, it is advisable to intentionally alter your search terms by substituting letters with similar shapes. For example, replacing a lowercase ‘b’ with an ‘h’, or a lowercase ‘e’ with a ‘c’.

    What other techniques will produce better results?

    In your search criteria, try entering abbreviations, nicknames, and portions of hyphenated words. Numerous other techniques can be found in The Ancestor Hunt’s “Newspaper Research Academy”, which can be accessed at https://theancestorhunt.com/academy.html

    Are any Newspaper Databases Free?

    Yes. Although some of the largest databases require a subscription, there are many that are free. The Ancestor Hunt has curated links to over 80,000 titles that can be searched for free in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. To use these links, go to its Newspaper Links Page,

    4 replies on “Missouri Online Historical Newspapers Summary”

    Very useful information, thanks for sharing!

    It’s nice to see that newspapers in the 1910’s used to discuss cultural, social, and moral issues to evoke what could be life changing thoughts and movements for Missouri and America. History finds its way to progress society in the end. There are good references here. Thanks for sharing!

    I am unable to get into the State Digital Newspapers I get this message: SHSMO Digital Newspaper Project
    Unauthorized access
    Please return to your institution’s website or portal and sign in again.

    Sorry for the delayed response. I have redone and updated this Missouri page. You should not receive an error message now.

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