Success with Newspaper Collection

[Titanicfan]

Hi all, I'm just about to subscribe to the British Library's newspapers collection and I wondered if anyone had any success by using this collection?

[Wirral]

Before you subscribe, check if your local library has a subscription. If they do, you may be able to access the site for free online using your library card.

[carolchipp]

As previously suggested, check to see if you can access the collections online with your library card. If you look at the website of your county library it should tell you what's in their on-line reference library. Then it's simply a case of putting in your card number and away you go.
As for how useful they are, I can only speak from my own experience. Since discovering my husband's library card (he joined on a trip back to the UK so he could check his email) I have found various bits and pieces that have added to the information I have about the lives of my ancestors. If any of yours were in trade you could strike lucky as they may have placed trade notices and advertisments. In this way, I not only found out more about the business itself, but several addresses that didn't appear on census records, including the precise date of moving. I also found several court case reports following thefts on the premises. Its worth varying your search terms - try an address or street name as well as actual names. If you know of any newsworthy events in the past connected to your family - accidents, crimes, etc try any reference that might have been mentioned. Some things I thought I was sure to find, I haven't but it's the little details that bring your ancestors to life.
Even if you find nothing, the newspapers are a great way to get a feel for the time and the places your ancestors lived.
A word of warning though ... Something will undoubtedly catch your eye and before you know it, you'll get sidetracked by a wierd/funny/sad/ but very fascinating story. I think if I gave up tracing my family tomorrow, I'd probably still check out the collections from time to time as they make great reading.
Good luck
Carol

[Titanicfan]

Hi all,

As I have problems getting out and about I was unable to visit my main library so I opted for the subscription anyway. Unfortunately, I haven't found anything of interest to my ancestors but I have been sidetracked from time to time reading other interesting articles.

I have a 7 day pass with loads of credits left to use so if anyone wants me to look anything or anyone up please feel free to PM me (if this is allowed).

[benny1982]

Hi

I have struck lucky with a few ancestor marriage notices and burial notices and obituaries with the British Library newspaper collections online.

Ben

[lesleys]

I also used my library card to access the collection online.
Property sales and bankruptcy notices provided background on one of my ancestors.

[Titanicfan]

Unfortunately I have searched through about 130 different articles by now and I haven't found anything at all. It was worth a try though.

[Spangle]

I found many of my ancestors in the collection but I was lucky on a couple of fronts.... for one thing both families have peculiar names so it was easy to identify them (Kohler in Ireland and Oppenheim in London and Lancs). For another, one of the former was quite a successful businessman in Dublin (lots of ads and court cases!), the latter were fairly prominent Jews, one of whom was a barrister (more court cases, but this time the ancestor was presenting them!) who committed suicide at his Temple offices.

If you have the names Smith or Brown to search for or are unsure of the locality I guess the chances are that you may not be as fortunate. Nonetheless, as you say, many of the articles make for interesting reading. Once I had found all I could I researched my friend's equally unusual name and had a wander around articles relating to my home area, which were fascinating.