Many patrons wish to donate or sell their historic newspapers to the Massillon Museum. These newspapers are often from historic events, such as the moon landing or Kennedy’s assassination. The Museum archives contain thousands of newspapers and  clippings relating to local history, significant individuals, and Museum history.

Why does the Museum not typically accept donations of newspapers?
Newspapers are incredibly difficult to care for. They are made of acidic paper made from wood pulp and are typically fragile, as they were only meant to inform people of the day’s events and then be thrown away. To keep costs down, printers often used cheap, thin, wood pulp-based paper. Earlier newspapers in the 1800s were made from rag paper and are more durable and less acidic. Many of those rag-based newspapers are still in great shape in the Museum archives.
Above: Plain Dealer, July 21, 1969
Collection of the Massillon Museum

This rag-based newspaper from New Bedford, Massachusetts in 1823 is in good shape, considering its age. This newspaper contains the announcement of Thomas Rotch’s death.
Collection of the Massillon Museum (BC 1825)

There are exceptions to accepting newspapers. Publications from rare newspapers that were only in business for a few years like the Massillon Gleaner, the Massillonian, the City Item, the Massillon News, the Massillon Gazette, Massillon Telegraph, the Massillon Weekly American, and the Massillon Morning News are very important. These newspapers contain information on our city’s history that we cannot find anywhere else. These have not been scanned or been made available online.

The Massillon Telegraph, January 5, 1848. (BC 3894.2)

An April 16, 1884 edition of the Massillon Weekly American is laminated to protect this rare piece.
Collection of the Massillon Museum

Most of our small newspaper clippings about a certain person or business are laminated, to save the information, but make them usable for researchers. The other solution is to make a photocopy of the clipping onto archival paper.

Another reason we do not need to save every newspapers is that many newspapers have already been digitized and are available online, and are searchable. If you live in Massillon, you may access hundreds of newspapers across the world through the Massillon Public Library’s website.

The Gleaner is a rare publication, often with only one copy of certain days is known to exist. Some are in the Museum’s collection, and several football-related editions are in possession of the Massillon Tiger Football Booster Club.
March 29, 1895
Collection of the Massillon Museum (68.86.2)

Why are newspapers important?
When thinking of newspapers as historic objects, it is often the information they contain that is important, not the newspaper itself.  Articles on local events, local perspective on world events, obituaries, and advertisements from local businesses are just some of the important features of a newspaper. Even if you do not have the original paper in front of you, you can still read about this information.

This clipping shows an ad for Bloomberg’s shoes, a Massillon business.

How do I care for my newspapers?
Do not put in plastic bags. This will trap moisture and dust inside.
If you store them in extremely dry locations, they will become brittle.
Do not store them in direct sunlight. Newspapers will yellow after just a few days.
If you clip a particular article from a newspaper, be sure to record the newspaper it came from and the date it was published.
As with all items of importance, do not use scotch tape. See photo below.

This newspaper was held together by scotch tape, which yellows and damages documents over time. The Evening Independent, March 5, 1897
Collection of the Massillon Museum

The Northeast Document Conservation Center explains, “Newsprint paper is of extremely poor quality and will continue to deteriorate even if it is deacidified or washed… If a clipping is retained solely for informational purposes, the most efficient preservation strategy is to make a photocopy on archival-quality paper.”

For more frequently asked preservation questions, such as how to care for wet photographs, musty books, and insect infestations, visit the Northeast Document Conservation Center’s website.

The Massillon Independent, October 17, 1884
Collection of the Massillon Museum (BC 3839.2)

This 1940s newspaper is split in two, and continues to crumble as it is handled by staff and researchers.
Collection of the Massillon Museum