There have been 2087 newspapers published under different banners in Connecticut. The earliest known Connecticut newspaper was the Connecticut Gazette published in New Haven from 1755-1768.
While known primarily to genealogists for their birth, marriage, and death announcements, newspapers can also provide local news items, probate court and legal notices, real estate transactions, political biographies, announcements, notices of new and terminated partnerships, business advertisements, and notices for settling debts.
The following is a list of 258 Connecticut newspapers, both historical and current, that are available online. Not all Connecticut towns have a newspaper currently digitized. In the event your ancestors town does not, try to find a nearby town with a digitized paper.
I have sorted these papers first by town published, and then in order by date first published, oldest to newest. This will make it easier for you to identify which listing you should consult.
At the bottom of the page are current Connecticut newspapers and a series of helpful blogs and/or videos which can help you make more out of your newspaper search.
The range of years available for each newspaper will differ. I have included the range for each listing, but the run of newspapers available may not be complete for all the years. Keep that in mind as you search for a specific newspaper on a specific date.
When there is a charge associated with viewing any of these historical Connecticut newspapers, we have included a $ beside the listing. All others are free.
The Norwich Bulletin from 1910-1922 is a goldmine for those researching family history. Once a week, the newspaper carried a feature called “100 Live Correspondents.” In this feature are to be found accounts of local news, including social visits from one resident to another, from nearly 100 towns, villages, and crossroads in Eastern Connecticut.
Historical Connecticut Newspapers
State Papers
- Connecticut organ, 1854
Temperance newspaper - State Guard, 1855-1856
Official organ of the American Party of Connecticut - Connecticut press, 1856
- The Connecticut fifth (1862)
5th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteers - The Connecticut war record (1863-1865)
- Twenty-sixth, 1863-1865
- The Cripple, 1864-1865
United States General Hospitals – Civil War - Temperance gem, 1878
- The Home Guard news, 1918
- The State Guard News, 1918-1919
- Veterans journal and State Guard News, 1919-1920
- Jewish Ledger, 1935, 1938
Ansonia
Avon
Berlin
Branford
- The Branford News (1878)
- Branford Gleaner (1878-1880)
- Branford Scrapbooks – New Haven Evening Register (1895-1975)
- Branford Opinion(1896-1913)
- Branford Semi – Weekly Record 1898-1899
- Branford Semi – Weekly Record 1898-1899
- Branford Opinion And Guilford Echo (1906-1912)
- Branford Review (1928-1980)
- Branford Review And East Haven News (1932-1952)
- Suburban Spokesman 1957-1958
Bridgeport
Bridgeport News Articles by M. K. Witkowski
History Center Head Emeritus Mary K. Witkowski wrote over 450 articles for the Bridgeport News during her tenure at the BHC. From the Historical Collections articles explore many facets of Bridgeport history – people, places, and things – from the renowned to the quirky, and will take readers on a delightful journey through the City’s past.
- Daily advertiser and farmer (1861)
- The Evening farmer, 1865
- Bridgeport Morning News (1885-1891)
- Law and order, 1893
Temperance - Bridgeport Herald (1897-1910)
- Connecticut workman (1901)
- La Tribuna del Connecticut (1906-1908)
- The Bridgeport evening farmer (1909-1917)
- Republican farmer (1909-1920)
- The Bridgeport times and evening farmer (1918-1922)
- The Bridgeport Telegram (1918-1977) $
- La sentinella = The sentinel (1920-1930)
- The Bridgeport Post (1947-1977) $
- Sunday Herald (1949-1963)
Note: Earlier issues (pre 1900) are for the Baltimore Maryland, Sunday Herald, not Bridgeport Connecticut. - Bridgeport Sunday Post (1954) $
- The Bridgeport Post (1956-1977) $
- Journal Inquirer (1977) $
Bristol
Brooklyn
Canaan
- Housatonic Republican (Canaan, Conn.) (1857-1860)
- Independent (Canaan, Conn.) (1858)
- Connecticut Western (1971)
Canton
Cheshire
- Cheshire Newspaper Articles Collection Index (1756 – 1922)
From its settlement in 1694, until 1953, Cheshire did not have a long standing local newspaper. There is no ‘paper of record’ that contains the town’s day-to-day news for over 250 years. The Cheshire Newspaper Articles Collection is drawn from state and national newspapers that printed articles about the town and its residents. - Cheshire Courier (1877)
Collinsville
Coventry
Danbury
Derby
- Examiner, 1886
Labor newspaper
East Haddam
East Hampton
East Hartford
East Lyme
- East Lyme star, 1866-1867
- Niantic herald, 1888
- Connecticut eastern news, 1894-1897
Enfield
- Thompsonville press, 1880-1897, 1899-1922
- The Thompsonville press, 1923-1936
- Enfield Press, 1969-1983
Essex
Fairfield
Falls Village
Farmington
Griswold
Guilford
Hartford
- Hartford Courant (1764-2019) $
- The Hartford Times (1828, 1830-1835, 1839-1846)
- The Catholic Press (1829-1832)
- New-England examiner, 1834
- Retreat Gazette, 1837
Retreat for the Insane at Hartford - Charter oak (1838-1843)
Connecticut Anti-Slavery Society - Charter oak (1846-1848)
Connecticut Anti-Slavery Society - Hartford Weekly Times (1847-1890)
- Free soil advocate, 1848
- State temperance journal and home visitor, 1868
- The Soldiers’ record, 1868-1871
No digital copies online - The Knapsack, 1873-1875
Devoted to the interests of the Connecticut National Guard, and the First Regiment in particular. - Bazar Budget (1880)
Union for Home Work - The examiner (1881-1888)
- National issue, 1886
- Bulletin (1888-1890)
The Connecticut Indian Association - The Indian Bulletin, 1890-1901
- The weekly examiner (1890-1901)
- Hartford labor (1894)
- Voter, 1909-1911
- The labor standard (1910-1922)
- Catholic Transcript (1925-1978)
- West Hartford Press, 1929
- The Connecticut craftsman (1932)
- Hartford chronicle (1946-1947)
- Connecticut chronicle (1948)
- New England bulletin (1949)
- Greater Hartford News (2006)
Hebron
Kent
- State guard (1855-1856)
- Banner and banquet (1870-1871, 1873)
Devoted to religious intelligence, sabbath schools, temperance, choice, family reading and local and general news.
Litchfield
Manchester
Meriden
- Meriden recorder, 1863-1865
- Meriden literary recorder, 1865-1870
- State temperance journal and Meriden weekly Republican, 1868
- State temperance journal, 1868-1870
- Meriden daily monitor, 1872
- Printers Guide, 1882
devoted to useful knowledge, literature, amusement, etc. - Meriden Journal (1886-1888)
- The Meriden Daily Journal (1887-1953)
- Meriden Weekly Republican (1892-1917)
- The Morning Record (1892-1899)
- Meriden Morning Record and Republican (1899-1900)
- Meriden Morning Record (1899-1924)
- Meriden Record (1925-1963)
- Meriden Journal (1953-1972)
- The Morning Record (1963-1978)
- The Journal (1973-1977)
- The Morning Record and Journal (1977-1980)
- Record-Journal (1980-2009)
- Record-Journal (Oct 1989)
Middletown
- The Castigator, 1840
Democratic campaign paper for election of 1840 - Middlesex explorer, 1856
- New republic, 1895-1896
- Middletown Bulletin, 1949-1950, 1960-1974
Italian American Review of Local, National and International News
Naugatuck
New Britain
- The North and South, 1858
- The North and South, and New Britain journal, 1858-1859
- New Britain times, 1859-1860
- The True citizen, 1866
- New Britain herald (1920-1926)
New Haven
- New Haven Daily Palladium, 1862
- Morning journal and courier (1880-1894)
- Workmen’s advocate (1883-1891)
- The daily morning journal and courier (1894-1907)
- The morning journal-courier, 1907-1908
- L’indipendente (1907-1936)
- The Connecticut labor press (1918-1921)
- The Connecticut labor news (1921-1925)
- New Haven Journal and Courier 1935-1936
New London
- The People, 1821
- Ultimatum, 1837, 1838, 1842
- The Slaves cry, 1844
Anti-slavery - The Repository (1858-1861)
- New-London daily star, 1859-1860
- New London chronicle, 1862-1869
- New-London daily star, 1862-1868
- State temperance journal, 1866-1867
- The Day (1881-2008)
Newtown
Niantic
North Haven
- North Haven Post (1970-2007)
- The North Haven Post (1984-1990)
- Post (1984-2005)
- North Haven Citizen (2008-2011)
Norwalk
- Norwalk Gazette, 1818-1826
- Norwalk Weekly Gazette, 1883-1890
- Daily Norwalk Gazette and Saturday’s Norwalk Record, 1890-1891, 1893
- The Evening Hour (1895-1900)
- Norwalk Gazette, 1896-1900
- Evening gazette, 1896-1897
- The Norwalk Hour (1901-1971)
- The Hour (1971-2008)
- Connecticut Sunday Herald (1972-1973)
- The Sunday Hour (2000-2007)
Norwich
- Norwich spectator, 1829-1830
Devoted to the interests of Literature, Commerce, Agriculture, Manufactures, and General Intelligence - Mechanics’, operatives’, and laborers’ advocate (1836-1837)
- The Free soil pioneer, 1848
- American mechanic and home journal (1849)
- The Liberty bell and workingmen’s advocate (1867)
- Norwich bulletin (1909-1922)
Plainville
Ridgefield
Rockville
- Rockville Republican, 1860
- Tolland County Gazette, 1854-1855, 1859-1860
- Tolland County record, 1861
- Tolland County Herald, 1864-1865
- Tolland County News, 1865
- Tolland County press and Stafford news letter, 1867
- Tolland County press, 1871, 1873, 1875-1876
Salisbury
- Connecticut Western News (1871-1923)
- Connecticut News (1873-1873)
- Lakeville Journal (1897-2017)
- Winsted Journal (1999-1999)
Sharon
Simsbury
South Coventry
South Norwalk
Southington
- Southington Press (1859)
- Southington Mirror (1863-1868)
- Southington Reporter (1873-1876)
- Southington Phoenix (1878-1901)
- Weekly phoenix, 1893
- The Southington news, Northampton valley times, 1907
- The Southington news, 1919
- Southington News (1921-1974)
- Canal Line Times (1975)
- Southington Observer (1976-2000)
Southport
Stafford
- Stafford news letter, 1859, 1865
- The Tolland County press and Stafford news letter (1867)
- Tolland County press (1883)
Stamford
Thomaston
- Thomaston Express (1880-2000)
- Thomaston Express And Terryville Eagle (1955-1955)
- Express (1970-1991)
Thompson
Vernon
- Tolland County gazette (1854-1855, 1859-1860)
- The Rockville republican (Vernon, Conn.) (1860)
- Tolland County record (1861)
- Tolland County herald (1864-1865)
- Tolland County news (1865)
- Tolland County press (1871, 1873, 1875-1876)
Wallingford
Waterbury
- Waterbury evening Democrat (1887-1895)
- Sunday herald, 1889-1890
- Waterbury evening Democrat (1897-1900)
- Waterbury Democrat (1900-1903)
Watertown
West Hartford
Wethersfield
Wilton
Winchester
Windham
Windsor
Windsor Locks
Winsted
Fulton History – Historical Newspapers United States and Canada
This eclectic website has the following newspaper titles available to be viewed. There is no search, and the method of viewing is by logging in (free) and then clicking on the first filing cabinet, Historical Newspapers United States and Canada. From there the titles are listed in alphabetical order and then by date and page. Each page is assigned it’s own PDF.
- Bridgeport CT Connecticut Workman
- Bridgeport CT Evening Farmer
- Bridgeport CT La Sentinella
- Bridgeport CT La Tribuna
- Brocton NY Mirror
- Canaan CT Western News
- Fairfield CT Record
- Hartford CT Bulletin
- Hartford CT Chronicle
- Hartford CT Connecticut Courant
- Hartford CT Connecticut Craftsman
- Hartford CT Examiner
- Hartford CT Labor Standard
- Hartford CT Weekly Examiner
- New Britan CT Herald
- New Haven CT Connecticut Labor Press
- New Haven CT Indipendente
- New Haven CT Labor News
- New Haven CT Labor Press
- New Haven CT Morning and Courier
- New Haven CT Morning Journal and Courier
- New Haven CT Workmens Advocate
- Newtown CT Bee
- Norwich CT American Mechanic
- Norwich CT Bulletin
- Norwich CT Liberty Bell
- Norwich CT Mechanics Operatives Laborers Advocate
- Ridgefield CT Citizen
- Salisbury CT Western News
- Southport CT Chronicle
- Southport CT Fairfield Advertiser
- Southport CT Pequot Record
- Southport CT Times
- Stafford CT News Letter
- Stafford CT News Letter 1865
- Stafford Springs CT Press
- Stafford Springs CT Tolland County Press
- Stamford CT American
- Waterbury CT Democrat
- Waterbury CT Evening Democrat
- Wilton CT Bulletin
- Wilton CT Bulletin Continued
Current Connecticut Newspapers
Current newspapers still being published in Connecticut. Includes online only newspapers.
“Current newspapers are especially useful in locating unknown relatives. Distant relatives may still be living in old hometowns though the direct ancestor moved away. Obituaries in current papers may provide biographical details not available elsewhere.” 1
- Bloomfield, Connecticut – Bloomfield Messenger
- Bloomfield Connecticut – Catholic Transcript
- Bridgeport, Connecticut – Connecticut Post
- Bridgeport, Connecticut – Fairfield County Catholic
- Bristol, Connecticut – Bristol Press
- Danbury, Connecticut – News Times
- Darien, Connecticut – Darien Times
- Fairfield, Connecticut – Fairfield Citizen News
- Hamden, Connecticut – Post Chronicle
- Hartford, Connecticut – Hartford Courant
- Madison, Connecticut – Shoreline Times
- Manchester, Connecticut – Journal Inquirer
- Meriden, Connecticut – Record Journal
- Middletown, Connecticut – Middletown Press
- New Britain, Connecticut – The Herald
- New Haven, Connecticut – New Haven Register
- New London, Connecticut – New London Day
- New Milford, Connecticut – The Spectrum
- North Haven, Connecticut – Post Chronicle
- Norwalk, Connecticut – Connecticut Insider
- Rocky Hill, Connecticut – Rocky Hill Patch
- Stamford, Connecticut – Stamford Advocate
- Torrington, Connecticut – Register Citizen
- Waterbury, Connecticut – Republican-American
- West Hartford, Connecticut – West Hartford News
- Westport, Connecticut – Westport News
- Wethersfield, Connecticut – New Britain Herald
Helpful Articles and Videos
Helpful blogs and/or videos which can help you make more out of your newspaper search.
Articles
- How to Use Chronicling America to Find Your Ancestors’ Hometown Newspapers
- How to Use Newspaper Society Pages in Your Genealogy Research
Videos
- The Basics of Using Newspapers.com for Genealogy Research – Tutorial
- Genealogy Research Tools: Top Tips for Using Newspapers.com
- Using Newspapers to Research AROUND the 1890 Census loss in Genealogy
- Researching Newspapers to Find Genealogy Gold
- How to Do More Effective Old Newspaper Searches
Citations:
- Szucs, Loretto Dennis and Hansen, James L. The Source: A Guidebook to American Genealogy.[↩]