From: Christopher Gray <[log in to unmask]>

After a few weeks working with www.newspaperarchive.com I can say it is
currently useful, and very promising.  The company has digitized a
variety of United States newspapers - including the out of copyright
years of The New York Times (1851-1923) and offers subscriptions to
individuals for $70 annually.

You can restrict your search to certain papers, or certain years, or
specific word strings.   In the best of circumstances, a search request
will result in a menu of results (by paper, by date, 10 per
screen).  You then click on the specific issue to see that article. For
perhaps half of the results, the click will bring up a "hit zone", with
part of the article highlighted; you can also display the entire
page.  If their software is working, you can navigate around the page
to find the whole article.

There are numerous software glitches, and support requests go
unanswered or bounce back.  But, especially for inquirers with specific
search strings - say, "Windsor Hotel Fire" -- this is already a useful
source.

Christopher Gray
"Streetscapes" Columnist, Sunday Real Estate Section
The New York Times