Newspaper Search

Search below for stories about ships, lighthouses, sailors and anything else about life on Lake Michigan. The database contains references to articles from the Ahnapee (Algoma) Record (June 12, 1873 to Jan. 7, 1927), the Door County Advocate (Nov. 8, 1861 to Dec. 22, 1949), and the Manitowoc Pilot (June 14, 1859 to Dec. 28, 1899). The results will direct you to the date and page in these newspapers where the article can be found.

Microfilm copies of the Ahnapee (Algoma) Record are available at the Wisconsin Historical Society Library in Madison, Algoma Public Library in Algoma. Microfilm copies of the Door County Advocate are available at the Wisconsin Historical Society Library in Madison, the Door County Public Library in Sturgeon Bay, and the Brown County Library in Green Bay. Microfilm of the Manitowoc Pilot are available at the Manitowoc County Historical Society, the Manitowoc Public Library, and the Wisconsin Historical Society in Madison.

Check with your local library about obtaining the microfilm via interlibrary loan.






Newspaper Object Name Date Page Notes
Door County Advocate Tug Fred. Engel 1898-07-02 1 Boiler rebuilt
Door County Advocate Fish tug Fred. Engel 1902-11-08 1 On boxes for thorough searching
Door County Advocate Steamer Fred. J. Dunford 1911-05-25 1 formerly schooner by that name
Door County Advocate Coal lighter Fred. J. Dunford 1913-03-06 1 Will start coaling up steamers
Door County Advocate Lighter Fred. J. Dunford 1913-02-27 1 Receiving repairs and searching
Door County Advocate Steambarge Fred. McBrier 1886-09-30 3 Going to load lumber
Door County Advocate Steambarge Fred. McBrier 1887-08-06 3 Bound north
Door County Advocate Steambarge Fred. McBrier 1886-11-25 3 Carried headgear away of the Ann Maria
Door County Advocate Steamer Fred. Mercur 1898-10-01 1 In for repairs
Door County Advocate Steamer Fred. Mercur 1905-12-30 1 Caught in ice and stranded on Oconto reef

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This database is a cooperative effort of the Wisconsin Underwater Archaeology Association (WUAA), the Wisconsin Historical Society (WHS), and the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute. The project is spearheaded by WUAA member Russel Leitz, who helped develop a framework for the database and painstakingly combed through 54 years of the Ahnapee (Algoma) Record, 87 years of the Door County Advocate and 40 years of the Manitowoc Pilot for maritime news. The more than 50,000 references are the fruit of his labor alone.

© 2025 - Wisconsin Sea Grant, Wisconsin Historical Society