Alabama Online Historical Newspapers
Alabama has a rich newspaper history, with over 2,300 titles published since the first newspaper, the Mobile Centinel, in 1811. Currently, the availability of online historical newspapers is limited, primarily due to insufficient digitization efforts. While Newspapers.com holds over 500 digital collections, many require paid subscriptions. Significant efforts by the Alabama Department of Archives and History have digitized Civil War-era papers, but accessibility and quality can vary. Researchers are encouraged to explore neighboring counties if their own lack online historical newspapers.