Historic Savannah newspapers recently have been added to the University of Georgia’s Digital Library of Georgia.
The newspapers are full-text searchable, and you can browse by date as well. Included are the Savannah Georgian (1819-1856), the Savannah Morning News (1868-1880) and the Savannah Republican (1809-1868).
This coverage gives researchers plenty to study in the Civil War and Reconstruction years, as well as the decades before the war. Savannah’s newspapers served as the legal organ for many surrounding counties, and thus contain legal notices from some counties that lost courthouse records, such as Bryan County.
This is a long-awaited addition to the Georgia Newspaper Project. To find the papers, search for Savannah Historic Newspapers Archive or go to dlg.galileo.usg.edu/savnewspapers. The project includes newspapers from Athens, Atlanta, Columbus, Macon, Milledgeville and South Georgia.
Savannah newspapers from 1763 into the 1800s also can be found on the paid site genealogybank.com, as can other Georgia newspapers into the 1920s. Plus, Elizabeth Evans Kilbourne has abstracted Savannah newspapers from 1763 until the early 1800s in books that can be found in most library genealogy collections or can be ordered via georgiagenealogy.net or from Tad Evans, 1506 Stillwood Drive, Savannah, GA 31419.
Using pre-1850 census records
Professional genealogist Susan Sloan will speak noon to 1 p.m. July 11 at the Georgia Archives Lunch and Learn seminar. Her topic is a case study on using pre-1850 census records.
The event is free; bring your own lunch. For information on future Lunch and Learn topics — including the Dixie Highway, to be covered Aug. 8 — see georgiaarchives.org or call 678-364-3710.
Savannah records online
Savannah city records of genealogical interest are available at ancestry.com as part of a joint project with the city's Municipal Archives. Included are: vital records (1803-1966), land, tax and property (1896-1938), voter records (1901-1917), naturalizations (1825-1904), records of titles (1791-1971), court records (1790-1934) and cemetery and burial records (1852-1939).
See savannahga.gov/municipalarchives for more information about other city records, which are different than those found at the county courthouse. The Municipal Archives, located in City Hall, is open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays; appointments are necessary.
