Most of the information about the newspapers comes from the newspapers themselves. Special editions marking the paper's important anniversaries often provide valuable information about its history as do obituaries published on the death of the editor or publisher. References in archival sources, directories and newspapers of the time have led to the discovery of over sixty papers which apparently have no remaining issues in existence. These are included in this listing for historical purposes. The user will note many gaps in information about certain titles. This is partly caused by the fact that the back files of these are incomplete. Another reason is that, until recently, many papers did not reveal the identity of their editor or proprietor on the masthead.
Newfoundland law required that anyone intending to publish a newspaper deliver an affidavit to the Minister of Provincial Affairs with a description of the building where the paper is to be published and the title of the paper. These affidavits, which are housed in the Provincial Reference and Resource Library, were consulted when this listing was compiled and it was found that no issues are available for many papers which were registered. These newspapers have been included in this listing with the date of registration and other information from the affidavit.
This listing can answer many sorts of questions about the newspapers of Newfoundland and Labrador. For example:
Consult the Chronological Listing under the decade
beginning in 1850 for a listing
of papers published at the time.
Consult the Index to Editors and Publishers.
Consult the Index to Newspapers Published
Outside of St. John's.
A list of daily newspapers and the dates
they were published is included in this
publication.
Consult the Subject and Audience Index.
These are listed in the Political
Index.
These are listed in the Denominational
Index.
Newspapers are entered in the Historical Directory under title. If a newspaper changed name during its existence, it is listed under the latest title in most cases. Cross references are provided from all other titles. Each entry includes the following information where appropriate:
- hyphen indicates an unbroken range of holdings
, comma shows a gap in a range of holdings
[ ] brackets indicate that the years enclosed are not complete
* asterisk used after holdings in which individual years have not been checked for completeness
JNM a shelving number used by the Provincial Resource Library
Arts and Culture Centre
St. John's, Nfld. A1B 3A3
Phone (709) 737-3954
The Provincial Resource Library has the Province's largest collection of Newfoundland and Labrador newspapers both in original format and on microfilm. The library does not loan newspapers.
PROVINCIAL ARCHIVES OF NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR
Colonial Building
Military Road
St. John's, Nfld. A1C 2C9
Phone (709) 753-9380
The Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador collection of Newfoundland and Labrador newspapers is limited to microfilm.
Memorial University of Newfoundland
St. John's, Nfld. A1B 3Y1
Phone (709) 737-7425
The Queen Elizabeth II Library collection of Newfoundland and Labrador newspapers is limited almost entirely to microfilm. Papers being currently published are received in paper format and held for a limited time only. Current issues of the daily papers are kept in the newspaper display area of the Periodicals Division on Level 3. Microfilm back files of the modern dailies are kept in the Microforms Room on Level 1. All other Newfoundland and Labrador newspapers, both paper and microfilm back files, are kept in the Centre for Newfoundland Studies on Level 3. Library users may not check out newspapers.
Last revised 24 February 2003