The University Libraries Microforms and Government Information staff is introducing a new project to increase awareness of the Libraries’ historical news resources. Each week we’ll offer a selection of newspaper articles documenting life in Pennsylvania during the historic pandemic. While health and medicine will be regular features, we will also highlight other daily concerns, from shopping to sports, from movies to military affairs.
As the world grapples with Covid-19, there is renewed interest in the “Spanish influenza” of 1918-1919. Overshadowed in history books by the events of World War I, the 1918-1919 pandemic caused an estimated 50 million deaths, worldwide. Over 25 percent of the American population was afflicted with the flu which shortened the average life expectancy in the United States by twelve years.
Some articles will be from the PA newspaper archive which is freely available to all, others will be from Penn State subscription databases (available to Penn State users and visitors to PSU campuses). Look for the weekly updates at: https://guides.libraries.psu.edu/c.php?g=350496&p=7663157 and on the libraries’ Facebook and Twitter pages.