Chicago Newspapers

Quicklinks: Newspaper Databases | Newspapers on Microfilm | Newspaper Websites

Chicago’s newspaper history extends back to 1833, when the Chicago Weekly Democrat became the city’s first newspaper. These articles from the Encyclopedia of Chicago detail the history of Chicago’s newspapers:

Chicago Newspapers History
Chicagoans have long supported a number of local newspapers. In 1860, the city boasted 11 daily papers. As these papers chronicled the times, they also saw changes in ownership, formatting and news coverage.

Timeline of Selected Chicago Daily Newspapers
Graphic representing newspaper publication years and mergers.

Politics and the Press
Chicago’s early newspapers were tied to political parties and known for their partisanship.

Timeline of Foreign Language Newspapers in Chicago
Over the years Chicago has sustained a number of foreign-language papers, including publications in Czech, German, Korean, Polish and Spanish.

Newspaper Databases

The Broad Ax

Chronicling America
1895 to 1922

Chicago Defender

Chicago Defender Historical Archive
January 1, 1910 to December 31, 1975

ProQuest Newspapers
November 22, 1999-present

The Chicago Eagle

Chronicling America
1894 to 1920

Chicago Examiner

Chicago Public Library Digital Collections
Highlights from the Chicago Public Library’s holdings, which cover February 1908 to April 1918 and represent the longest run of the paper still available. A Chicago Public Library card is not required to search CPL’s digital collections.

Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago Sun-Times
January 1, 1986-present

Chicago Tribune

Chicago Tribune Historical Archive
April 23, 1849 to December 31, 1988
1849 to 1852 incomplete

Chicago Tribune
January 1, 1985-present

Crain’s Chicago Business

ABI/INFORM
Jan. 6, 1986-present

The Day Book

Chronicling America
1911 to 1917

Extra

ProQuest Newspapers
January 8, 2004-present

La Raza

ProQuest Newspapers
December 9, 2007-present

SouthtownStar, Formerly Daily Southtown

Daily Southtown
July 31, 2004-Nov. 17, 2007

SouthtownStar
Nov. 18, 2007-present

Newspapers on Microfilm

The Harold Washington Library Center has Chicago Newspapers on microfilm. This collection spans 1833 to the present, and many of these newspapers are available through interlibrary loan.

Newspaper Websites

Looking for today’s news? Check the websites of these widely read Chicago newspapers.

Chicago Defender
Chicago’s African American newspaper

Chicago Jewish News
Chicago’s Jewish newspaper

Chicago Journal
South Loop, Near West and West Loop news

Chicago Reader
Chicago’s largest free weekly

Chicago Sun-Times
One of Chicago’s two major daily papers

Chicago Tribune
One of Chicago’s two major daily papers

Crain’s Chicago Business
Local business news

SouthtownStar
South Side and south suburbs news