You already know that your greatgrandfather survived the Johnstown flood. But isn't it time that you read the original tale of his miraculous escape? Or remember that old family business, the one you've only heard about? What if you could find a full-page ad for their first store?

Your family history can come alive in the pages of old newspapers — even if you don't have any famous (or infamous) ancestors. From banner stories to period advertising to surprising discoveries from reading between the lines, newspaper archives can flesh out your family's past. You might have the thrill of spotting an ancestor's name in the antique typefaces of a bygone era. Or a news account describing your forefather's Civil War regiment — even if he isn't mentioned by name — can help you relive his experiences more immediately than any secondhand history book could. Just scanning the same printed pages that your great-grandparents once read, by gaslight at their kitchen tables long ago, can help you gain insights into their lives and times.