Arizona Digital Newspaper Project

FAIN: PJ-287801-22

Arizona State Library, Archives & Public Records (Phoenix, AZ 85007-2819)
Sativa Peterson (Project Director: January 2022 to August 2022)
Korina Lombardo Tueller (Project Director: August 2022 to present)
Mary Feeney (Co Project Director: August 2022 to present)
Asa Espanto (Co Project Director: November 2022 to present)

Digitization of 100,000 pages of Arizona newspapers, published prior to 1963, as part of the state’s continuing participation in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).

The Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records in partnership with the University of Arizona Libraries requests $291,018 to select, digitize and make available to the Library of Congress 100,000 historic newspaper pages. Approximately one quarter of these pages will increase racial, ethnic, and linguistic representation in the Arizona newspapers digitized for Chronicling America. Other goals include expansion of the digitization of newspapers published along the Arizona-Mexico borderlands; broadening the inclusion of newspapers published in mining and agricultural communities; and exploring Arizona’s history as seen through its newspapers in the context of the National Endowment for the Humanities’ (NEH) initiative “A More Perfect Union.”

Media Coverage

'A fuller picture of our history': Spanish, cross-border Arizona newspapers to be online (Media Coverage)
Author(s): José Ignacio Castañeda Perez
Publication: Arizona Republic
Date: 10/15/2022
Abstract: The Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records and the University of Arizona Libraries will spearhead the project after a $290,988 National Digital Newspaper Program two-year grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. "A greater breadth of Arizona’s history soon will be immortalized for years to come. About 100,000 pages of Arizona newspapers from historically underrepresented communities will be digitized, providing a more complete perspective of paramount events that shaped 20th century history, from the Great Depression to World War II. Spanish-language newspapers from the state’s border communities and newspapers published by and for Tucson’s Black community from the 1890s to the 1960s will be memorialized and accessible to residents across the state. Newspapers from the state’s mining and agricultural communities, including Bisbee’s Brewery Gulch Gazette, will also be included in the project."
URL: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/border-issues/2022/10/15/arizona-newspapers-black-spanish-speaking-communities-digitized/8192019001/

Associated Products

Westside Story: Digitizing Historical Newspapers of Phoenix's West Valley (Conference Paper/Presentation)
Title: Westside Story: Digitizing Historical Newspapers of Phoenix's West Valley
Author: Mary Feeney
Author: Asa Espanto
Abstract: The University of Arizona Libraries and the State of Arizona Research Library are collaborating on a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP) Grant to digitize historical Arizona newspapers for the Library of Congress’ open access newspaper database, Chronicling America. Some of the titles to be digitized include newspapers published from 1912 to 1963 in the West Valley of the Phoenix area: The Tolleson Independent, The Westside Enterprise, and The Westside Weekly, and The Buckeye Valley News and The Buckeye Valley News and Buckeye Review. In this presentation: Learn about the history of the communities as reflected in their newspapers. Learn about how librarians can use these and other digitized newspapers to assist library patrons and researchers. Learn where to find resources for continued research
Date: 10/20/2023
Primary URL: https://azla.org/Westside_story
Primary URL Description: AZLA page listing the presentation description
Conference Name: Arizona Library Association Conference 2023

Finding Your Family in Historical Newspapers (Public Lecture or Presentation)
Title: Finding Your Family in Historical Newspapers
Abstract: Learn how to use historical newspapers to find information about family members and their communities! This presentation showcases historical Arizona newspapers that are made available through the National Digital Newspaper Program and how their content can support genealogical research.
Author: 2/24/2024
Author: Mary Feeney
Author: Asa Espanto
Date: 2/24/2024
Location: Virtual Zoom event
Primary URL: https://azsos.gov/news/383#:~:text=The%20Fourth%20Annual%20Arizona%20Genealogy,2024%20%7C%20Arizona%20Secretary%20of%20State
Primary URL Description: Press release from the Arizona Secretary of State's office with links to register for the event
Secondary URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-M_vYxWBD4&t=463s
Secondary URL Description: A video recording of the presentation

Digitizing Historical Newspapers from Buckeye, Arizona (Public Lecture or Presentation)
Title: Digitizing Historical Newspapers from Buckeye, Arizona
Abstract: The Buckeye Valley News is now a part of Chronicling America! Come and learn more about our local paper and other West Valley newspapers being made available online through this project funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, in partnership with the Library of Congress. Presented by the State of Arizona Research Library and University of Arizona Libraries.
Author: Asa Espanto
Author: Mary Feeney
Date: 05/08/2024
Location: Buckeye Valley Museum
Primary URL: https://buckeye.libnet.info/event/10710518
Primary URL Description: A link to the event page on the Buckeye Valley Museum's calendar.

Sustaining Arizona’s Communities through Historical Newspapers (Conference/Institute/Seminar)
Title: Sustaining Arizona’s Communities through Historical Newspapers
Author: Mary Feeney
Author: Michelle Berry
Author: Asa Espanto
Author: Anita Huízar-Hernández
Author: Lise Nelson
Author: Susan Swanberg
Author: Johanne Harrigan
Author: Kit Johnson
Author: James Paules
Author: Zelin Pei
Author: Gwyen Raamat
Author: Zane Rossi
Author: Shelly C. Lowe
Author: Adrian Fontes
Author: Holly Henley
Author: Tara Radniecki
Abstract: Newspapers have played critical roles in society by sharing day-to-day news and featuring stories of the people in their communities, and by illuminating issues and instigating change. How have newspapers sustained Arizona's communities? How have they acted as community conscience and social glue in relation to culture, language, ecology, and labor? Join us for a symposium to learn about Arizona's historical newspapers! Hear from students, scholars, and librarians about the importance of preserving these rich resources and how to use them in your research and communities.
Date Range: 04/12/2024
Location: University of Arizona Main Library
Primary URL: https://libcal.library.arizona.edu/calendar/events/newspaper-symposium
Primary URL Description: A description of the event page on the University of Arizona Library website.

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