Newspapers.com

By rhnewman on Thu, 06/24/2021 - 16:10

Forums

I have an issue with Newspapers.com (part of Ancestry?). They cite the newspaper as South Idaho Press (Burley, Idaho), but when you go to page 1 of the newspaper, the title is The Burley Bulletin. How do I cite this? I normally cite what the newspaper title page has on it.

Submitted byEEon Thu, 06/24/2021 - 18:12

rhnewman, your citation to newspapers that you consult online, in imaged form, will consist of two or three layers:

  • Layer 1 will identify the newspaper. You do that in the manner in which the newspaper identifies itself.
  • Layer 2 will identify the database that provided you with the images. You identify that database in the standard format for databases.
  • Layer 3, if needed, is where you record any source-of-the-source information that the database provider cites.  In a case such as the one you describe, Newspaper.com's identification of the newspaper by a different name would normally be something you'd want to note in Layer 3.

In the last bullet point, I say "normally" because any situation can have a quirk that calls for different handling. You presented the question generically, without identifying or linking to the actual record, so I'm answering generically.

If you are not familiar with the concept of citation layers, see QuickLesson 19: Layered Citations Work Like Layered Clothing.

Submitted byHistory-Hunteron Sat, 06/26/2021 - 10:12

The South Idaho Press was a consolidation and successor of the Burley Bulletin, which began in 1904 and the Burley Herald. Newspapers.com likely refers to it by the name after consolidation, since any new issues will now be published under that name. Suggest using layer 3 to note this.

You can find out more about this at, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Idaho_Press