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
Manitowoc Pilot Steamer Philadelphia 1893-11-09 3 Collided with str. Albany on L. Huron off Point Aux Barques. Crew took to lifeboats.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Propeller Philadelphia 1881-09-08 3 The propeller Philadelphia considerably damaged the Milwaukee south harbor pier last week, while outward bound. Vessel OK
Manitowoc Pilot Steamer Philadelphia 1891-12-03 3 Struck a rock near the mouth of the Detroit river last Tues. and sank.
Manitowoc Pilot Steamer Philadelphia 1893-11-16 3 Officers refuse to testify as to cause of collission with Albany.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Philetus Sawyer 1894-08-16 3 The steamer Eugene C. Hart and Philetus Sawyer have been fined $500 for not renewing their licenses on time.
Ahnapee (Algoma) Record Steambarge Philetus Sawyer 1894-06-07 3 Arrived from South Chicago with 490 tons of steel rails on board for the Ahanpee & Western Railway Co.
Door County Advocate Steamer Philetus Sawyer 1898-11-26 1 On last trip of season
Door County Advocate Steambarge Philetus Sawyer 1897-10-23 1 On 46th trip
Door County Advocate Steambarge Philetus Sawyer 1898-04-23 1 In Green Bay on first trip
Door County Advocate Steambarge Philetus Sawyer 1901-04-06 1 Crew 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.

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