Library Launches History Site

Rochester Public Library has expanded access to tools and resources that support local history research.

Recently, the library launched a new Rochester Digital History site (www.rplmn.org/history), with access to photos, documents, and engaging audio recordings and transcripts of dozens of oral history interviews with citizens who represent the diversity of our community. Users may explore a timeline of the history of Rochester Public Library, highlighting the changes in buildings and services over the course of the last 150 years. Thousands of new head shot photographs are featured from the Post Bulletin collection of notable Rochester residents. 

Local historian and author Virginia Wright-Peterson says the library’s new tools, including a complete collection of digitized Post Bulletin newspapers, made a significant difference in her ability to research historical topics and subjects. The library now offers access to local newspapers back to 1858 for anyone visiting the downtown library. 

“Access to newspapers.com has changed my life!” said author Wright-Peterson. Hours spent scrolling through microfilm have been reduced to seconds with full-text searching for a person or topic. The local newspapers.com collection is available for free while at the Main Library. 

Library staff will continue to add to the collection. Explore the history site today, and stop in to the Rochester Public Library to explore newspapers.com.