Historic Newspapers: The Wild West
The term "wild west" conjures many things in the mind—criminal outlaws like Billy the Kid or Jesse James, the California Gold Rush, or the folklore associated with the American frontier. We welcome you to browse our Wild West newspaper inventory or learn more about American Wild West newspapers at our main Wild West page.
Found 668 Results
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Item #697718THE LINCOLN DAILY NEWS, Nebraska, March 13, 1883 We seldom encounter Nebraska newspapers from during the Wild West era, but here is one. Lincoln is the capital of Nebraska and this issue is dated from just 16 years after statehood.
Gregory's 'Union List of American Newspapers' notes that the only institution holding any issues... Read full description -
Item #697337DAILY ALTA CALIFORNIA, San Francisco, July 27, 1868 A wide variety of news reports both local and regional and a huge quantity of ads as well. Page 2 has an article: "California Wine--How to Make a Market" which obviously worked out well.
Four pages, a very large size newspaper, never bound nor trimmed, some wear at fold... Read full description -
Item #697108THE EDGEWOOD SUN, Colorado Springs, Colorado, Jan. 15 1892 I wouldn't use the term "cute" to describe many newspapers but I think it fits here.
Six pages & measuring just 5 1/2 by 7 1/2 inches, it has advertisements, promotional & news tidbits, and various witticisms. A volume one issue of a little paper that... Read full description -
Item #697094SAN DIEGO DAILY UNION, California, Oct. 24, 1871 Very early from San Diego--a volume 2 issue--when the population was just 2300, with a nice engraving of the harbor in the masthead.
All pages have various news tidbits of the day, including local, regional, and national reports. A great wealth of advertisements as well, several of... Read full description -
Item #696863THE PIONEER, San Jose, California, May 31, 1879
* Rare Old West publication
* Santa Clara Valley
* Nice masthead for display
The masthead notes: "Devoted To The Interests Of The Pioneers of California And the Resources of the Golden State." The masthead is one of the more graphic we have seen, featuring... Read full description -
Item #696770NEW YORK DAILY TIMES, June 2, 1854 Page 3 provides an exchange of letters between Rev. Dr. J. W. C. Pennington, Jacob Grove, and Stephen Pennington. The content relates to the purchase of a slave and is quite interesting.
Other reports include: "Southern Views on Foreign Emigration", "Alexander Hamilton on... Read full description -
Item #696652ST. LOUIS GLOBE-DEMOCRAT, Missouri, June 7, 1882 Keeping in mind that Jesse James was killed in nearby St. Joseph just 2 months previous, page 4 has an article: "The James Lecture". The article talks of the ethics of making a living by speaking about Jesse James, and including members of James' family as part... Read full description -
Item #696647NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., March 29, 1849
* John C. Fremont
* Fatal 4th expedition
The top of the front page has a nicer account headed: "Col. Fremont--A Distressing Report" which is concerning his fateful fourth expedition in the West during which his party was caught in a snowstorm in Colorado causing... Read full description -
Item #696645DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Aug. 10, 1849
* California Gold Rush
* 49ers - mining - miners
Page 3 has a variety of reports under: "From California" which has the latest reports concerning the Gold Rush, a few bits noting: "...Gold is plenty, large quantities being brought every day from the placers...The... Read full description -
Item #696633THE BETHLEHEM TIMES, Pennsylvania, Aug. 31, 1900 The top of page 3 has column heads: "BANDITS GOT $100,000" "Thrilling Hold Up of Union Pacific Express Train" "Money Belonged to Uncle Sam" "it Was En Route for Manila to Pay American Soldiers--Famous Outlaw Band... Read full description -
Item #696616THE MEMPHIS DAILY APPEAL, Tennessee, Aug. 19, 1880 Among the front page articles are: "Crime & Criminals" "Oklahoma - Arrival of Captain L. D. Payne at Fort Smith Under Rest" "After the Apaches" "Hostile Sioux Surrendered" and much more.
Four pages, large folio size, good condition. The folder size noted is... Read full description -
Item #696445SAN DIEGO DAILY UNION, California, Oct. 22, 1871
* Rare & early from Southern California
Very early from San Diego--a volume 2 issue--when the population was just 2300, with a nice engraving of the harbor in the masthead. All four pages have various news tidbits of the day, including local, regional, and national reports. A... Read full description -
Item #695899TUCUMCARI SUN, New Mexico. Aug. 23, 1912
* Rare Southwest publication
A quite uncommon title from this small New Mexico town in Eastern New Mexico, great to have from the year New Mexico became a state.
The front page has a photo of the county court house and jail.
Tucumcari, located on the old Route 66, has an interesting history and has... Read full description -
Item #695602SCOTT VALLEY NEWS, Fort Jones, California, April 30, 1892
* Rare old West publication
* Siskiyou County
This small town has a population of just 839 and is located at the very top of California. It was once a military outpost--hence the name--protecting the various mining communities in the vicinity. It appears to be just the... Read full description -
Item #695598DAILY EVENING POST, San Francisco, California, Aug. 31, 1878
* Old West publication
A typical newspaper of the day from this famous city.
Complete in 8 pages, never bound nor trimmed so it folds out to one large sheet. The folder size noted is for the issue folded in half. Nice condition. -
Item #695590WEEKLY TRINITY JOURNAL, Weaverville, California, Oct. 16, 1875
* Rare old West publication
A rare issue from this town in Northwest California.
Weaverville is a historic California Gold Rush town. Located at the foot of the current Trinity Alps Wilderness Area, Weaverville was once home to approximately 2,000 Chinese gold... Read full description -
Item #695588ANAHEIM WEEKLY GAZETTE, California, Feb. 23, 1878
* Very rare old West publication
* Orange County - home of Disneyland
Although now famous as the home of Disneyland, this town in Orange County was settled by Germans and there remains a German influence in the city, founded in 1857, including a few items in this issue.
Four pages, never... Read full description -
Item #695584SEMI-WEEKLY TOCSIN, Red Bluff, California, July 11, 1883
* Rare Old West publication
From Northern California, mid-way between Sacramento and the Oregon border.Red Bluff was originally known as Leodocia, but was renamed to Covertsburg in 1853. It got its current name in 1854. Located at the head of navigation on the Sacramento River the town... Read full description -
Item #695579THE CORVALLIS GAZETTE, Oregon, March 6, 1885
* Rare old West publication
An uncommon title from this Western Oregon city. Among the articles: "A Bright Outlook for the Pacific Coast" "The Boundary Line Between British Columbia and Alaska" "In The Little Rockies" "Excitement In Rochester" "Jumping On Moving... Read full description -
Item #695578DAILY STOCK REPORT, San Francisco, July 6, 1875 Although there is stock-related content, there is also much about mining.
Articles include: "Scarcity of Water at Gold Hill and Virginia (City)" "A Visit to the Mahogany Mine" "Owners Visiting Mines" and: "Sketches of Early Days in Virginia City".
Four... Read full description -
Item #695574MENDOCINO DEMOCRAT, Ukiah, California, June 28, 1879
* Rare Old West publication
A quite rare title from this little community sitting on the scenic cliffs overlooking the Pacific north of San Francisco, now a popular tourist town and artist's community. It is also the fictional "Cabot Cove" of the popular... Read full description -
Item #695569DAILY MORNING TIMES, San Jose, California, Jan. 18, 1880
* Rare old West publication
This is a volume 2 issue of this newspaper that existed under this title for about 6 years. Gregory notes only two institutions have any holdings of this newspaper.
Eight pagers, never bound nor trimmed, news agent's stamp above the masthead, great... Read full description -
Item #695568WEEKLY STOCK REPORT, San Francisco, Jan. 10, 1879
* Rare financial mining mines publication
* Comstock Lode - Virginia City, Nevada
Contrary to what the title would suggest, much of the content is about mining, and more specifically the famous Comstock Lode.
Articles include: "The Comstock" "Latest Official Mining News for the... Read full description -
Item #694606THE DAILY MEMPHIS AVALANCHE, Tennessee, March 20, 1877 The front page has half a column taken up with a fascinating report: "Stranger Than Fiction" "The Story of a Beggar's Capture by the Indians and Escape". A few bits include: "...in the spring of 1875 with his wife and family... Read full description -
Item #694580THE DAILY JOURNAL, Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, Sept. 26, 1893 The front page has two-thirds of a column headed: "TRAIN ROBBERS SHOT" "They Held Up a rain Full of Armed Detectives" "Two Killed Three Captured" "The Train Was A Dummy Sent Out in Expectation of an Attempt at Robbery--All of... Read full description -
Item #694576THE DAILY JOURNAL, Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, Oct. 27, 1891 The front page has a half column report headed: "WALT WHITMAN DYING" "The 'Good Gray Poet' is Fast Approaching Dissolution" "Stricken With Paralysis" "It is Slowly Nearing the Heart and the End May Come at Any... Read full description -
Item #694575THE DAILY JOURNAL, Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, Sept. 2, 1891
* Cotopaxi train robbery - Colorado
* Denver & Rio Grande railroad
* Royal Gorge - Arkansas River
The front page has a half column report headed: "DARING TRAIN ROBBERS" "Seven Masked Men Stop an Express and Overpower the Messenger" "They... Read full description -
Item #694574THE DAILY JOURNAL, Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, Aug. 11, 1891
* Frederick Douglass resignation
* Ambassador to Haiti - Hayti
* Abolitionist - social reformer
The top of page 3 has a print of: "Frederick Douglass" and a report headed: "Ministerial Changes" "Fred Douglass... Read full description -
Item #693196THE DESERET NEWS, Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, Sept. 21, 1881
* President James A. Garfield assassination death
This was the very first newspaper to publish in Utah, having begun in 1850.
Page 8 has all columns black-bordered and a report: "Death Of President Garfield" and also: "Full Particulars".
... Read full description -
Item #692518HELENA WEEKLY HERALD, Montana, Sept. 9, 1897
* Tom Edward 'Black Jack' Ketchum gang
* Twin Mountain - New Mexico train robbery
The top of the front page has a report headed: "TRAIN ROBBED" "Two Masked Robbers Hold up Passenger Train Near Twin Mountain, Colorado" "The Brutally Use Express Messenger... Read full description -
Item #692465DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Aug. 3, 1849 Page 2 has a simply terrific & very lengthy letter on California, taking nearly two columns it is headed: "A Mexican View Of California" "California Seen by a Mexican--Description of the Country--Its Physical, Agricultural, Commercial, and Mineralogical... Read full description -
Item #692358THE DAILY TOMBSTONE, Pima County, Arizona, April 30, '86 (1886)
* Gunfight at the O.K. Corral fame
* Rare advertisement of the famed livery stable
This may well be the consummate "Old West town" much romanticized in movies and television shows, perhaps most famous for the gunfight at the OK Corral involving Wyatt... Read full description -
Item #692306THE SENTINEL, Red Bluff, California, Jan. 20, 1872
* Rare Old west title
This is from 4 years before the city would be incorporated. Located in Northern California, there is much news of the day both local & national. Many advertisements as well.
Complete in 4 pages, nice condition. -
Item #691800NEW YORK TIMES, Feb. 4, 1874 The front page includes: "Troubles In New Mexico and Colorado" being a report from Denver concerning the troubles in Lincoln County. This was a prelude to the Lincoln County War in 1878, in which Billy the Kid was involved.
The report also mentions: "...the Navajo Indians and... Read full description -
Item #691799NEW YORK TIMES, Feb. 12, 1874 The front page includes: "Indian Hostilities" "A Lieutenant & a Corporal Murdered--An Acting Agent Shot--The Bodies Mutilated--Other Hostile Demonstrations" being a report from Cheyenne, Wyoming Territory. Also: "Further Particulars of the Recent Murders".
Page 3 has... Read full description -
Item #691798NEW YORK TIMES, Feb. 14, 1874 The front page begins with 1 1/2 columns on: "CONGRESS" "The Modocs and Oregon Settlers" and also on the front page a full column on: "THE INDIAN TROUBLE" with subheads: "Opinion in the Interior Department--Spotted Tail's Complains--Why He Is Off His Reservation--The... Read full description -
Item #691509THE TOMBSTONE EPITAPH, Arizona, Dec. 4, 1881
* Best Old West title to be had
* Post Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
Few could argue for a more recognizable title from the Old West, nor could any town be more linked to the romance of the West than this one. Tombstone is steeped in Western lore, and the several movies... Read full description -
Item #691353THE MERCURY, Coronado, San Diego County, California, March 5, 1892
* Uncommon title
* Hotel del Coronado fame
A very rare newspaper from this island community in San Diego Bay, famous for the Hotel del Coronado which is its prime feature. Indeed, a pg. 2 item notes: "A visit to San Diego without seeing the Hotel Del Coronado... Read full description -
Item #690694THE PEOPLE'S INDEPENDENT, Vallejo, California, Dec. 27, 1873
* Rare Old West publication
A quite scarce newspaper from this town in the northern portion of the San Francisco Bay. It was named after Don Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, the famed California general and statesman. He was a leading proponent of California's... Read full description -
Item #690690DAILY EVENING NEWS, Portland, Oregon, Aug. 12, 1874
* Rare publication
* Wild Old West era
An early newspaper from Portland with a wide range of news reports, various tidbits, and a wealth of ads. Page 2 has: "An Indian War" and "General Hardie on the Modoc War" among other items.
Four pages, nice condition. -
Item #690686THE DILLON TRIBUNE, Beaverhead County, M.T. (Montana Territory), July 30, 1881
* Very rare publication
* Wild Old West era
A quite rare newspaper from the Territory of Montana, it not becoming a state until 1889. Thisis the volume 1, number 24 issue.
Dillon was founded in the Beaverhead Valley as a railroad... Read full description -
Item #690673BLACK HILLS DAILY TIMES, Deadwood, Dakota, July 7, 1886
* Rare publication
* Famous wild West town
* "Wild Bill" Hickok fame
This city would arguably be--along with Tombstone & Dodge City--one of the more famous of all the towns from the rough & tumble days of the Old West, and only rarely do such issues come to... Read full description -
Item #690671THE INTER STATE, Gary, Dakota, Nov. 14, 1883
* Very rare publication
* Deuel County, South Dakota
A very rare railroad town, territorial newspaper from what is present-day South Dakota, six years before statehood. They refer to themselves as the "Gate City of Dakota" as it is situated at the eastern border of the Territory,... Read full description -
Item #690669OAKLAND DAILY TRANSCRIPT, California, Oct. 13, 1869
* Rare Old West publication
Quite early from this city across the bay from San Francisco. It was not incorporated as a city until 1852. News of the day and a great wealth of ads, with page 2 including: "The Negro Vote in the South" and: "Assaulting Chinamen" and more.
Four pages,... Read full description -
Item #690553THE ALASKAN, Sitka, Alaska Territory, July 31, 1886
* Very rare Alaska Territorial issue
Rarely are newspapers from Alaska found from before the Klondike Gold Rush of 1897 when interest grew dramatically. This newspaper pre-dates the gold rush by over ten years. This is the volume one, number 39 issue of this title.
The format... Read full description -
Item #690552THE DESERET NEWS, Salt Lake City, Utah, Dec. 7, 1881
* Mormons - Mormonism
This is from 15 years before Utah would become a state. Nearly a full page of: "Remarks by Prest. George Q. Cannon". Other items include: "War Incidents - Bravery of General Kane's Bucktails" "Marvelous Adventures of a Legislator Among... Read full description -
Item #690550THE EDGEWOOD SUN, Colorado Springs, Colorado, April 9, 1892
* Rare publication
I wouldn't use the term "cute" to describe many newspapers but I think it fits here.
Six pages & measuring just 5 1/2 by 7 1/2 inches, it has advertisements, promotional & news tidbits, and various witticisms. A volume one issue... Read full description -
Item #690436NEW YORK TIMES, May 7, 1883 Page 4 has a lengthy & interesting editorial headed: "The Growing Crop of Bandits" which begins: "The death of Jesse James and the disintegration and overthrow of his band of distinguished robbers were very naturally regarded by railway travelers &... Read full description -
Item #690308THE FARMINGTON HUSTLER, New Mexico, March 7, 1901
* Rare territorial issue
* San Juan County
A quite scarce title, in fact the first we have discovered. This lasted but two years before merging with the Times to become the "Farmington Times-Hustler". "Union List Of Serials" notes that no institution in the country has... Read full description -
Item #690277BOSTON EVENING TRANSCRIPT, April 5, 1882
* Outlaw Jesse James assassination
Page 2 has a brief & quite inconspicuous report reading: "Great satisfaction is expressed in western Missouri over the shooting of Jesse James, the noted bandit. It is said that the shooting was the result of an agreement between Ford and Governor... Read full description
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Williamsport, PA 17701
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Full Contact Information
