Microfilm Roll Identification - Newspapers

By Anonymous on Sun, 12/16/2012 - 16:40

Forums

I'm interested in how Ms. Mills and the other forum members handle identification of published microfilm when researching historical newspapers. 

1) It seems that most major publishers (University Microfilms, Bell & Howell) only provide a date range rather than a roll number.  I record all the identifying information from the box label and title frame for my working notes.  But when compiling a narrative, would a date range be superflous for each cited article's research note? 

2) In a Source List/Bibliography, is it sufficient to list each newspaper just by location, title and a range of years used?  Or would you need to make separate entries for microfilm (and different publishers for different years), online images, supplied copies and original issues if your research used instances of each for the same title?

Thanks in advance

-Ben

Submitted byEEon Mon, 12/17/2012 - 12:52

Ben,

Question 1: Microfilm publications that provide images of newspapers, city directories, etc., are a two-layered citation. Layer 1 cites the original publication. Layer 2 cites the microfilm publication itself. At https://www.evidenceexplained.com/content/newspaper-articles, you'll find a more detailed discussion of microfilmed newspapers.

Question 2: Your bibliography/source list entry is a "generic" entry that does just what you say: it identifies "each newspaper just by location, title, and a range of years used." The range of years is not shown in each reference note. Reference notes show only the specific date and page that supports the assertion to which the reference note is attached. Conversely, the source list entry does not itemize each individual issue consulted or each article cited.  EE 14.22 provides examples of both.

If you consult any one newspaper title in various formats—originals, microfilm, online images, photocopies supplied by others—then you have a decision to make as to how you want to catalog that newspaper title in your source list. That decision might rest on why you are using so many formats for the same newspaper title. Are you doing so, say, because

  • the microfilm covers only years A-B and X, while an online provider offers B, C, and X?
  • the microfilm is blurred for some issues but a clearer image exists at an online provider?
  • a local archive has original copies for random dates that don't appear on the film or at the online site?

Concerns such as these would effect accessibility at a future date or the accuracy of the information copied. They would also affect your decision as to how much information you need to provide in your source list entry.