Many colleges and universities have collections that are useful for genealogy research and family history writing. Some still have microfiche and microfilm!
It's always a good idea to check your local colleges and universities where you may be able to use what they have without having a library card, so long do so within the library. Others have cards for alumni or offer rights and responsibilities to the paying public.
But you may be surprised to find that the collections may not just be local. And you can call or visit to find out how to access as a guest. Besides holding many newspapers in microfilm, there's also digitalized collections,
Here is an example, from the California State University at Long Beach.
CSULIB - LIBRARY GUIDE - HISTORICAL NEWSPAPERS ON LINE
California Digital Newspaper Collection 1846-1922
A collection of free full text searchable historic newspapers, including these:
California Star 1847-1848
Daily Alta California 1849-1891
Imperial Valley News 1901-1911
Los Angeles Herald 1873-1910
Los Angeles Star 1851-1854
Marin Journal (San Rafael) 1861-1920
Pacific Rural Press (SF) 1871-1922
Sacramento Daily Union 1851-1898
San Francisco Call 1890-1913
Sausalito News 1885-1922
Chung Sai Yat Po (San Francisco) coming from UC - example of collaboration between Cal States and UC's.
Chinese language newspaper, 1900-1904
Daily Forty-Niner Online Archive, 1949 to Date
Online archive of the campus newspaper from 1994-2006.
El Clamor Publico
A early Los Angeles Spanish language newspaper, with some English articles, published from 1855 - 1859.
Daily 49er (Current issues). Student CSULB Newspaper.
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