Newspapers

There are a large number of newspapers covering Lee County from 1851 to today. Not only do we have papers form Dixon, but from Amboy, Ashton, Franklin Grove, and Paw Paw. Most of these newspapers are available at the public libraries of the individual towns that they are from. The Dixon Public Library, Lee County Genealogical Society and the Lee County Historical Society, have large microfilm collections of Lee County newspapers. All three of them have the Telegraph and Amboy papers. The Dixon Sun & Star Collection is available at the Dixon Public Library and the Lee County Genealogical Society.

Some of the Newspapers Have Been Indexed.

There is an index for the Dixon Telegraph, 1851 to 1947, that is available at the Dixon Public Library and at the Lee County Genealogical Society. Much of this index was created by Mrs. Lennon in the 1940's and 50's. In the early 1990's, the Lee County Genealogical Society, copied the index from 3x5 cards creating a computer database. This index, although an important tool, is not as comprehensive as indexes created today. People also removed cards before the index was copied. Please remember, just because you don't find it in the index, it doesn't mean it isn't in the paper.

Newspaper Microfilm Collection of Lee County.

Most newspapers have been preserved on microfilm, and a few on CD. The Lee County Genealogical Society has digital filmed the Ashton and Franklin Grove newspapers. Dates listed for those papers are what have been found, other dates may exist. All indexes of the Lee County Genealogical Society can be accessed at their library the Family Tree Center.

Recent Addition - Ron Marlow, working on a preservation project with the Dixon Telegraph, found a volume of the West Brooklyn News. It is February to December of 1910. It is being indexed.

Amboy News 1882-1984

Amboy Journal 1856-1913
Published: 7 Feb 1856 - 2 Oct 1913
Indexed: 7 Feb 1856 - 1894, can be purchased from Lee County Genealogy Society

Ashton Newspaper Indexes, (digital)

Dixon Telegraph, (microfilm)
1851-Present, note that years, 1860-63, of the Telegraph are missing.
Indexed: 1851-1947, Lee County Genealogical Society, look under Databases, indexed by Mrs. Lennon, available at Dixon Public Library and Lee County Genealogy Society
Indexed: 1948-2005, available at Lee County Genealogy Society

Dixon Star & Sun Collection, (microfilm), available at Dixon Public Library and Lee County Genealogy Society
The indexes below are available at Lee County Genealogy Society.
Table of Dixon Sun & Star microfilm collection.

• Dixon Sun, 8 Jan 1873 - 28 Dec 1892, not indexed
• Dixon Daily Sun, 23 Dec 1893 - 23 Dec 1909, not indexed
• Dixon Star, 1 Nov 1898 - 29 Oct 1904, indexed, can be purchased from Lee County Genealogy Society

• Dixon Daily Star, 21 May 1904 - 24 Dec 1909, indexed, can be purchased from Lee County Genealogy Society
• Dixon Weekly Sun, 3 Jan 1896 - 29 Dec 1898, indexed, can be purchased from Lee County Genealogy Society
• Dixon Semi Weekly Sun, 2 Jan 1901 - 29 Dec 1909, indexed
• Dixon Daily News, 27 Dec 1909 - 31 Dec 1914, being typed
• Dixon Daily Leader, 12 Mar 1914 - 7 May 1914, not indexed

Franklin Grove, (digital), Only available at Lee County Genealogical Society

• Published: Weekly Reporter, 6 Apr 1888
• Published: Franklin Reporter, misc. issues in 1891, 1895, 1896, 1898, 1900-05
• Published: Franklin Reporter, 22 Mar 1906 - about 1930
  Indexed: 1906-08, can be purchased from Lee County Genealogy Society

Paw Paw News (microfilm)
Published: 1874-1876
Indexed: 1874-1876, available at Lee County Genealogical Society

Lee County Times (Paw Paw), (microfilm)
Published: 7 Apr 1882 - 13 Aug 1959
Indexed: 7 Apr 1882 - 30 Nov 1902, available at Lee County Genealogical Society

West Brooklyn News, (digital)
Published: 15 Feb 1910 - 30 Dec 1910, 87 issues