The Illinois Newspaper Project’s topical research guides compile newspaper articles that surround a theme, person, or historical event and freely available through the Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections (IDNC). IDNC researchers can use these guides to explore new topics or as launching pads for your own research.
To access the IDNC topical research guides from the Illinois Newspaper Project homepage, scroll to the top menu and click “Use” and go to “Research Guides.”
First topical research guide: The Illinois Central Railroad
The Illinois Central Railroad Guide highlights articles about line which connects Lake Michigan to the Gulf of Mexico and runs through the length of Illinois. The guide is divided into research sections, including: early history; connection to Abraham Lincoln; train depots in Champaign, Illinois; its impact on labor, industry, and agriculture; tourism and creation; advertisements and visual history; and commemorative history. This guide also features suggested newspapers and keyword searches to get our research started. Read the guide here.
The Illinois Central Railroad Guide was compiled by Adam Beaty, a graduate student assistant for Preservation Services, and Jessie Knoles, the Newspaper Content Coordinator for the Illinois Newspaper Project.
We welcome suggestions for future guides!
Do you have a topic or theme that you think would make a good research guide using articles found in the IDNC? Let us know!