How to obtain previously published Detroit News stories
Search our Web site
Our search engine, http://search.detnews.com/, contains stories that appeared on our Web site from 2000 to the present.
Back copies of the newspaper
Back issues of The Detroit News, up to 1 year old, can be ordered from the Circulation Department at (313) 222-6500, then press 0 to speak to a customer service employee. Weekday editions (Monday through Saturday) are $5. When ordering, please specify The Detroit News (the Circulation Department also handles Detroit Free Press issues).
Souvenir page reprints from The Detroit News
The Detroit News is on microfilm from 1873 to the present. The Detroit News library staff will produce an 11" x 17" copy of any page, printed on heavy bond parchment paper suitable for framing. The charge is $25 per page. The exact date and page must be known. Call the library at (313) 222-2090 for details.
Research help from The Detroit News
The Detroit News Library and Reference Department are not open to the public. However, the staff will do some research of Detroit News stories for the public for a fee.
Some details (name, approximate date, subject matter, what happened, etc.) are required before any search can be done.
There is a mimimum charge of $25 for searching for a single story or photograph. Extensive searching is $100 per hour, plus the copies at a per-page rate.
There is no index of death notices, which are paid notices. Obituaries that appear in the news pages may be indexed.
There is no index of ads that appear in The Detroit News. Not all ad supplements are on microfilm.
The exact date is needed for microfilm searches. Request for microfilm searches must be made in writing with the $25 mimimum payment enclosed. Make checks payable to The Detroit News and mail to: The Detroit News Library, 615 W. Lafayette Blvd., Detroit , MI 48226. Include your address and phone number.
USA Weekend magazine is not indexed by The Detroit News.
The Detroit News does not supply lottery information over the telephone. Lottery information numbers are: Michigan (517) 335-5600; Ohio, (419) 245-3060; Illinois, (217) 524-5155; Canada, (519) 945-3561.
Photo reprints from The Detroit News
Reprints of published pictures taken by Detroit News photographers may be purchased for $30 per 8" x 10" color photograph plus 6 percent sales tax. Additional copies are $23. Historic photos are $40 for the first print and $30 for each additional copy plus 6 percent sales tax. Send a description of the picture(s), date, page in the newspaper and a check payable to The Detroit News to: Photo Reprint, The Detroit News, 615 W. Lafayette, Detroit, MI 48226. It is helpful to send a clipping or a photo copy of the picture. Include your return address and phone number. Photos are not sold for advertising purposes. Some photos will be released for one-time editorial use on a case-by-case basis. Research and usage fees for such photos are substantially higher.
Photo reprints from The Detroit News Archives featured collections
The Detroit News has catalogued the history of Metro Detroit in pictures for 132 years. You can purchase reprints from this historic collection at our online photo store at http://info.detnews.com/photostore.
Research help from public libraries
The Detroit Main Public Library, 5201 Woodward, Detroit, MI 48202, has The Detroit News on microfilm from 1873 to the present. Prints can be made if the date and page are given. A book index of The Detroit News is also available from 1976 to present. Call (313) 833-1000 for hours and fees.
Suburban Detroit public libraries and colleges also have The Detroit News on microfilm. They also may have an index of topics and a printer. Call them to see how far back their microfilm goes, if they have the index and what are their hours and fees.
Other cities in Michigan also may have The News on microfilm, as do some out-of-state libraries. The list of libraries that have The Detroit News on microfilm can be checked by calling (313) 222-2090.
Some public libraries also may offer computer database searches. Detroit News issues from 2000 to the present are available on Lexis/Nexis. The Detroit News is also available on NewsBank, a CD-ROM service.
Some libraries also offer an information service by phone. The Detroit Main Public Library offers TIP services (The Information Place) at (313) 833-4000.
The Detroit Public Library Burton Collection at the Main branch, 5201 Woodward, Detroit MI 48202, specializes in genealogical research. Call (313) 833-1480 for more information.
Detroit News staff e-mail addresses