Most of the back issues of newspapers are on microfilms. We also have several microfilm sets on various topics that might be very useful to your research. Here is a sample of the microfilm sets available in the library. The Library of American Civilization is a unique source of old periodicals, as well as books. The fiches themselves are filed in the Periodicals Room.
Access is via four volumes, called Guides, each guide covering certain subjects.
Then use the keyword subject index in that guide to identify specific items. They are arranged according to the chronological sequence established in Charles Evans 14 volume American Bibliography and its supplement. Volumes 1-13 are in microprint in boxes at the end of the Early American Imprints themselves. Early American Imprints, Second Series, 1801-1819 Continues the First Series up to 1819. This is a copy, on a challenging microform, of the 683 volumes that were once the private library of Thomas Jefferson.