Louisiana Online Historical Newspapers Summary

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(This page's most recent update is June 2025)

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Trying to find historical Louisiana newspapers? This is the place to find free online historical newspapers.

Louisiana has a growing set of free statewide 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 and currently, Louisiana has quite a few newspapers available on that site. There are free online newspapers available on other sites and there are collections 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 almost 2,000 newspapers that have been published in the Pelican State – certainly not all of them are searchable online. But there are several that are indeed available. So go for it – find your Louisiana 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)

Louisiana Historical Newspapers

Free Sites:

Statewide Collections:

Chronicling America – Louisiana

The Links for Chronicling America go to the new Version 2.0

Google News Archive

Parish and Library Collections:

Acadia Parish
Acadia Parish Library 

  • Church Point News (1942-2023)
  • Crowley Daily Signal (1922-1974)
  • Crowley Post Signal (1974-2023)
  • Crowley Signal (1888-1923)
  • Daily Signal (1916-1916)
  • Free Press (1977-1980)
  • Rayne Acadian News (2022-2022)
  • Rayne Acadian Tribune (1954-2023)
  • Rayne Independent (1983-1983)
  • The Acadia Sentinel (1886-1887)
  • The Acadian Signal (1932-1945)
  • The Church Point Democrat (1907-1909)
  • The Church Point News (2021-2021)
  • The Crowley Post Herald (1966-1974)
  • The Crowley Post Signal (2021-2021)
  • The Daily Signal (1908-1915)
  • The Rayne Acadian Tribune (2021-2021)
  • The Rayne Independent (1967-2013)
  • The Rayne Tribune (1903-2011)

Bienville Parish
The Bienville Parish Library 

  • The Bienville Democrat 1900-2022
  • Bienville Democrat V2 1990

Caldwell Parish
Caldwell Parish Library

  • Caldwell Watchman (1923-1946)
  • Caldwell Watchman Progress (1947-1952)
  • Caldwell Watchman And Progress (1946-1947)
  • Caldwell Watchman And The Caldwell Progress (1946-1947)
  • Caldwell News (1944-1944)
  • Watchman (1943-1944)

Concordia Parish
The Concordia Parish Library 

  • Concordia Sentinel (1967-2023)
  • The Concordia Sentinel (1919-2022)
  • The Concordia Intelligencer (1841-1855)
  • The Natchez Democrat (2011-2011)

East Baton Rouge Parish
East Baton Rouge Parish Library

  • Gris Gris (1973-1979)
  • Baton Rouge News Leader (1971-1973)
  • News Leader (1968-1971)
  • Baton Rouge Community Leader (1979-1982)
  • Community Leader (1982-1989)

Jefferson Davis Parish
Jennings Carnegie Public Library

  • Jeff Davis Parish News (1932-1943)
  • Jennings Daily News (2016-2022)
  • Jennings Daily Times – Record (1903-1904)
  • Jennings Daily Times Record (1905-1921)
  • Jennings Daily Times (1900-1900)
  • Jennings Herald (1910-1910)
  • Jennings News (1927-1927)
  • Jennings Semi Weekly News (1926-1927)
  • Jennings Times (1894-1895)
  • Jennings Weekly Times Record (1920-1920)
  • The Daily Times (1901-1903)
  • The Jennings Daily Record (1902-1903)
  • The Jennings Times (1900-1900)
  • The Saturday Record (1903-1903)

Lafayette Parish
Lafayette Public Library

  • Daily Advertiser (1974-1978)
  • Sunday Advertiser (1974-1978)
  • Lafayette Gazette (1893-1908)

LaSalle Parish
LaSalle Parish Library

  • Caldwell Watchman (1920-1928)
  • Colfax Chronicle (1923-1928)
  • Jena Times And The Olla Signal (1935-1935)
  • Jena Times And The Olla Tullos Signal (1937-1942)
  • Jena Times Olla Tullos Urania Signal (2009-2011)
  • Jena Times (1906-2020)
  • Olla Signal (1927-1928)
  • The Olla And Tullos Signal (1936-1969)
  • The Olla Signal (1933-1936)
  • Times Picayune (1920-1920)
  • Winn Parish Enterprise (1925-1928)
  • Winnfield News American (1923-1928)

Livingston Parish
Livingston Parish Library

  • The Livingston Parish News (1925-2019)

Rapides Parish
Rapides Parish Library

  • Alexandria Daily Town Talk (1901-1966)
  • Alexandria Daily Town Tallk (1908-1908)
  • Alexandria Gazette And Planters Intelligencer (1829-1833)
  • Alexandria Gazette (1829-1829)
  • Alexandria Morning News (1903-1903)
  • Alexandria News Leader (1968-1973)
  • Alexandria Times (1938-1938)
  • Branns Iconoclast (1915-1915)
  • Caddo Gazette And De Soto Intelligencer (1843-1843)
  • Central Organ (1858-1858)
  • Colonel Mayfield’s Weekly (1922-1923)
  • Combined New York Evening Newspapers (1923-1923)
  • Combined New York Morning Newspapers (1923-1923)
  • Daily Chautauquan (1895-1895)
  • Daily Crescent (1950-1950)
  • Daily Picayune (1874-1874)
  • Daily Town Talk (1883-1901)
  • Democrat (1865-1865)
  • Diario De La Habana (1840-1840)
  • Evening Post (1910-1910)
  • Galveston Tri Weekly News (1864-1864)
  • Gleason’s Pictorial (1854-1854)
  • Houston Daily Telegraph (1864-1864)
  • L’Organe Central (1858-1858)
  • Le Creole (1841-1841)
  • Le Villageois (1844-1844)
  • Louisiana Democrat (1852-1918)
  • Louisiana Herald (1820-1825)
  • Louisiana Messenger and Alexandria Advertiser (1826-1826)
  • Louisville Weekly Journal (1840-1840)
  • Metropolitan Record And New York Vendicator (1866-1866)
  • Monday Morning Star (1911-1911)
  • Morning News (1908-1908)
  • Natchitoches Times (1864-1864)
  • New Advocate (1910-1910)
  • New Orleans Daily Picayune (1848-1848)
  • New Orleans Morning World (1908-1908)
  • New Orleans Republican (1873-1873)
  • New York Times (1921-1921)
  • Opelousas Gazette (1841-1841)
  • Pineville News (1947-1947)
  • Planters Banner And Lousiana Agriculturist (1846-1846)
  • Planters Intelligencer And Rapide Avoyelles And Catahoula Advertiser (1834-1836)
  • Planters Intelligencer (1834-1834)
  • Rapides Gazette (1871-1873)
  • Red River Republican (1840-1854)
  • Red River Whig (1841-1842)
  • Sgt. Dalton’s Weekly (1922-1923)
  • Southern Transcript And Semi Weekly Whig (1845-1845)
  • Southern Transcript (1844-1844)
  • State Central Express (1882-1882)
  • The Alexandria Daily Town Talk (1967-1970)
  • The Bernice News-Journal (1970-1977)
  • Times Democrat (1896-1907)
  • Town Talk (1885-1885)
  • Tri Weekly Mercury (1862-1862)
  • Tri Weekly Telegraph (1863-1863)
  • Villager (1844-1844)
  • Weekly Freemans Journal (1847-1847)
  • Weekly Herald (1844-1844)
  • Weekly Southwestern Telegram (1873-1873)
  • Weekly Town Talk (1883-1952)
  • Western Democrat (1845-1849)

Red River Parish

Red River Parish Library

  • Coushatta Citizen (1944-2021)
  • The Coushatta Citizen (1871-1959)

Union Parish
Union Parish Library

  • Gazette (1888-2014)
  • The Bernice News-Journal (1960-1969)
  • The Bernice Journal (1929-1931)

Vermillion Parish
Vermilion Parish Library

  • Abbeville Meridional (1910-2022)
  • Abbeville Progress (1913-1944)
  • Gueydan Journal (1994-2018)
  • Kaplan Herald (1968-2018)
  • Meridional (1878-1909)
  • The Gueydan Journal (2019-2022)
  • The Kaplan Herald (2019-2022)

Vernon Parish
Vernon Parish Library

  • American Press (1889-1896)
  • Leesville Leader (1901-2023)
  • Leghorn Times Herald (1944-1947)
  • Llano Colonist (1927-1937)
  • Peoples Friend (1889-1895)
  • Senior Advocate (1988-1990)
  • Star Press (1928)
  • Vernon Journal (1981-1983)
  • Vernon Parish Democrat (1929-1930)

Webster Parish
Webster Parish Library 

  • The Minden Advocate (1910-1915)
  • The Minden Banner (2010-2015)
  • The Minden Chronicle (2000-2005)
  • The Minden Clarion (1920-1925)
  • The Minden Courier (1980-1985)
  • The Minden Democrat (1895-1900)
  • The Minden Dispatch (2020-2023)
  • The Minden Examiner (1990-1995)
  • The Minden Gazette (1930-1935)
  • The Minden Herald (1910-1915)
  • The Minden Ledger (1970-1975)
  • The Minden Messenger (1900-1905)
  • The Minden News (1960-1965)
  • The Minden Progress (1900-1905)
  • The Minden Reporter (1950-1955)
  • The Minden Times (1920-1925)
  • The Minden Weekly (1940-1945)
  • The Webster Advocate (1965-1970)
  • The Webster Advocate (2015-2020)
  • The Webster Clarion (1985-1990)
  • The Webster County News (1945-1950)
  • The Webster Echo (1935-1940)
  • The Webster Gazette (1995-2000)
  • The Webster Ledger (1915-1920)
  • The Webster News (1925-1930)
  • The Webster Parish Journal (1955-1960)
  • The Webster Post (2023-present)
  • The Webster Press (1975-1980)
  • The Webster Review (1915-1920)
  • The Webster Signal (1890-1895)
  • The Webster Standard (1905-1910)
  • The Webster Times (2005-2010)
  • The Webster Tribune (1905-1910)

Student Collections:

Centenary College of Louisiana – Shreveport

Dillard University – New Orleans

Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University – Baton Rouge

Grambling State University – Grambling

Louisiana Christian University – Pineville

Louisiana State University – Alexandria

Jesuit High School – New Orleans

Louisiana State University – Baton Rouge

Louisiana State University – Shreveport

Loyola University – New Orleans

Nicholls State University – Thibodaux

Northwestern State University – Natchitoches

Southeastern Louisiana University – Hammond

Southern University and A&M College – Baton Rouge

University of Holy Cross – New Orleans

University of Louisiana – Lafayette

University of Louisiana – Monroe

University of New Orleans – New Orleans

Xavier University – New Orleans

Miscellaneous Collections and Indexes:

Independent Voices – Alternative Newspapers

  • Distaff
  • NOLA Express
  • GAF
  • Copkiller
  • Different Drummer
  • Fort Polk Puke
  • Outsider
  • SLAM

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Newspapers 1933-1942

Small Town Papers

Old Fulton Postcards

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

Other Free Sites:

Alexandria

​Baton Rouge

Camp Livingston

Carville

Charenton

Houma-Thibodaux

Lafayette

Lake Charles

Monroe

New Orleans

Shreveport

Vidalia

Subscription or Pay Sites:

Ancestry.com:

There are currently 25 publications available on this site. See all the titles at Ancestry – Louisiana Newspapers

Genealogy Bank:

There are currently 479 publications available on this site. See all the titles at Genealogy Bank – Louisiana Newspapers

Newspaper Archive:

There are currently 149 publications available on this site. See all the titles at Newspaper Archive – Louisiana

Newspapers.com:

There are currently 334 publications available on this site. See all the titles at Newspapers.com – Louisiana.

And Finally:

You also need to visit the Digitizing Louisiana Newspapers Project 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. Gale and ProQuest collections are often available if you have the proper card. 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 Louisiana Collection Links in 24 Genealogy Categories, go to the By Location Page, click on Louisiana, 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,

One reply on “Louisiana Online Historical Newspapers Summary”

I found many of the Louisiana papers vital to telling the story of Ozeme Roy: “The Babble of A Drunken Man” – The Life and Duel Death of Ozeme Roy (1862-1909) and His Friend, Wade
Unexpectedly, it is still one of my most popular blog posts!
I refer to your site often! Thanks for the awesome collection of resources.

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