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 Schooner Iris 1901-05-18 1 In with cargo of coal
Door County Advocate Schooner Iris 1897-04-10 1 Purchased
Door County Advocate Schooner Iris 1882-12-21 3 Arrived safely
Door County Advocate Schooner Iris 1881-09-22 3 Not heard from in two weeks - arrived at canal
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Schooner Iris 1883-07-19 3 The schooners Spartan and Iris were in port Sunday, bound for Clay Banks and Foscoro, respectively, to load for Swaty & Fellows.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Schooner Iris 1883-07-19 3 The schooners Spartan and Iris were in port Sunday, bound for Clay Banks and Foscoro, respectively, to load for Swaty & Fellows.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Iris 1883-09-13 3 Captain Dow recently traded the Iris for the scow Speed. The captain made his first trip to this port with the latter vessel this week.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Schooner Iris 1910-08-26 3 Has been sold by Capt. William Williamson of Manitowoc to Capt. T. Thompson.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Iris 1891-10-15 3 Loaded a load of gravel, from C. G. Boalt, to be used for street paving in Menominee.
Door County Advocate Schooner Iris 1895-03-23 5 Bought 1/2 interest for $450-$500

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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.

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