Subscription websites-online newspapers, journals and directories

This page is a part of Newspapers and journals online

There are seven subscription websites which contain online newspapers, journals, directories etc, published in India. These websites, and additional websites, may also contain newspapers etc published in Britain which contain references to people and events in India.

The access is restricted to Library Card holders of participating libraries, including the following National Libraries (noting there is generally a residential requirement): Scotland, Wales (External Resources page), Australia (click on Explore the eResources portal), State Library of NSW, and many University or other Libraries, such as the Library at The National Archives, Kew. In some instances, cardholders may view some of these websites on their own computers, depending on which websites their Libraries provide access to, and the degree of access subscribed for. The British Library’s Find Electronic Resources indicates that the Times of India—1838-2001, ECCO, Eighteenth Century Journals, 19th Century Periodicals and 17th and 18th Century Burney Collection may be viewed online in the British Library Reading Rooms. Update: British Library resources unavailable probably for most of 2024 due to a cyber-attack, see Temporary BL website. However, the Making of the Modern World does not appear to be available at the British Library. (2021 August). Making of the Modern World may be accessed remotely by resident card holders of the National Libraries of Scotland and Australia. The Times of India—1838-2001 , an option in Proquest Historical Newspapers may be accessed remotely by resident cardholders of the National Library of Scotland, the State Library of NSW, and the State Library of Victoria. The National Library of Ireland provides access to some websites in its Reading Rooms.

Eighteenth Century Collections Online (ECCO)

A part of Gale. Product Category: Primary Sources. Product Sub Category: Eighteenth Century Collections Online

The following volumes relating to India have been noted in the past. Current availability unknown.

• A List of the Company's civil and military servants, at their settlements in Bengal, Madras, Bombay, Fort Marlborough, the Island of St. Helena, and China. 1788
• A List of the Company's civil servants, at their settlements in the East-Indies, the island St. Helena, and China. 1790, 1799. HEIC lists of senior and junior merchants, factors, and writers.
• Bengal calendar. 1787, 1789, 1791.
• Bengal calendar & register. 1790.
• Bengal kalendar and almanack. 1792.
• Bengal kalendar and register. 1795, 1800.
• Bengal or East-India calendar. 1795, 1796. Includes details for Madras, Bombay etc.
• Bengal register, containing lists of the Hon. Company's civil and military establishments, under the Presidency of Fort William. 1787. HEIC employees in Bengal, including surgeons.
• Calcutta monthly register. Vol 1, November 1790.
• East India kalendar; or, Asiatic register for Bengal, Madras, Bombay, Fort Marlborough, China, and St. Helena. 1791, 1792, 1793, 1794, 1796, 1797, 1798, 1800.
• Oriental magazine; or, Calcutta amusement. 1785.

Eighteenth Century Journals, Newspapers and Periodicals c 1685-1815

A part of Adam Matthew Digital. Website

The following publications relating to India have been noted in the past. Current availability may differ. Module III includes Colonial newspapers. Including India.

Published in Calcutta

• Asiatic Mirror, and Commercial Advertiser. 276 (22 May 1793), 284 (17 July 1793), 296 (9 October 1793), 526 (7 March 1798).
• Calcutta Chronicle; and General Advertiser. 1787-1790.
• Calcutta Friday Morning Post and General Advertiser. 1793.
• Calcutta Gazette; or, Oriental Advertiser, / Calcutta Gazette. 1784-1794.
• Calcutta Morning Post Extraordinary. 1793.
• Hicky's Bengal Gazette; or, Calcutta General Advertiser. 1780-1782.
• India Gazette, or, Calcutta Public Advertiser. 1780-1785 (incomplete), 1793.
• World. 1794.

Published in Madras

• Hircarrah. 1794.
• Madras Courier. 1790-1792.
• Madras Gazette. 1788, 1809.
• The Phoenix. 1797.

Published in Bombay

• Bombay Courier. 1793-1817 (incomplete).
• Bombay Gazette. 1792, 1813-1814.

19th Century UK Periodicals

19th Century UK Periodicals, Part II: Empire: Travel and Anthropology, Economics, Missionary, and Colonial.
A part of Gale Primary Sources/ Gale Historical Newspapers

The following publications relating to India have been noted in the past. Current availability unknown.

Published in Calcutta

• Bengal Catholic Expositor, continued as Catholic Herald, continued as Bengal Catholic Herald. 1839-41/March-Dec 1841/1842-64.
• Calcutta Review. 1844-1900.
• The Friend of India / The Friend of India and Statesman / Statesman and Friend of India / The Friend of India and Statesman. 1835-76/1877-83/1885-94/1894-1900
• Gleanings in Science /Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. 1829-31/1832-1900.
• Oriental Observer / Oriental Literary Observer / Oriental Observer / Oriental Observer and Literary Chronicle. 1827-31/ May-Dec 1831/1832-33/1837-39.
• Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. (Asiatick Researchers' Society of History, Antiquities, Arts, Sciences and Literature of Asia in Bengal, Calcutta, India) 1800-1839.

Published in Madras

• Madras Journal of Literature and Science. 1833-94.

The Making of the Modern World

The Making of the Modern World: Part I: The Goldsmiths'-Kress Library of Economic Literature, 1450-1850.
A part of Gale. Product Category: Primary Sources Product Sub Category: The Making of the Modern World.

The following directories relating to India have been noted in the past. Current availability unknown:

• A List of the Company's civil servants, at their settlements in the East-Indies, the island St. Helena, and China 1785
• East India kalendar; or, Asiatic register for Bengal, Madras, Bombay, Fort Marlborough, China, and St. Helena. 1791, 1792 ( also available on ECCO, see above)
• The East India Directory and Register for the years
  • 1804, 1805, 1808, 1809
  • 1810, 1814, 1815, 1816, 1819
  • 1820, 1821, 1822, 1823, 1824, 1826, 1827, 1828
  • 1831, 1832, 1837,
  • 1841, 1844

Some of these years, 1819, 1821,1823,1828,1844 are also available on Directories online

• The Calcutta Star almanac and strangers’ guide in Calcutta : including commercial & trade list for MDCCCXLV. Calcutta, [1844?].

Other categories of books relating to India include:

• Society for Promoting the Education of the Poor (Bombay, India). The first annual report. With a list of benefactors and subscribers. Instituted January 29th 1815. Bombay, 1816
• Statistical report on the sickness and mortality among the troops serving in the Madras Presidency : prepared from official documents by Thomas Graham Balfour Edinburgh, 1847

Proquest Historical Newspapers, Times of India—1838-2001 option

Note: The FIBIS database contains transcribed birth, marriage and death notices for the period 1862-1930 from the Times of India.

The Times of India—1838-2001 is one of the optional newspapers available online as part of Proquest Historical Newspapers. It is only available if your library has selected this option. Some libraries, such as the National Library of Australia, are known to have declined to subscribe, due to concerns about quality.

A researcher has advised that the digitisation is incomplete as "great chunks - whole years and six month blocks from other years - are missing".

A review of the Times of India database by the Center for Research Libraries.
This indicates that Times of India began with the May 18, 1861 issue. Prior to this the newspapers included in the database were published as
The Bombay Times and Journal of Commerce Vol. 1, no. 1 (Nov. 3, 1838)-vol. 10, no. 310 (Dec. 31, 1859).
Merged with: Bombay Standard and Chronicle of Western India, to form: Bombay Times and Standard which began with Jan. 2, 1860 issue -new ser., v. 24, no. 117 (May 17, 1861).
Merged with: Bombay Telegraph and Courier, to form: Times of India.

This database is available at the British Library in the Reading Rooms

Two libraries currently known to have this option available for cardholders to log in remotely on their own computers, are the National Library of Scotland, and the State Library of N.S.W. For the latter, from the Home page, select “eresources”, then “Browse databases”, then Browse then “Find database”. Type “Proquest Historical Newspapers” (with inverted commas) and click on the resultant link. You will then need to log in. After this, select “News and Newspapers”, and from the drop down menu, select “the Times of India”

The other libraries know to have this option are University Libraries, which generally but not always, allow visitors to access online sevices at the Library, so always confirm. Include:

• England: Cambridge University. It is believed private researchers can apply for access to the Library to consult the electronic resources. Cambridge University also has a full run of microfilms (with minor exceptions). The coverage of these films is more complete than the digitisation. University of Oxford also has the Times of India Historical Archive, according to Oxford University Library Finding resources, under the link OxLIP+, Database, (letter T). Apply for a OUL Reader's Card
• Australia: Monash University, Victoria. Database is catalogued under P for Proquest. Check whether visitors can access this particular database, as access can vary.
• Canada: University of Alberta, licensed for "use of the University of Alberta community only"; University of Toronto
• United States of America: UC San Diego, Cornell University, University of Illinois, University of Michigan, Princeton University, Stanford University, University of Southern California, University of Wisconsin- Madison

Update 2020/01. The British Newspaper Archive, and Findmypast (both pay websites) have both introduced a Times of India database 1861-1888 (as at 2020/01/31), planned to extend to 1889, with details in a BNA link.

South Asian Newspapers, 1864-1922

South Asian Newspapers, 1864-1922
Also called the World Newspaper Archive: South Asian Newspapers, or WNA: South Asian Newspapers
Part of Readex World Newspaper Archive, a division of Newsbank

This link advises the relevant newspapers

• Pioneer Allahabad 1865-1903
• Madras Mail 1868-1889
• Tribune Lahore 1881-1922
• Ceylon Observer Colombo 1864-1922

Availability. (There may be additional institutions)

• UK
  • This database is available at the British Library in the Reading Rooms. The British Library link Readex Conditions of Use indicates that the British Library's Reader Pass holders are able to to remotely access this database on their computers at home, and provides the access link. Remote access specifically excludes patrons who access the resource through a school, school library, corporation, business or other organization.
  • Previously the only other known institution with access was Northumbria University, Newcastle UK with access for students and staff only, and not available to visitors. Possibly this database is no longer available, although there is a database "NewsBank InfoWeb" "a selection of Historical Newspapers from around the world" from the same supplier.
• Australia University of Melbourne. This link advises "walk-in users on the Library premises have access to this electronic resource".
• Canada York University, Toronto. Access is restricted to York University faculty, staff and students.
• USA Enquire about access for visitors. New York Public Library, Library of Congress, Washington DC, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Texas at Austin and these American Universities

Asiatic Society of Mumbai, Granth Sanjeevani

Digitised Bombay newspapers including an almost complete run of The Bombay Chronicle (1913 - 1958) are available on the pay website Asiatic Society of Mumbai, Granth Sanjeevani which requires either a personal or institutional subscription. Also included are some editions of The Pioneer, Allahabad, 1874-1922.

This website also includes an extensive collection of digitised books from the collection of the Asiatic Society of Mumbai, established 1804.

Note: Many of the digital files have been uploaded to the free site the Internet Archive, a current ongoing process at July 2020.

South Asia Archive

South Asia Archive website.

Article "South Asia online archive launched" by Matthew Reisz 3 June 2013 www.timeshighereducation.co.uk

2017 update: Publications from this database are now available through the National Digital Library of India, NDL, subscribed by and limited to "all the UGC colleges in India".

South Asia Archive has been noted to be available at the University of Exeter, and University of Manchester, UK; Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, and University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Library of Congress, Washington, and University of Michigan, USA

17th and 18th Century Burney Collection Newspapers

17th and 18th Century Burney Newspapers Collection
A part of Gale. Product Category Primary Sources. Series Historical Newspapers

Although this Collection is mainly English newspapers, it has in the past included the following, but current availability unknown.

• Calcutta Chronicle and General Advertiser 1 March 1788 to 2 November 1790
• India Gazette 15 February 1790 to 16 August 1790
• Madras Courier 25 January 1786

Other British and Irish publications

• The Times Digital Archive 1785-2010. Access to the Times Archive also appears to be available with various current subscriptions to the Times . In England, holders of some county or borough library cards have access, see Miscellaneous tips. National Library of Scotland cards holders have remote access.
• The Telegraph Historical Archive, 1855-2000
• British Library Newspapers with five modules. FamilySearch Centres provide access to probably what is the first module.
• Illustrated London News Historical Archive 1842-2003. This database is also available on findmypast and the British Newspaper Archive, refer below.

The above four websites are part of Gale Primary Sources/ Gale Historical Newspapers

• U.K. Parliamentary Papers, part of Proquest. Some libraries may catalogue it under its part title, House of Commons Parliamentary Papers, if they do not subscribe to the House of Lords module. There are several modules included in the U.K. Parliamentary Papers database and institutional purchases and subscriptions vary. The main modules (as at 2020/01) are Hansard, 1803-2005 (included with all packages); House of Commons 18th, 19th, and 20th Century (3 separate modules); House of Commons 21st Century (3 parts) being Module 1 (2005-2010), Module 2 (2010-2015), Module 3 (2015-2022); House of Lords, 1800-1910. Some libraries subscribe for certain date ranges only, as an example, NL Australia subscribes for House of Commons to 1900, and House of Lords to 1805, whereas SL NSW subscribes for all years for the database "House of Commons Parliamentary Papers". The description of the database will perhaps indicate what is included. If no details are provided, once you have access to the database, on the Advanced Search page by trying certain date ranges you should be able to work out what is not available to you, or enquire from your providing library. National Library of Scotland card holders have remote access, seemly to the entire database.
• The Guardian 1821-2003 (part of ProQuest Historical Newspapers). Available at the British Library.
• UKPressOnline includes Daily Express 1900 – current. Available at the British Library, London reading room PCs only.
• Irish Newspaper Archives is available as a subscription website through subscribing libraries. It is also a pay site. Currently (January 2020) it contains approximately 70 titles, mainly from the 1900s, but with some earlier publications dating back to the 1700s.
• The Irish Times 1859-2013, part of ProQuest Historical Newspapers.

All the above databases may be viewed online in the British Library Reading Rooms, but some may be restricted to London.

Other Asian publications

• ProQuest Historical Newspapers: Chinese Newspapers Collection. The English language Chinese newspapers contained in the database are listed in the Cornell University China/Databases/ Newspapers page, including The North-China Herald, also available in other databases, see below. The Proquest database is available in the UK at Oxford University, but not currently (2018/3) at the British Library; in the USA at some universities, including Cornell. Check with the libraries for visitor access. In Australia this database may be accessed remotely with a State Library of NSW library card; and a State Library of Victoria library card, where the database appears to lack the word Proquest.
• ProQuest Historical Newspapers: South China Morning Post—1903-1998. Published in Hong Kong. This database does not appear to be widely available, but has been noted at Yale University Library, USA, and University of Southern California, USA. In Australia this database may be accessed remotely with a State Library of Victoria library card (the database appears to lack the word Proquest).
• From Brill, two databases
  • The North China Herald Online 1850-1940. A weekly publication. Availability includes the libraries of Oxford University; Cambridge University UK (restricted to staff/students); Melbourne University (Australia) (including walk-in users on the Library premises);

  An example of an edition The North-China Herald February 9, 1932 National Library of Australia.

  • North China Daily News Online 1869-1940. In Australia this database may be accessed remotely with a National Library of Australia card.

  It appears these two newspapers were from the same publisher in Shanghai, the first a weekly edition from 1850, the second a daily edition from 1 January 1864 (note other 1864 dates have also been seen)

• The previous two databases, with slightly expanded dates, are also available from a Chinese source, CNBKSY.com platform, [which possibly may be connected with Shanghai Library] see New Tier 2 Licensed Resource – North-China Daily News University of California Digital Library. This database also includes The North-China Desk Hong List (1872~1941) and The Chinese Shipping List & Advertiser (1862~1872).
• The North-China Herald 1850-1926 is available on the American pay website NewspaperArchive.com, with details of issues available. See China for more details.

Overland China Mail, published in Hong Kong, is available on Findmypast in the category "Newspapers & periodicals"/British newspapers, with the same database 1853-1915 also available on the British Newspaper Archive, both pay websites. See Hong Kong for details.

The London and China Express, published in London, with target readership those outside the Indian Empire, is available on Findmypast, category "Newspapers & periodicals"/"British newspapers", with the same contents also available on the British Newspaper Archive, both pay websites. The date range is from November 25, 1858 to July 2, 1931. For more details see Newspapers and journals online.

• 19th Century English-Language Journals From The Far East part of Gale Primary Sources - Archives Unbound- Asian Studies. The database Archives Unbound is available at the British Library, but check the availability of this specific, (and the following) modules.

In addition, there are many other modules such as

Chinese Maritime Customs Service: The Customs’ Gazette, 1869-1913

Shanghai Municipal Council: The Municipal Gazette, 1908-1940

• Japan Times Archives (1897-2014). Details from Eastview.com. This database is available at the British Library and at Oxford University Library, and perhaps elsewhere. Available in the USA at Yale University, (and probably elsewhere) and in New Zealand at the University of Auckland. Enquire about visitor access.

Other regions

African publications

• African Newspapers, Series 1 and 2, 1800-1925, part of Readex World Newspapers Archive. Title List Series 1, Title List, Series 2. This database appears to be available at the British Library, although the description is varyingly described as "1800-1922" and "1805-1922". The BL description advises “NB: Reader Pass holders can also access this resource remotely via our Remote Resources service”. Individual BL Reader Pass holders are able to to remotely access this database through the BL link Readex Conditions of Use. Some libraries may only offer a single module.
• African Newspapers: The British Library Collection, part of Readex. Title List. This database is available at the British Library.
• Colonial Africa in official statistics, 1821-1953, part of "Governing Africa: British records from African countries under colonial rule" from "British Online Archives", from Microform Academic Publisher. This collection consists of African Blue Books from thirteen colonies across Africa containing statistical information which may include the "civil establishment, including names, ranks, and salaries". A typical title is Northern Rhodesia. Blue Book for the year ended.... The database British Online Archives is available in the British Library Reading Rooms and also the database "African Blue Books, 1821- 1953" is separately listed as a database available at the BL. The BL description for both these databases advises "NB: Reader Pass holders can access this resource remotely via our Remote Resources service". For access, see the BL link Find Electronic Resources

The database "British Online Archives", including the African module, has been noted at some university libraries including Nottingham University, England; University of NSW (Sydney, Australia); Cornell University (USA) and University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, USA).

Caribbean publications

• Caribbean Newspapers, Series 1, 1718-1876, part of Readex World Newspapers Archive. Title List. Available at the British Library, where it is advised "NB: Reader Pass holders can also access this resource remotely via our Remote Resources service". Individual BL Reader Pass holders are able to to remotely access this database through the BL link Readex Conditions of Use.
• Caribbean colonial statistics from the British Empire, 1824-1950 Volumes part of "Running the West Indies: British records from West Indian countries under colonial rule", from "British Online Archives", from Microform Academic Publisher. This collection consists of Blue Books from 21 British colonies across the Caribbean, sourced from the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office. The database "Colonial and Missionary Records" from "British Online Archives" is available in the British Library Reading Rooms, (where the description advises "NB: Reader Pass holders can also access this resource remotely via our Remote Resources service"), and it appears likely from the description that the Caribbean Blue Books module would be included in that database, but you would need to confirm. Also see comments under African publications above.

An example of a Blue Book contents from another source is Blue Book. Island of Jamaica 1873 Google Books. Note many of the pages need to be read two pages side by side. See West Indies - Historical books online for further details.

• Gale Nineteenth Century Collections Online (part of Gale Primary Sources) consists of twelve sections, one of which is Maps and Travel Literature. A further sub category is "Travel Narratives and Personal Reminiscences". This latter category contains The Creole Almanack for Trinidad and Tobago for the four years 1891-1894. At least some of the database Nineteenth Century Collections Online is available at the British Library, enquire whether this section is available. The books are available at the British Library UIN: BLL01001148955 .
• Publications for Antigua, Barbados, Belize, Jamaica and Saint Kitts are available on the pay website Findmypast in the category "Newspapers & Periodicals"/British Newspapers, with the same database also available on the British Newspaper Archive, both pay websites. Also includes some free databases.

Some publications from Jamaica are available on the pay website NewspaperArchive.com

See West Indies for more details.

First World War databases

• Trench Journals and Unit Magazines of the First World War, a Proquest database. Includes access to the Title List. This database is available at the British Library.
• The First World War by Adam Matthew Digital. Consists of four modules: Personal Experiences; Propaganda and Recruitment; Visual Perspectives and Narratives; A Global Conflict. Libraries may choose to subscribe to one or more modules. The database includes Printed Book (titles for all modules) and Trench Literature and Soldiers' Journals (titles for all modules).

All four modules are available at the British Library and in addition the first two modules can be accessed remotely by registered BL Readers. Card holders of the State Library of NSW can access The First World War: Personal Experiences module on their home computers, however a time limit applies.

Pay websites

Include

• British Newspapers and Irish Newspapers on findmypast.co.uk. Available to individuals with a Pro subscription (previously called World subscription, or the top subscription) but not via library and community subscriptions. (Previously British newspapers were also available with the British subscription, but this no longer applies for new subscriptions).These are the same newspapers which are available on the British Newspaper Archive, (see following item)
• British Newspaper Archive, a findmypast company. Now includes some Irish newspapers. This website may also be accessed (free) from the British Library Reading Rooms.
• Newspaper Archive, an American website. Includes publications relevant to India.

For more details, refer Newspapers and journals online-Pay websites

East India Company

A part of Adam Matthew Digital. Website.

This database does not consist of newspapers or journals, but is included here due to its subscription basis. Introduced in 2017/01, with "Module 1: Trade, Governance and Empire, 1600-1947", it now (2020/04) includes "Module 2: Factory Records for South Asia and South-East Asia", and "Module 3: Factory Records for China, Japan and the Middle East" and is available in the British Library reading rooms. For a description of the contents, see the website page Introduction/Nature and Scope.

"Major new digital resource for the India Office Records" British Library Blog 17 January 2017.

The Indian Army and Colonial Warfare on the Frontiers of India, 1914-1920

The Indian Army and Colonial Warfare on the Frontiers of India, 1914-1920
Part of Gale Primary Sources: Archives Unbound: Indian and Pakistani History
A Description of the contents being "Army Lists; Orders; Instructions; Regulations; Acts; Manuals; Strength Returns; Orders of Battle; Administration Summaries; organization, commissions, committees, reports, maneuvers; departments of the Indian Army; and regimental narratives". It seems likely that British Library IOR/L/MIL/17/5/4107 War diary, Army Headquarters India, Frontier Operations. GSI, 1914-20. Vol 42, Jun 1918 ‎ is also included. This is part of a series of 56 volumes of printed War Diaries, possibly others may also be included.
The database Archives Unbound is available at the British Library, but check the availability of this specific module. As however the British Library is the source library, it could be expected that this database would be available.

World News in Indian Newspapers, 1782-1908

World News in Indian Newspapers, 1782-1908 part of "India under Colonial Rule, 1752-1933" from "British Online Archives", from Microform Academic Publishers.
Reports from The India Gazette, The Bengal Hurkaru and Chronicle, and The Bengal Times.
Some collections from "British Online Archives" are available at the British Library, but check the availability of this specific module. As however the India Office Library is the source Library, it could be expected that this database would be available.