The Guardian (1821-2003) and The Observer (1791-2003)

Recently added: The Guardian (1821-2003) and The Observer (1791-2003) [ProQuest] {available upon release in June 2008}

ProQuest is releasing both The Guardian and its sister paper, The Observer on its historical newspapers platform. As such, they have been digitized from cover to cover, with full-page and article images in easily downloadable PDF format. I believe initial coverage upon release will extend through 1900, with coverage extended through 2003 by the end of 2008. Both papers have reputations for fearless reporting and controversial opinions.

The Guardian was first published in response to the Peterloo Massacre. Originally known as the Manchester Guardian, it was a Saturday-only paper until the newspaper stamp duty was repealed in 1855. Businessmen who hated its progressive opinions would tear the paper in half, throw the commentary out the train window, and only read the portion containing stock prices. The Observer, the world's oldest Sunday paper, was first published in 1791. Thought-provoking writers such as George Orwell, Via Sackville-West, Clive James, Philip Toynbee, and others were contributors, continuing a tradition of freed of the press, as well as serious coverage of politics and literature.