Newspaper articles can be some of the richest resources for family research. Genealogists use them to fill in the blanks between vital records (birth and death dates) to see what someone’s life may have been like.
Beyond major historical events that took place during your ancestor’s lifetime, newspapers can offer a slice of life. Local newspapers shine a light on historic business, festivals and sporting events, and small-town happenings. Finding your ancestor’s name in local news records can be a goldmine.
At HDL, we have access to several news resources that can help your genealogical search.
Obituaries:
An extensive collection of obituaries from local papers has been digitized and made available on FamilySearch.org.
Indexes:
- Index of Obituaries from the Holland Evening Sentinel 1912-1976
- Index to Obituaries and Other Items of Genealogical Interest of the Holland Sentinel (1912-1919) and the Holland City News (1910-1916)
- Index to the Holland Sentinel Obituaries for 1960-1969, 1970-1979, 1980-1989, 1990-1999, 2000-2020
(Please note, indexes are not always complete.)
Holland Sentinel:
HDL owns microfilm of the Holland Sentinel and Holland Evening Sentinel between the years 1912-2020.
The Holland Sentinel Collection offers digitized newspapers from 1997-current day.
Indexes:
- HDL’s People and Subject Indexes cover the Holland Sentinel between the years 2015-2021.
- The Van Reken Index lists many names and subjects from the Holland Sentinel, the Holland City News, the Ottawa County Times and the Grand Rapids Press (years 1912-1990)
Holland City News:
HDL owns microfilm between the years 1872-1977.
Hope College also has digital access to many articles between 1872-1977.
Indexes:
- The Van Reken Index lists many names and subjects from the Holland Sentinel, the Holland City News, the Ottawa County Times and the Grand Rapids Press (years 1912-1990)
- Holland City News Index 1872-1905
- Holland City News Index 1906-1909
Ottawa County Times:
HDL owns microfilm for the years 1892-1905.
Hope College also has digital access to many articles between 1892-1905.
The Van Reken Index lists many names and subjects from the Holland Sentinel, the Holland City News, the Ottawa County Times and the Grand Rapids Press (years 1912-1990)
Allegan Journal:
HDL owns microfilm for the years 1856-1892.
Other local collections:
Here are several other institutions worth contacting if you’re interested in local newspapers:
