Depending on your topic, newspaper articles might be a fantastic resource!
While newspapers aren't scholarly or peer-reviewed publications, they may contain a wealth of information about your research topic. They might include information about policy changes that affect educational practices, biographical information about important figures in your field, or concert announcements, performance and record reviews, and obituaries that can help with tracing an performer's, conductor's, or educator's career, or the dissemination and reception of a specific piece. Newspaper articles capture how contemporary audiences felt about the music they heard and the productions they saw, and they provide a window into public opinion about policy announcements. The University Libraries, the Performing Arts Archive, and the Immigration History Research Center Archive (all located on the Twin Cities campus), as well as digital and physical historical collections made available through our database subscriptions and via the institutional repositories of other institutions can all be incredible resources to give your dissertation, program note, or class presentation depth and richness.
Top pick for finding newspaper articles: ProQuest Historical Newspapers
- ProQuest Historical NewspapersSearch old editions major U.S. newspapers and the Times of India. Papers include the Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, and the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Other titles include the Atlanta Daily World, Chicago Defender, Christian Science Monitor, Jewish Advocate, the Jewish Exponent, Los Angeles Sentinel, the New York Amsterdam News, Pittsburgh Courier, South China Morning Post, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post.
A few additional ideas
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ProQuest Historical Newspapers pulls together content from newspapers from all over the world but it may not have the most current articles. Want newer content? The Libraries also has subscriptions to a number of newspapers where you can get up-to-date access to new articles and materials! To learn more about how to access current issues of the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Star Tribune, and more, check out our News Sources Guide for links and info!
- Find a wider range of resources for reviews and more on the Find Newspapers and Magazine Articles page of the Music-Related databases page.
- Exploring primary sources like letters, photographs, and other archival materials might give you more context for the information in concert and record reviews. Check out the resources linked from the Music-Related Databases Guide's Find Primary Sources page.
- These resources are just a few suggestions; make an appointment to meet with Jessica Abbazio, Music Librarian (jabbazio@umn.edu) to discuss your specific project, and we'll identify a curated group of resources that are right for you.