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
Manitowoc Pilot Schooner Jane Louisa 1 Capt. is Jarr. Part of history given by Timothy Kelly Sr.
Manitowoc Pilot Schooner Jane Louise 1860-12-14 3 Manitowoc vessel laid up in Chicago
Manitowoc Pilot Schooner Jane McLeod 1875-07-01 3 Passed Port Huron June 29 Down with barge
Door County Advocate Japan 1884-04-24 3 Loaded + cleared from Jacksonport
Manitowoc Pilot Schooner Japan 1885-10-22 3 Of Chicago went ashore on Monday night at Hedge Hog Harbor and is a total loss.
Door County Advocate Steamer Japan 1909-12-23 1 Sold
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Propeller Japan 1879-09-25 4 The schooner Morning Star was towed into that port last Thursday, by the propeller Japan, in a disabled condition and leaking badly.
Door County Advocate Schooner Japan 1872-06-20 3 To Lumber Market at Chicago
Door County Advocate Steamer Japan 1910-05-19 1 Now the City of Montreal
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Schooner Japan 1881-05-26 3 Martin Calloway, mate of the schooner Japan, fell overboard from his vessel last Sunday night off Chicago, and was drowned.

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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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