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
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Wrecks Wrecks 1902-12-19 1 Information on loss of life on the great lakes starting with 1896. This year was a record year with 140.
Door County Advocate Wren 1880-04-01 3 Waiting for other craft to get out of her way
Door County Advocate Schooner Wren 1868-05-21 4 Specifics on cargo
Door County Advocate Tug Wright 1897-08-28 1 Raised boilers of the Australasia
Door County Advocate Wrecking tug Wright 1898-04-30 1 To raise barge Joseph G. Masten
Door County Advocate Tug Wright 1898-11-26 1 Towing barge Emerald
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Schooner Wright 1891-07-23 3 The schooner Wright cleared for Menominee, with produce. She will bring back a cargo of lumber.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Schooner Wright 1891-06-11 3 The sch. Wright arrived in port on Sunday, loaded with lumber for S. Perry. She clears to-day for Menominee with a cargo of produce.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Schooner Wright 1891-04-23 3 The schooners Wright, Finch, Thompson and Lady Ellen cleared for the south last Saturday.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Schooner Wright 1882-09-14 3 The schooner Wright took a cargo of brick to Manistique, Mich., the fore part of the week, for Swaty & Son.

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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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