The University of Georgia Libraries has been microfilming Georgia newspapers since the early 1950s. The Georgia Newspaper Project is part of the U.S. Newspaper Program, run by the National Endowment for the Humanities with assistance from the Library of Congress, which coordinates the efforts of all state newspaper projects. The goal of the U.S. Newspaper Program is to locate, catalog, and preserve on microfilm newspapers published in the United States from the eighteenth century to the present.

To date the Georgia Newspaper Project has microfilmed at least one newspaper title from every county in Georgia in which newspapers were ever published. More than 2500 titles altogether have been filmed, including over 200 current newspapers that continue to be filmed on an ongoing basis. Microfilming is done in accordance with all ANSI/AIIM standards to produce film with a life-expectancy rating of 500 years. All master negatives are stored in a vault at the State Department of Archives and History in Atlanta. The UGA Libraries retain a copy negative for reproduction purposes (located within the Georgia Newspaper Project) and a use copy for the public, which is located in the basement of the Main Library.

Born-Digital Preservation Services

After a long career of microfilming Georgia newspapers for preservation and access, the GNP is transitioning to preserving print-ready PDF newspaper files (sometimes referred to as digital editions or e-prints) and phasing out its microfilming operations by June 2024.  In 2021, the GNP and several Georgia publishers tested out the new PDF-deposit/harvest process.  After the success of the pilot project, the GNP is seeking more publishers for born-digital preservation services.  After an agreed upon embargo period, current newspapers are added to the online newspaper archive. The online archive is free and open for public use and includes over 2.8 million Georgia newspaper pages between 1763 and 2022.

Newspaper publishers may access the Publisher's Information Packet to learn more about born-digital preservation services offered by the GNP.  The packet contains a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding, details of file delivery, and participant responsibilities.  Contact GNP supervisor Rashaun Ellis at rashaun@uga.edu directly to sign up for the service or get further information.

Genealogy & Research

The UGA Libraries can provide information about newspaper holdings, but cannot perform research of any kind. This includes genealogy research and family histories.  Please follow the Researchers link to view a list of individuals who perform research for a fee.  Contact Reference to find out how to visit campus and view microfilm holdings in person.

Purchasing Microfilm Reels

Archival silver halide copies of microfilm produced by the Georgia Newspaper Project are also available for purchase by any institution or individual. Please contact us for current prices per reel (postage included), particularly as the dates on our Microfilm Holdings page show the years we have for each newspaper, which may be on one or more microfilm reels. Institutions may establish standing orders for titles filmed on an ongoing basis. Please note that Georgia newspapers filmed by agencies other than the Georgia Newspaper Project are not available for purchase from the UGA Libraries.

For inquiries about newspaper holdings, microfilm purchase orders, or further information about the Georgia Newspaper Project, please contact:

Georgia Newspaper Project
University of Georgia Libraries
Athens, GA 30602-1641
Phone: (706) 542-2131 / Fax: (706) 542-4144
Email: gnp@uga.edu