The Local History Collection

Local History - Newspapers

Local Newspaper Holdings

The White Plains Public Library owns the following local newspapers:

The Journal News -- October 5, 1998 - Present
The Reporter Dispatch -- April 1941 - October 4, 1998
The Evening Dispatch -- March 1939 - February 1941
The Daily Press -- April 1, 1929 - February 18,1933
The Daily Reporter -- November 1925 - February 1941
Daily Argus (spotty holdings; see Periodicals Desk)

Local Newspaper Index

The staff of the White Plains Public Library has indexed the local White Plains newspaper, The Journal News (October 1998-present) and the earlier Reporter Dispatch (1941-1998) and Daily Reporter (1925-1941) for items of local interest on a card file since the mid-1920s. The card file is in a staff area of the library (1st floor workroom). Drawers can be retrieved for patrons upon request at the Reference Desk. The index is divided into two parts, Westchester County articles and White Plains articles. Since March of 1986, the indexing has been online. Please check with the Reference Desk for current availability of the online index. The newspapers themselves are on microfilm and copies can be made.

Obituary Index

Obituaries appearing in the local White Plains newspaper are indexed in the Westchester County and White Plains local newspaper index card files under the subjects of Biography or Deaths, depending upon the year of the newspaper. For obituaries from approximately 1925 - 1976, look under Biography. For obituaries from approximately 1976 - 1986, look under Deaths. Obituaries after 1986 are searchable in the online index. Please check with the Reference Desk for current availability of the online index. The newspapers themselves are on microfilm and copies can be made.

Biography Index / Scrapbooks

A separate Biography card file is also maintained. Entries refer to Westchester County and White Plains Biography scrapbooks stored in file cabinets in the Local History Room. Newspaper clippings have been pasted into scrapbooks.