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 Jesse Phillips 1888-11-24 3 At wharf
Manitowoc Pilot Schooner Jesse Phillips 1872-04-18 4 Captain Thomas Howland of schooner appointed to command prop. Nebraska
Manitowoc Pilot Jesse Phillips 1878-09-26 3 Struck by lightning while in harbor
Door County Advocate Schooner Jesse Phillips 1888-11-24 3 Ran on an obstruction + sprung a leak
Door County Advocate Jesse Phillips 1897-01-30 1 Chicago winter moorings of lumber fleet
Manitowoc Pilot Schooner Jesse Phillips 1872-12-05 3 Arrived Dec. 3, Chicago
Manitowoc Pilot Schooner Jesse Phillips 1879-09-04 3 Sailor James Erickson previously a mate on sch. Jesse Phillips, drowned off sch. Blake
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Tug Jesse Spalding 1886-07-29 3 The tug Jesse Spalding was in our harbor on Monday. She made the trip down here in search of a tow.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Tug Jesse Spalding 1887-10-20 3 Became disabled off Jacksonport. Steamer Wiskhickson towed it to the canal. Tug Jesse Spalding took over.
Door County Advocate Steamer Jesse Spalding 1899-08-05 1 Launched - dimensions given

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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