Tennessee Online Historical Newspapers

There are over 2,500 newspapers that have been published in the Volunteer State - certainly not all of them are searchable online. But there are quite a few that are indeed available. So go for it - find articles about the events, history, and people that capture the stories of Tennessee.  

Please note that I have not always entered the dates that are included in the collections, as I suspect they will change as more items are digitized. Also I suspect that some of these links may change over time - so if there is a dead link - please use your favorite search engine to find their new location. 

(Updated June, 2019; recently added links are in BOLD)

Statewide Collections:

Chronicling America - Tennessee Newspapers

• Athens, Tenn., 1848-1917 - The Athens post.
• Benton, Tenn., 190?-191? - Polk County news-gazette.
• Benton, Tenn., 191?-1983 - Polk County news.
• Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn., 1865-1888 - The Bolivar bulletin.
• Bolivar, Tenn., 1888-1888 - The west Tennessee star.
• Bolivar, Tenn., 1888-1946 - The Bolivar bulletin.
• Bristol, Tenn., 1865-1867 - The news.
• Bristol, Va. & Tenn., 1867-189? - Bristol news.
• Brownsville, Tenn., 1???-1984 - The States-graphic.
• Camden, Tenn., 1890-current - The Camden chronicle.
• Carthage, Tenn., 1913-current - Carthage courier.
• Chattanooga, Tenn., 1862-1864 - The Chattanooga Daily Rebel.
• Chattanooga, Tenn., 1891-1939 - The Chattanooga news.
• Clarksville, Tenn, 1886-1890 - Clarksville evening chronicle.
• Clarksville, Tenn., 18??-185? - The Clarksville weekly chronicle.
• Clarksville, Tenn., 185?-1857 - Weekly Clarksville chronicle.
• Clarksville, Tenn., 1857-1865 - Clarksville chronicle.
• Clarksville, Tenn., 186?-1872 - Clarksville chronicle.
• Clarksville, Tenn., 1865-1867 - Clarksville weekly chronicle.
• Clarksville, Tenn., 1873-1890 - Clarksville weekly chronicle.
• Clarksville, Tenn., 1884-188? - Clarksville daily chronicle.
• Clarksville, Tenn., 1890-1890 - Clarksville evening tobacco leaf-chronicle.
• Clarksville, Tenn., 1890-1895 - Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle.
• Cleveland, Tenn., 1876-1888 - The weekly herald.
• Columbia, Tenn., 18??-1935 - The Columbia herald.
• Columbia, Tenn., 1850-1873 - The Columbia herald.
• Columbia, Tenn., 1873-188? - The herald and mail.
• Cookeville, Tenn., 1903-1922 - Putnam County herald.
• Covington, Tenn., 18??-current - The Covington leader.
• Crossville, Tenn., 1894-current - Crossville chronicle.
• Dickson, Tenn., 1907-1979 - The Dickson County herald.
• Dresden, Tenn., 1907-1997 - Dresden enterprise and Sharon tribune.
• Ducktown, Tenn., 1914-191? - The Polk County republican.
• Fayetteville, Tenn., 1850-1966 - Fayetteville observer.
• Gainesboro, Tenn., 1914-current - Jackson County sentinel.
• Greeneville, Tenn., 1875-1877 - Union and American.
• Greeneville, Tenn., 1877-18?? - The union.
• Greeneville, Tenn., 1918-1920 - The Greeneville daily sun.
• Huntingdon, Tenn., 188?-1971 - Carroll County democrat.
• Jackson, Tenn., 1870-1877 - Whig and tribune.
• Johnson City, Tenn., 1884-1916 - The comet.
• Johnson City, Tenn., 1916-1917 - The Johnson City comet.
• Johnson City, Tenn., 1917-19?? - The comet.
• Johnson City, Tenn., 1918-19?? - Johnson City comet.
• Jonesborough, Tenn., 1865-187? - The Union flag.
• Jonesborough, Tenn., 1869-current - Herald and tribune.
• Knoxville, Tenn., 1849-1855 - Brownlow's Knoxville Whig and independent journal.
• Knoxville, Tenn., 1855-1861 - Brownlow's Knoxville Whig.
• Knoxville, Tenn., 1859-1861 - Tri-weekly Whig.
• Knoxville, Tenn., 1861-1861 - Brownlow's weekly Whig.
• Knoxville, Tenn., 1863-1866 - Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator.
• Knoxville, Tenn., 1864-1866 - Knoxville tri-weekly Whig and rebel ventilator.
• Knoxville, Tenn., 1866-1869 - Brownlow's Knoxville Whig.
• Knoxville, Tenn., 1868-18?? - Brownlow's Knoxville Whig.
• Knoxville, Tenn., 1870-1875 - Knoxville weekly chronicle.
• Knoxville, Tenn., 1870-1882 - Knoxville daily chronicle.
• Knoxville, Tenn., 1875-1882 - Knoxville Whig and chronicle.
• Knoxville, Tenn., 1894-current - The Knoxville independent.
• Knoxville, Tenn., 1899-19?? - The Chilhowee echo.
• Lawrenceburg, Tenn., 1884-1925 - Lawrence democrat.
• Lexington, Tenn., 1884-current - The Lexington progress.
• Loudon, Tenn., 1852-1855 - Loudon free press.
• Maryville, Tenn., 1867-187? - Maryville Republican.
• Maryville, Tenn., 187?-187? - The Republican.
• Maryville, Tenn., 187?-1877 - Maryville Republican.
• Maryville, Tenn., 1879-1883 - Blount County democrat.
• Maryville, Tenn., 1884-1884 - Maryville daily times.
• Maryville, Tenn., 1884-1944 - The Maryville times.
• McMinnville, Tenn., 1879-current - Southern standard.
• Memphis, Tenn., 1847-1886 - Memphis daily appeal.
• Memphis, Tenn., 1862-186? - Daily union appeal.
• Memphis, Tenn., 1862-1862 - The Memphis union appeal.
• Memphis, Tenn., 1865-1893 - Public ledger.
• Memphis, Tenn., 1886-1890 - The Memphis appeal.
• Memphis, Tenn., 1907-1926 - The news scimitar.
• Milan, Gibson County, Tenn., 1874-1978 - The Milan exchange.
• Morristown, Tenn., 1867-1920 - The Morristown gazette.
• Nashville [Tenn.], 1837-1853 - The Nashville union.
• Nashville, Tenn., 1851-1855 - The Daily Nashville true Whig.
• Nashville, Tenn., 1853-1862 - Nashville union and American.
• Nashville, Tenn., 1855-1857 - Nashville daily patriot.
• Nashville, Tenn., 1857-1858 - Daily Nashville patriot.
• Nashville, Tenn., 1858-1860 - Nashville patriot.
• Nashville, Tenn., 1860-1862 - Daily Nashville patriot.
• Nashville, Tenn., 1862-1862 - Daily Nashville union.
• Nashville, Tenn., 1862-1866 - The Nashville daily union.
• Nashville, Tenn., 1862-1866 - The Nashville weekly union.
• Nashville, Tenn., 1865-1866 - Daily union and American.
• Nashville, Tenn., 1866-186? - Tri-weekly union and American.
• Nashville, Tenn., 1866-1868 - Nashville union and dispatch.
• Nashville, Tenn., 1866-187? - Tennessee staatszeitung. volume
• Nashville, Tenn., 1867-1867 - Wochenblatt der Tennessee staatszeitung.
• Nashville, Tenn., 1867-1869 - Tennessee staatszeitung.
• Nashville, Tenn., 1868-1875 - Nashville union and American.
• Nashville, Tenn., 1906-193? - The Nashville globe.
• Newport, Tenn., 1909-1939 - The Newport plain talk.
• Paris, Tenn., 1907-1962 - The Parisian.
• Pulaski, Tenn., 1866-current - The Pulaski citizen.
• Rugby, Morgan Co., Tenn., 1881-1882 - The Rugbeian.
• Rugby, Morgan Co., Tenn., 1884-188? - The Rugby gazette and east Tennessee news.
• Rugby, Morgan County, Tenn., 1890-189? - The Rugby news.
• Rugby, Tenn., 1882-1883 - The Rugbeian and district reporter.
• Rugby, Tenn., 1883-1884 - Plateau gazette and east Tennessee news.
• Rutledge, Tenn., 1917-current - Grainger County news.
• Savannah, Tenn., 1885-1979 - Savannah courier.
• Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn., 1902-1969 - McNairy County independent.
• Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn., 189?-1896 - The Sequachee news.
• Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn., 1896-1952 - Sequachee Valley news.
• Sneedville, Tenn., 191?-19?? - The Sneedville news.
• Somerville, Tenn., 190?-current - The Fayette falcon.
• Sweetwater, Tenn., 1867-1869 - The Sweetwater forerunner.
• Sweetwater, Tenn., 1869-187? - The Sweetwater enterprise.
• Tracy City, Tenn., 1903-1930 - Mrs. Grundy.
• Tracy City, Tenn., 190?-1903 - Mrs. Grundy of Grundy.
• Union City, Tenn., 1897-190? - The commercial courier.
• Union City, Tenn., 190?-193? - Commercial.
• Wartburg, Tenn., 1916-1926 - The Morgan County press.
• Winchester, Tenn, 1862-1863 - The daily bulletin.
• Winchester, Tenn, 1863-1863 - Winchester daily bulletin.
• Winchester, Tenn., 1856-1856 - The Winchester appeal.
• Winchester, Tenn., 1856-1856 - The Winchester weekly appeal.
• Winchester, Tenn., 1857-1857 - The home journal.
• Winchester, Tenn., 1857-1858 - The Winchester home journal.
• Winchester, Tenn., 1858-188? - The home journal.
• Winchester, Tenn., 1863-1863 - Winchester army bulletin. 

Google News Archive

• Church Hill - Hawkins County Post
• Cleveland - The Cleveland Banner
• Elizabethton - Elizabethton Star
• Kingsport - Post Daily News
• Kingsport - Daily Post News
• Kingsport - The Sunday Post
• Kingsport - Post Weekender
• Kingsport - Kingsport Post 
• Knoxville - The Sunday Chronicle
• Knoxville - Chronicle Daily Knoxville
• Knoxville - ​Knoxville Daily Chronicle 

Tennessee State Library and Archives (must be Tennessee resident)

• Chattanooga Daily Gazette 1864-1865
• Chattanooga Daily Rebel 1862-1863
• Chattanooga Advertiser 1844-1862
• Jonesborough Whig, and Independent Journal 1839-1843
• Memphis Appeal  1892-1899
• Nashville Union 1845-1868
• Maryville Republican 1876

County and Library Collections:

Chattanooga Newspapers

• Chattanooga Advertiser
• Chattanooga Commercial
• Chattanooga Daily American Union
• Chattanooga Daily Commercial
• Chattanooga Daily Gazette
• Chattanooga Daily Press
• Chattanooga Daily Rebel
• Chattanooga Daily Times
• Chattanooga Evening News
• Chattanooga News
• Chattanooga Press
• Chattanooga Sunday Commercial
• Chattanooga Sunday News
• Chattanooga Times
• Chattanooga Weekly Press
• Commercial
• Crabtrees Saturday Press
• Daily American Union
• Daily Commercial
• Hamilton Gazette
• Republican Press
• South Pittsburg Hustler
• The Chattanooga Daily Rebel
• The Chattanooga Daily Times
• The Chattanooga Dispatch
• The Chattanooga Gazette
• The Chattanooga Star
• The Chattanooga Sunday Times
• The Chattanooga Times
• The Chattanooga Daily Times
• The Daily Chattanooga Rebel
• The Daily Rebel
• The Daily Republican
• The Daily Times
• The Rebel
• The Southern Press
• The Times

Student Collections:

Austin Peay State University - Clarksville

• All State

Belmont University - Nashville

• Belmont Vision
• Ward-Belmont Hyphen 

East Tennessee University - Johnson City

• East Tennessean

Fisk University - Nashville

• Herald

Freed-Hardeman University - Henderson

• Sky Rocket

Harpeth Hall School - Nashville

• Ward-Belmont Hyphen

Lee University - Cleveland

• Clarion

Maryville College - Maryville

• Highland Echo

Memphis University School - Memphis

• Owl's Hoot

Middle Tennessee State University - Murfreesboro

• Sidelines 

Milligan College - Elizabethton

• Stampede

Montgomery Bell Academy - Nashville

• Bell Ringer

Tennessee State University - Nashville

• The Meter​

Tennessee Tech University - Cookeville

• The Tech Oracle

Union University - Jackson

• Cardinal and Cream
• Classic Union 

University of Memphis - Memphis

• Daily Helmsman

University of Tennessee - Chattanooga

• Echo 
• University Lookout (1888-1889)
• University Echo (1906-1987)
• Student Echo (1988-1992)
• University Echo (1992-Present)

University of Tennessee - Knoxville

• UT Air Scoop
• UT Daily Beacon
• UT Independent Truth 
• UT Mugwump 
• Tennessee Alumnus 
• The UT Humming Humbug 
• The UT Torchbearer 
• The UT Vocational Voice

University of Tennessee - Martin

• Pacer

University of the South- Sewanee

• Sewanee Daily Purple, 1894-1903 
• Sewanee Daily Times, 1894 
• Sewanee Life, 1884 
• Sewanee Times, 1892-1894 
• The College Widow, 1896 - 1903 
• The Daily Connoisseur, 1893 
• The Dot, 1883 
• The Flea, 1882
• The Mountain, 1891-1892 
• The Mountain News, 1878-1880 
• The News, 1876-1877 
• The Semi-Weekly University News, 1878 
• The Sewanee Purple, 1894 - present 
• The University Bulletin, 1879-1880 
• The University Gossip, 1875 
• The University News, 1875-1876 
• The University Record, 1872-1875 
• The University Record, 1879 
• The Weekly Mountain News, 1878 

Vanderbilt University - Nashville

• Vanderbilt Hustler​

Miscellaneous Collections and Indexes:

Independent Voices - Alternative Newspapers

• Chahta Anumpa - The Choctaw Times
• Napalm
• The Spread Eagle

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Newspapers 1933-1942

• Arthur - Pinnacle Press (Company 1262)
• Dyer - Camp Chat (Company 490)
• Ivy - Ivy Leaves (Company 417)
• Jackson - Blue Denim (Company 499)
• Jackson - Cam-Pat-Chatter (Company 499)
• Jackson - Camp Pat Harrison Review  (Company 499)
• LaFollette - Lafollette Lafrivol (Company 448)
• Lexington - Horseshoe (Company 496)
• Loyston - Dam Overflow (Company 297)
• Maynardville - Inkspot (Company 492)
• Maynardville - Lakeland Echo (Company 492)
• New Tazewell - 19 Times (Company 491)
• Norris - Camp Arrowhead News (Company 494)
• Powell Station - Broadcaster From Camp Frank Maloney (Company 495)
• Powell Station - Co. 495 News (Company 495)
• Rutledge - Bob White (Company 3465)
• Sevierville - Pinnacle Echo (Company 1460)
• St. Elmo - Liaison (Company 420)
• Thorn Hill - Camp Arrowhead News (Company 254)
• Tiptonville - Company Star (Company 1453)

Index to Early Memphis Newspapers

• American Eagle [newspaper] index
• Civil War in Memphis Newspapers - Index, 1860-1866
• Early Memphis Newspapers, Guide and Index
• Memphis Appeal [newspaper] index, 1843-1870
• Memphis Argus [newspaper] index, 1860-1866
• Memphis Avalanche [newspaper] index, 1860-1861, 1866-1870
• Memphis Bulletin [newspaper] index
• Memphis Eagle [newspaper] index
• Memphis Eagle and Enquirer [newspaper] index
• Memphis Enquirer [newspaper] index
• Memphis Public Ledger [newspaper] index, 1866

The Story of Marion County - Index

Southern School News Archive 

TNGenWeb Historical News Index

Small Town Papers

• The News-Democrat Waverly, Tennessee

Old Fulton Postcards

• Chattanooga TN Daily Times    1873-1907
• Clarksville TN Gazette
• Clarksville TN Watchman
• Memphis TN Daily Appeal
• Nashville TN Union and American
• Rogersville TN Review

​The Olden Times - Tennessee

Newspaper Abstracts - Tennessee

Other Free Sites:

Chattanooga

• Southern Worker 

Jackson

• The Jackson Headlight

Knoxvlle

• East Tennessee Catholic  
• Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator 1863-1864
• Brownlow's Knoxville Whig 1858-1861
• Brownlow's Weekly Whig 1861

​Memphis

• Tri-State Defender Archives
• The Southern Farmer

Murfreesboro

• Cemetery News (1907-1918) 
• Classic Union 

Nashville

• The Baptist 
• Tennessee Baptist/Baptist and Reflector 
• Baptist Press news releases 1948-1996 
• Nashville Jewish Observer
• Tennessee Register
• The Tennessean
• Confederate Veteran
• Confederate Veteran Index  
• The Colored Tennessean

Oak Ridge

• Oak Ridge Journal

​Somewhere

• Hellcat News​